Cathy Johnson’s Mini-class // Quick Sketching 1 - Lesson 4 and wrap up

It took me even more time to go through lesson 4, than to go through all of the three previous lessons. I lost focus and got distracted by so many other things lately that this mini-class got to the bottom of my to-do wishlist. But here I am, finally.

The last lesson focused on tonal values, big shapes and shadows to just give a quick impression of your subject, capturing the atmosphere without going into too much detail. And this is something I have been lacking.

Recognising tonal values has always been difficult for me. It is easier if I’m looking at a black and white picture, but when working on the spot, recognising the value of the colours has proven a real challenge. I can narrow my eyes trying to see the simple value pattern, but it doesn’t always work, especially if I’m looking at a landscape and there are a lot of colours. Doing a quick tonal sketch and adding a value scale can help, but really doesn’t solve my problem; I guess practice will improve my observational skills. In the meantime, I had the chance to test different ways to create tones using different tools and techniques.

My favourite so far is using a water-soluble pen or pencil and a water brush to dissolve the colour and create a shaded wash. Even the most boring drawing can become interesting when adding tones.

Capturing the direction of the light by adding shadows it has also proven to change the mood of a drawing. And one of the best tips I must remember is to always leave some white paper for the lightest lights.

So this is the end of the first of the Cathy Johnson’s online mini-classes! The overall course was good value for money, probably a bit too basic for me, but I am one of those people that forget things easily, so it was a good way to return to the basics and take on board all the tips given in the lessons.

I put together a summary list of all the tips that I should remember when doing a quick sketch, but also of some of the things that I discovered about my tools.

Favourite tools for quick sketching //

• Faber-castell PITT artist pen sanguine – brush size (waterproof) + watercolours
• Staedler fine liner 0.3 black (waterproof)
• Derwent inktense peacock blue (watersoluble)
• TOMBOW ABT Redwood 899 (watersoluble) brush and fine point + watercolours (THE BEST)
• Eraser Faber-Castell

Best tips for quick sketching //

• Consider the time available when starting a sketch - start with the big shapes and add details later on as you have time
• Consider gesture sketching when trying to capture movement
• See objects as basic shapes
• Use thumbnail sketches
• Develop your own visual symbols
• Identify tonal values by squinting your eyes
• Choose/identify light direction
• Leave some white paper for lighter lights

 I am planning to start the next mini-class, Quick Sketching 2, soon, so watch out for this space!

In the meantime you can have a look at all my sketches from the previous lessons here.

More info about Cathy Johnson’s online classes can be found here.

Creating In Colour is now on Etsy

 

On 10^th July 2013 I finally pushed the ‘open shop’ button on my Etsy page. I have been waiting and waiting for this moment for various reasons; fear, hesitation, indecision, but mainly because it has taken me ages to get a few items ready, the collecting, the cutting, the stapling, the photographing…between a full time job and a very active 19-month girl it has been hard to find the time and energy to do this. But I wanted to try it, anyway. I had it written down on paper a few months back and this to me has been more than a commitment, more like a binding contract with myself.

So after months of preparation, I decided it was now or never.

I have been making some jotters out of scrap paper lately, designed some ‘to-do-list’ notebooks and put together a summer journal to keep my summer memories. And all of them are now available to buy from my shop.

I’m starting small, only 14 items, but my goal in the next few weeks is to stock up the shop. Lots of ideas have been flying in my head since the shop opened; it’s just a matter of getting my head down and start to work on them.

 

 

 

I don’t know if and how things will evolve; I have a clear financial goal to achieve by the end of the year and I will work hard for it. But what I value the most for now is that I have been enjoying the whole process of opening the shop, from the items making, to the photographing, the text writing.
Click here and have a look!

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Summer is in full swing now! And we are enjoying the sunshine, the heat, the open windows and the early morning light.

This week you:

• Attended your first ever BBQ. And you loved it. You had fun running around our friend's garden, playing in the pool and jumping on the trampoline.
• You got sick in the car while we were driving to our friend's house on Sunday, very badly. And that was a scary moment for us as we didn't know what to do to help you. But once was over you were as happy as ever.
• And again, you had an upset tummy and got sick during the night after. You woke up crying, but you got to spend the night in our bed.
• Tried to go down for an afternoon nap without your dummy, but it wasn't that easy. So we ended up borrowing a dummy from your friend for a few hours as we had forgotten yours at home, and wrongly thought we would have been fine without it! 
• Said your first word in English! your dad was singing 'if you are happy and you know it clap your hands', and you replied 'Clap, clap' while clapping your hands. That was a proud moment for us :)
• Kept blabbering so much, even during your sleep! you can only still say very few words, and all in italian, but it looks like you'll be starting to talk properly very soon. 

And from last week a 'happy 4th July' from this cutie from life, love and syntax! 

If you are curious about this project and want to know more, you can check Jody's blog @ Che and Fidel.

All my previous posts can be found here.

The Phone Photography Project // Part 1

The Phone Photography Project from Big Picture Classes has finally started! For the next 32 days I will be taking a picture a day using my Iphone, to match the daily challenges set by the instructors.

These are the takes for the first 8 days.

Day 1: From Where I Stand

"Stand in the place where you live // Now face North // Think about direction // Wonder why you haven't before" 
R.E.M.

Day 2: Initials

"Today's show was brought to you by the letter A." 
Grover

Day 3: Summer Project

"With every project you do, you bring out a part of yourself, and it seems to be quite a good way of expanding a person." 
Kate Beckinsale

Day 4: Summer Food

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."  
J.R.R. Tolkien

Day 5: Family

"I sustain myself with the love of family." 
Maya Angelou

Day 6: Tourist in Your Own Town

"The traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see." 
G.K. Chesterton

Day 7: Morning + Afternoon + Evening Light

"Let the light of late afternoon shine through chinks in the barn, moving up the bales as the sun moves down." 
Jane Kenyon

Day 8: Summer Colors

"I prefer living in color." 
David Hockney

All the collages have been created using the Iphone app Fuzel. The app is seriously awsome. I have been using the free version, which allows you to add some extra fitures through in-app purchases, but I'm thinking of buying the full version.

I am also posting my pictures daily in Instagram using the #BPCphonephotographyproject tag (click here to follow).