I was really in need of a reboot, and I knew that going back over Laura McKendry's Domestika course would motivate me to explore all the tools that have been languishing in my little room. And yes, there was an explosion of white Posca marker. Memo to self - don't pump the marker on the main page - that's what scraps of paper are fot!
My energies are still very dispersed, but bit by bit, I'm exploring things that make me happy. I am revisiting Laura McKendry's Domestika course on drawing nature. Of all the teachers on the Domestika platform, I think she is the best. She gives so much. Each module has 4 or 5 videos, where she shares so many tips and so much inspiration. My head is buzzing with lots of ideas now!
What I'm sharing here doesn't look like much, I know, but it's a sign that I am letting go of having to do anything important, that I can just enjoy mark-making for the sake of it! And make discoveries on the way. Like Ecoline markers are great fun when you add lots of water. And even acrylic markers respond well to water if you go quick before they have time to dry! And they look nice together.
Direct Watercolour and urban sketching are the two art forms that make me happy. I don't know why I keep trying other things. But I guess that if you don't try, you'll never know.
So I'm back to exploring the landscapes of New Zealand's South Island. As I was the driver for only a short part of the journey last April, I took a lot of photos and videos while I was the passenger. The scenery was amazing. And the sun was shining a lot of the time. When we got back to Ireland, I was entirely focused on painting for my solo exhibition, for which I was exploring the Irish landscape. I'm going to spend a little while with the New Zealand landscape now and see where it leads me.
For these two, I went straight to quarter sheet, working very wet, pushing and pulling pigment using a wet brush or two. It was fun!
Tomorrow, I'm going to try and flatten one of them, using a technique I have just learned. Wish me luck. Oh, and I need to add a line in the middle of the road, or it looks too much like a river!
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Why do I keep buying colour pencils? I really don't know what to do with them! And I don't even believe that the universe is trying to tell me something. I like Fude pens with black ink and direct watercolour. I should get rid of all other distractions!
Not sure what it's called. I got these as an impulse purchase many moons ago. And I thought now was the time to try them. They are Schmincke watercolours, but in a bottle - you can also fill a special marker with them. But anyways, I thought I would try them as a background for something else (what, I have no idea) in a Sketchbook that I'm not too fond of (an American brand, but it sucks the paint too much for my liking).
Initially, I thought, Wow, these are so vibrant. But when I looked at the dry page the next morning, it was very dull. Not really something I want to draw or paint over. But we'll see. I might try extra layers and see what happens. Or I might conveniently forget about it and move on to something that makes me happy!
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I was so focused all through the summer. And now, I am lost. I'm trying markers, pencils. But my mind is all over the place, and nothing is working. I know that I need more order so that I can paint well. Hopefully I will find that focus again in a few days, with watercolours. For now, it's all dispersed ugliness. So many people do beautiful things with markers and pencils. But I can't seem to find it in me.
I am trying to push myself away from my comfortable colours. And the watercolours in this palette were solid with lack of use. The only exception I made was Hansa Yellow Medium. The yellows I had in the palette were Naples and New Gamboge. Not what I needed for the flowers on my desk. I chose 6 colours, 2 light (HYM, a reddy pink - can't remember what it is), 2 medium (Carmine, a mix of Olive Green I think and Cobalt Turquoise) and 2 dark (Moonglow, not dark enough, and a mix of Carmine and Phthalo Turquoise).
I think for the next one, I will just go for 2 colours, a warm and a cool, and play more with values.
And also, another thought, I'm just not into painting flowers! I will have to find something else to draw or paint over the next few weeks
Trying to slow myself down, see a movement, keep it in my head, and try to draw it at my own pace, rather than frantically scratching the paper in an effort to keep up! At least they have a little more solidity than the previous ones! How do I go from crab claws to hands?
This was more fun. Not very sophisticated. But that's ok. Watercolours, then watercolour pencils, then acrylic markers. What could possibly go wrong?
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| Before I added acrylic marker. |
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| Close-up with the tools. |
Brendan bought an extra bunch of flowers, because he thought the previous one was a bit thin. So I have plenty to keep me occupied. I'm trying to draw them, but finding it so hard to do. Flowers are both structured and amorphous, in my mind anyway. I can't see the overall shapes. I see every petal, and yet I struggle to capture their shape, knowing that each petal looks different, depending on the angle. Well, I will keep at it. Don't expect any miracles.
Expect flowers for the next few days. I asked Brendan to buy some flowers in the supermarket, so I would have something colourful to draw and paint! Drawing and painting is like a meditation for me. I forget about my foot, and think only of what's in front of me. I'm also taking it as an opportunity to try out sketchbooks that are not my favourites and colours that are different from my usual.
I love sketching people. I think it is what I miss most from not being able to go out and sketch. Let's see if I can use this as an opportunity to learn, re-learn, practise, and build on what I know already. I remember Suhita Shirodkar mentioned 1 Million Dance Studio on YouTube as a good place to practise sketching people in movement. Well, the moves are fast. I am seeing some repetition, but right now, my brain is not able to cope!!
It started with this little sketch from a paused video.
Then I decided to work from running video. I reverted to stick figures. But it was thrilling! And I used some of the backgrounds I had prepared a few days ago!
For these, the paper didn't glide well (it's hot press watercolour paper, with a wash I did the other day), so they don't flow so well.
So I dropped my pens and used a big chunky marker and a Sennelier brush pen. I will explore more of this over the coming weeks. Maybe a mix of paused and running video?
My mind is very unfocused. I feel my life is on hold because of the foot. Yes, the foot, that thing, not part of my body!!!
Just putting paint on paper, anything at all. And for some of them, adding a bit of marker, just because I can.
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Playing with pigments. Using photos I took in New Zealand earlier this year. I want to paint these roads and mountains and lakes and vast spaces. It might be a while before I get to it. But it's on my list. And I have so many photos and videos to inspire me!
