Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts

Various studies

From 19th May to 10th June, I have been experimenting, studying, and wiping off.

My focus has been on tonal values and simplification through oil studies and pencil sketching. A couple of plein air paintings were done and wiped off because I wasn't confident enough to really see something new in them—and now I wish I hadn't done it. This is part of the learning process.

So, here is a mix of what I've been up to:


On 19th May, I painted this and then, in the studio, I decided to wipe it off.



Between 20th and 21st May, I focused on these four tonal value studies in oil on board:

four tonal value studies in oil on board


study 1

study 2

study 3


(Study 4 is in the first picture above)



Plus this little coloured study of trees and bushes:



From 26th to 30th May, I worked both in the studio and in the garden with sketches and an oil study.


A tonal value study adopting the sight-size technique for the first time
(not a great result, but I was curious to try it)


Tonal value preparatory sketch


During the plein air painting stage


Final version of the oil study


On 2nd June, I did two oil studies of a still life in the garden. The first was from direct observation, and the second was from observing the first study itself. Why? To try to loosen up my brushstrokes and be more spontaneous.


Work in progress with study 1




Study 1


Study 2

On 3rd June, I directed my attention to the Brecon Beacons National Park by looking through my window.

Here are two studies of the same panorama at two different moments of the day.





On 6th June, I did two more oil studies of flowers.


Tulips

Peonies and coffee cup


Finally, on 10th June, I went out for a plein air session and ended up with two paintings of the same subject because I wasn’t convinced by the first one.

This is the first painting, which no longer exists.


The second painting was finished the day after, and you can see it in my next post.

Black and white picture challenge 10 of 10

 the last day of this exciting black and white picture challenge is a couple of leaves.



For this final piece, I’ve created a life drawing of two leaves I picked up during yesterday’s walk. The one at the back is from an oak tree, while the one in the foreground is from common ivy. As always, I’ve used black ink pens.

Black and white picture challenge 9 of 10

 Today's drawing:



For this one, I drew inspiration from the woodland. During the dogs' walk, I picked up some organic materials to sketch later in the studio. So, here it is: a pine cone with two twigs of pine needles, sketched from life with black pens.

Black and white picture challenge 8 of 10

 Today's onions!


I may have been a bit too ambitious trying to complete this life drawing late in the evening, using only black pens. I thought onions and garlic on a tea towel would be a simple and quick sketch—but clearly, I was wrong.

Onions always make you cry, whether you're peeling them or drawing them. 😅

Black and white picture challenge 7 of 10

 For the seventh day of this black and white challenge, I drew this picture.


Today's piece is a life pen sketch of the "The Dog Rules" shopping bag by @totteringbygently. On the external part there are some illustration of a humorous dog story by Country Life cartoonist Annie Tempest, and when I saw it, I was immediately inspired to create today’s drawing.

Black and white picture challenge 6 of 10

 I needed a cup of coffee this evening. So, here it is my drawing.



This is a life pen sketch of my kettle, which was the only inspiring object I could find in the kitchen at the end of another super busy day. I’m in hot water now—time for a cup of tea!

Black and white picture challenge 5 of 10

And today's drawing is the following.



Inspired by my busy Sunday, this is my trusty drying rack. Despite being small and compact, it can hold a surprising amount of clothes. Life drawing in pen.

Black and white picture challenge 4 of 10

 The fourth drawing for this challenge is the following.



After another busy day, the only thing I craved was a cup of coffee and some ginger nut biscuits. So, why not use them as models for my life sketch? By the time I finished the drawing, there was only one biscuit left.

Black and white picture challenge 3 of 10

 On the third day of the black and white picture challenge, I decided to draw this.



Despite this being another pen sketch (I really do love pen sketching!), I wanted to feature Lola, the other studio dog. I drew her this evening, sitting on the living room floor after a busy day. She was curled up in her bed, wrapped in a blanket, with her muzzle tucked under her tail. The scene was lit by the kitchen light from the right-hand side. Of course, Lola didn’t stay in that exact position long enough for me to finish the drawing, but it was enough to capture the essential lines.

Black and white picture challenge 2 of 10

 On the second day of the challenge, here it is my drawing of the day.



This is another pen sketch, featuring my beloved dog Susie, curled up for a nap on her favourite chair in the studio. She must love the warmth from the radiator—who can blame her?! It’s a simple drawing done from life.

Black and white picture challenge 1 of 10

At the beginning of this year Claire Tozer, a lovely painter who shares the same love for nature and the countryside as I do, challenged me to post one black and white picture each day for 10 days.

This is my first drawing.




It's a pen sketch, drawn from life, of a corner of my living room and part of the hall, as comfortably seen from the sofa. I loved capturing the play of light and shadow, as well as trying to replicate the beautiful painting by Ursula McCannell, both above the shelf and reflected in the mirror on the left.

Tuning with nature