Its' Cold Outside!

"Its' Cold Outside"

Christmas Card Scene

I have been locked inside my studio as I am working very hard on my new book which will be launched in 2016. This publication has been a challenge as it isn't like my previous books at all and I am having to think about every single word. Far more than usual. It is at the stage when the photographs have arrived from the filming session at the photographers studio recently and I have to choose which ones to use.

For each step by step in this new book there seem to be a zillion images. I often need to select just six to lay in the design and pages of certain chapters. I look for images that clearly show how I am holding and using my brush and they have to depict what I am painting. It is hard work as I find myself concentrating so hard at times. Luckily Bailey, my dog, knows he needs to interrupt me to take me into the garden for breaks now and then. What would I do without him!

It is grey here today. The sky looks gloomy and the rain has tried to dampen my spirits. But I am so happy because so much is happening. Most importantly I am opening and reading gorgeous emails from artists who were on my workshops while I was on my USA book signing tour. Many are almost making me cry with happiness. One artist has got into a gallery for the first time already after my course, having been guided by me to try as their work was so fabulous. Another has won two prizes. Another has had several sales which were totally unexpected. It is wonderful helping others reach their goals but one message told me my workshop had changed the artists life. I won't go into detail but the words really were so very moving.

Isn't it incredible by simply moving brushes we can reach out and effect others all over the world?

Painting is powerful. And I am so happy I do indeed paint.

So happy painting and I hope whatever your dreams are they come true. And I hope if you can, you find a way to make others dreams come true as well because that is the greatest gift in life. Making others happy!

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Robin in Watercolour : Seasonal Inspiration

 Robin appearing in watercolour

 The original model was posing in my garden this morning.

Painting a Robin in Watercolour

Its' that time of year when my Christmas card design should have been painted and sent to the printers long ago. I meant to paint my card design before I left for my USA workshop and book signing tour but there wasn't time as I was then working on my next book which had to go to my publishers before I left for my first flight.

So here I am , painting a Christmas scene and as I am enjoying the process so much I thought I would share it with my blog readers. That's you! Hi there. There is always something in life that urgently needs doing that gets in the way of what we really want to do at times. So I have abandoned everything to complete this card design and get it to the printers today.  

I hadn't really decided what to paint for my Christmas card this year until Rocky Robin followed me on my morning walk with Bailey. Rocky sings beautifully each morning as if to greet me. Bailey is more interested in sniffing around but I always take a few minutes to relax, unwind and appreciate the joy that this little bird seems to share. Oblivious to all that is going on in the world he sings his heart out.  And why not!

 If you want to join me take a clean piece of white paper and follow my step by step.

Stage 1.  Working From a Starting Point.

Step 1. Working from the eye as a starting point I begin to paint my robin in watercolour

 Start with the eye, leaving a little highlight,leave to dry then work away around the eye with an orange shade for the surrounding face area. Add the tiny sharp beak. The shape of my model was very round this morning as Rocky had fluffed up his feathers. But you can paint your robin to  look like one you have seen or have a photo of.

I painted the round shape by adding the back of my bird in turquoise and then I allowed violet to drip to form the little legs. These I attached to a branch with a hint of a line in water, letting the colour merge here.

 ( If you have my books please read the sections on working from a starting point !  ) 

 Stage  2.

This, as in any painting, is decided by personal choice. I wanted to add a background as Rocky was sat in hedgerow this morning with frosted fields in the distance. It was cold but the greenery in the foliage was stunning.  I added a hint of the wings and back of my robin keeping this section minus real detail or form at this point. Next, I added a few twigs leaving the top of them white to give the illusion of snow. This may be the only way I get a White Christmas by painting one,  so I enjoy creating my watercolour snow scene! I have worked green shades in the middle sections between the twigs allowing red to merge for hints of holly berries. I'm keeping the background  soft and less detailed. But will pick up a few holly leaves and darker berries later in the creative process. The  main point is that I am not  rushing this painting. I'm not in a race. I am not in a competition. I am painting just for me. Well that's not quite true. My friends and family always tell me they love my Christmas cards so I don't want to let them down.  I try to paint something that I know will make them smile each year.

 Rocky Robin sat on a twig with atmospheric hints of background foliage and berries.

Before adding any other detail I place my painting on my easel and take time to consider what to add next. As I mentioned so often on tour teaching workshops all over USA, when a painting goes right we love it so much that we don't want to put our brushes down. That's usually the point when we should to avoid over working!

So here is my painting so far on my easel.

 Robin painting on my easel so I can decide what to add next.

Stage 3.

Now I can easily see what is missing. The robin needs the addition of detail at the back of the head as the composition is very weak here. At least for me it is although the feeling of light looked fabulous minus the addition of further colour.

But I have continued with this painting. I have added a background colour that  works in harmony with the rest of the painting. I also placed foliage over one hard line of the twig going off the upper corner of the painting to soften it.

 Background added to define the back of the robins head using negative brushwork.

( Please read how to work  with negative shapes in the sections of my books that show you how to do this technique )

Stage 4.

Now I am adding detail to the berries in places and a few darks in between the foliage to add interest.

All that is left for me to do now is add the back of my robin. Just in a few places. And I can splatter white gouache if I wish to make it look like fresh snow is falling.

Adding darks to complete my painting, a gradual process, taking my time enjoying each touch of colour.

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One thing that everyone without fail has told me on all of my workshops whilst on tour. Is how much I give away, of myself, my time and my techniques. I want to. I love this. I love sharing. I love making others happy. Giving is the best gift of all and the messages I am reading from everyone who has loved my courses has made my heart sing, almost as beautifully as Rocky Robins' song.

Have fun painting, practise all the techniques you can to make your paintings shine and make others happy with what you do.

Happiness does make this world a beautiful place, one we should all cherish living in.

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Just a Blob Of Colour

 

 

"Rocky Robin"

 

What do we do as artists when our work is stolen and used by others to make a profit, as in the situation I find myself in with the Australian Home Company. We can stop sharing on line but where would be the fun in that? And why should some dishonest individuals prevent pleasure for so many people worldwide.

 

I know followers enjoy my blog posts. And I know people who cannot attend my workshops have access to seeing how I work by my  regular posts here. Some artists tell me they often lose inspiration and find it by popping online to see what I have been up to next. It lifts my soul to know I make so many people happy. And I have thought about it. I'm not prepared to let whoever is stealing my art stop me from loving what I do. Maybe I will just have to make my work even more memorable so that everyone notices it if they see it online!

 

Anyway back to my post. Last night I was playing with colour on scraps of paper. A particularly juicy blob of red faced me. So I used my finger tips to pull the red " blob" of colour downwards to create a red breast. I next added an outline behind it, of a robin. Once the little sparkling eye was placed in what I thought would be the right location, hey presto my blob was a robin!

Robin " Blob"

 

The funny thing was all day today, I couldn't stop looking at that little scrap of paper. And the real little robin that sits outside my studio conveniently posed beautifully for me while I painted. So much so that I added a little detail to the blob painting before my charming life model outside flew away.

 

Now this is a  finished painting. All inspired by a blob of colour

 

Cute isn't it!

 

Have fun painting and never let anyone  or anything knock or dent your enthusiasm!

 

 

 

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Playing With Shadows : Robin in Watercolour

 Christmas Watercolour

Placed on my easel using natural, daylight shadow for ideas on where to add darks.

Option 1. Light in opposite corners.

I have many tips which I share when teaching watercolour workshops interntionally. I love this one because it is so simple. I sometimes place half finished paintings on my easel and allow the natural daylight shadow to fall in different places. By placing each painting in different light positions.The shadows that fall across my work gives me an indication of where to add darks or further layers of colour. Often in ways that I had not considered at first. It is a great tip.

I can show what I mean by using the watercolour of a robin that I shared on my blog yesterday. I have enjoyed working on it gradually. By adding tiny sections and additions of colour to it daily I give myself something fun to look forward to each day, when I come into my studio. This morning I placed the painting on my easel to see where to work next. I have two " shadow" options for the surrounding area.

Option 1. I can work a layer of colour across the central section of this painting . Not quite as dark as the shadow is, but this would give the illusion of bright snow around my focal point. As in the image above.

Or.

Option 2. I could add a soft layer of colour in the two opposite corners and leave the central section brighter. As seen in the image below.

Christmas watercolour

Placed in daylight shadow on my easel to gain ideas on where to add colour

Option 2. Dark opposite corners.

There are so many wonderfully easy ways to improve our art without even picking up a brush. And at this time of year many of us miss painting due to so much happening whilst preparing for the Christmas season. So if you are one of the unlucky people who can't get near your watercolours at least have fun enjoying and learning from shadows. By the time you do get back to painting you will have learned so much and discovered many ideas on how to improve your compositions. Just from observing light!

Happy painting!

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