It was a strange day today. The sky was nothing but high haze. Made it seem a bit post-apocalyptic to be honest.
I did get out for a walk though, which was good. I have had a bit of cabin fever brought on by frost and fog over the last many days. The hostile outdoors has me casting about for things to do inside. I think I am running short in that department. And as evidence I found myself preforming the scintillating chore of cleaning out the grease trap in my dishwasher and running it through a cleaning cycle with a special pod that contains mostly citric acid. The thing smells like a lemon grove now, which is a vast improvement over the pond scum aroma earlier.
I went to the library today and rummaged around in the book sale room and came up with a couple of likely contenders. When I got home I decided enough was enough and started my watercolor class that I purchased from Danielle Donaldson at the beginning of this month.
The first step was to make a little sampler of backgrounds to be used in the finished piece. But first, they needed to be drawn out.
I bailed on a couple of them and made up my own. Hopefully tomorrow I will paint them. I'll have to use some really small brushes. If I had REALLY thought about it, I would have drawn them bigger.
Alas. Too late now.
The watercolor paper photographs so much darker than the copy paper.
She has this signature technique to her drawings that I can never quite master. She calls it 'visual tension'. It's the little dark areas in the corners or meeting points of her drawings. Mine NEVER look like hers. It's infuriating because really, they are very simple lines. She must use some kind of alchemical spell. That's all I can figure.
Anyhoo... I'm on my way with this class now.
It's called 'Grumblemuffin'.
This is just one of the examples.
I have no idea what mine will look like. But at least I have BEGUN.
Cabin Fever or no.
Comments (2)
I've always envied those of you who are blessed with artistic and creative abilities. I would have liked to have received just a little ability, but it was not to be, so I enjoy the gifts of others instead.
Au contraire my friend. I did not start out with some natural talent. I once read a book called 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards. I followed the lessons in that book and learned her theory. She literally turns your ideas about drawing upside down. I still don't really have much in the way of an original style. But I have learned to copy pretty well. And taking a few watercolor classes has helped too. I think you might be surprised at what you can do if you really do want to draw. That book could open some doors for your creative soul.