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10 Tips in 10 Days – Drawing

10 Tips in 10 Days – Drawing

Ok here is my last post for a few days…. I hope you enjoyed my 10 tips!  This last one is how I use my pencil  –  not just for drawing but for measuring and comparing.  So grab your favorite pencil (mine is a Ini OC-Gel  HD 0.5) and let’s get started!

Here is a lovely ocean scene at the Oregon coast near where I live:
The first thing I do is the hold my pencil vertical and stretch my arm out so that my elbow is locked.  All my measurements are done with a locked elbow so that the comparisons will be the same.  
How big are the rocks?  
With my thumb, I measure from the bottom of Haystack Rock to the bottom at the tallest part.
Now I measure how wide the rocks are.
At this point, I would make pencil marks on my paper using these measurements.  
Here I am using my pencil at a slant to get the correct slope of the rock.  Carefully bring this angle down to your watercolor paper.

If I want to add some of the ocean cabins, I measure how tall they are.

Here is how tall the nearest point of land is compared to the house and the other rocks.
Now that I have all my measurements and comparisons the next step is to do my drawing.
How about you practice drawing something using your pencil to measure and compare and let me know how it goes.
For the rest of the tips about using a pencil to measure, go to my post about Drawing Lesson, Part 2. 

10 Tips in 10 Days – Watercolor, French Vermilion

10 Tips in 10 Days – Watercolor, French Vermilion

Here is my new favorite color – French Vermilion by Sennelier Watercolor.

Vermilion is a dazzling red pigment originally made from a powdered volcanic mineral – cinnabar.  It was used in the art and decoration of Ancient Rome, in the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, Renaissance paintings and in Chinese lacquerware.  I love it for its brightness and vividness.   It is great for painting red poppies!
Check out my TEACHING SCHEDULE!

Up-close of Poppies


A Treasure Hunt!

A Treasure Hunt!

Artful Gathering Online Art Retreat is hosting a blog hop treasure hunt starting today, April 2, 2014!  Today is the first day of the treasure hunt and my blog has one of the secret words you will need to solve the final puzzle.  There are many prizes to win and the grand prize is a free workshop of your choice!  

To learn how the treasure hunt works and to see the prizes please visit Artful Gathering Online Art Retreat.  If you would like to sign up for the NEWSLETTER, you will get weekly updates on where to find the next treasure hunt words.  

This is my second year teaching watercolor classes with this unique online workshop.  You will paint along with me in the comfort of your own home with my personalized videos. 
This year I am teaching two workshops:  Watercolor Toolbox and Watercolor Fun.  Watercolor Toolbox is perfect for someone that wants to start watercolor painting.  Watercolor Fun will take your watercolor painting skills to the next level.So start your treasure hunt here on my blog page.  Look for the secret word.  I hope you have fun and will keep my fingers crossed that you win the free workshop grand prize!