You Can Draw in 30 Days - Final Review

The book has lots of instruction using the basics of foreshortening, placement, size, overlapping, shading, shadow, contour, horizon, and density.  These are all important when learning to draw.  There was lots of variety in the lessons.

I did find that some of the lessons were very basic.  They would be a good first step for someone who wanted to learn how to draw.  The instructions are clearly written and easy to follow.  The samples are simple and don't skip steps.  Success should follow easily.  As a former teacher, this would be an excellent resource for elementary school teachers since so many of them have to teach art and have limited skills themselves.

As for anyone advanced, I feel that this book doesn't take the skill level to an advanced format.  I would have liked to see some of that.  It could have been put into the Bonus Challenge sections.  

I will keep this book handy and perhaps ever refer to it for cartooning or sketching ideas.  

Camera Lucida iphone app

A camera lucida is a device that, through the use of mirrors, projects an image onto a drawing surface which then allows the artist to draw or trace that image, because you actually see the image as you draw it.  This allows for an accurate rendition of that object or photograph.

One night, I had saw a program on TV that figured some masters used a device called a camera obscura to help them draw a scene accurately.  This program was called "Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters" by David Hockney.  His theory was controversial because he claimed that artists such as Ingres, Van Eyck, and Caravaggio didn't work freehand, but used a camera obscura and a camera lucida.

http://www.ancientmagicarttools.com/history-the-lost-secrets-of-the-old-masters/


I came across a Camera Lucida on the Lee Valley website when I was looking for some Christmas presents.  I was seriously considering buying one, thinking that it would be a neat thing to try.  

images taken from leevalley.com

Then, when I was checking for iphone apps, I came across a camera lucida for the iphone and the ipad. It cost me $4.99.  I decided to purchase it and give it a try.  I decided on this rather than the actual camera lucida from Lee Valley because it would work with photos on my iphone.  The actual one only works with a still life set up.  I liked the idea of being able to take a photo of a person, a still life, an object, or a landscape and use it.

There were a few things that I had to figure out.  One was, how to set up something so that I could put my iphone up high so that the image projected onto a piece of paper was large enough.  It also had to be a set up that I could look through the iphone screen as I drew the projected image.  I finally found a roll of paper that worked.  I got the idea from the itunes website (https://itunes.apple.com/app/camera-lucida/id362499096?mt=8). 

It worked really well.  The first thing I tried was a photograph of a family member.  It was clear and it was easy to use.  There was a tiny bit of delay in putting the pencil on the paper and having it show on the screen.  I got used to it fairly quickly.  There is a zoom on the app that allows you to get in close to the image to draw all the details.

There are some elements that come with the app that certainly add to it.  You can create a video of your drawing, your can use a grid, outline, and various settings for colour, mirroring, and corner ticks for lining up the image.

There is a website for the Camera Lucida app and I would recommend going through it.  There are videos that show how it works.  http://www.cameralucidaapp.com/about.html

I do recommend this app for anyone who is curious about trying a camera lucida.  Would I use it for my own art?  I'm not sure.  Perhaps if I was struggling to get some detail "just right", I might use it.  I may try to set it up mirroring my iphone with my laptop to see the image.  That way, I could get a much larger image.  If I do that, I'll leave a post later.

DROPBOX 

I came across Dropbox for my computer and my iphone.  I had heard a bit about it, but never really looked into it.  It was recommended as a top 10 app for the iphone on one website.

I've just begun using it.  I have so many photos on my phone and it was slow going to email the ones I wanted to have on my computer so that I could use them for my blog and other items.  Using Dropbox made it so easy to have all my photos there so that I could call them up and use them.  It is also easy to put photos from my computer into Dropbox so that they can also be viewed on my phone.  

I also have a number of files on my phone that were too large to email it to myself so that I could have them on my computer, which is where I wanted them.  With Dropbox, I can send my files there and then move them easily onto my computer.  So easy!

Dropbox is free.  For the iphone, it is found in the AppStore.  For a computer, it can be downloaded from dropbox.com

I recommend this app.  It's fairly easy to use.  There is a good help section in Dropbox itself.  It covers off a multitude of topics and gives clear instructions on what to do.

You Can Draw in 30 Days

I have taken numerous drawing classes over the years and have always felt that I learned a lot and that they gave me a lot of techniques that really did improve my drawing.

When I was at Chapters this past week, I came across the book You Can Draw in 30 Days by Mark Kistler.  It states that it can be used for those who feel that they can't draw, but it does cover the basics along with challenges for those who feel that they are ready for it.

I decided to buy this and work through it to see what I could get from his technique.  I also thought that it would kickstart me into doing more drawing.  

I won't be posting my drawings every day, but I'll probably post them every week.  So, check back for my results and my review of the lessons.  Just click on the above tab "You Can Draw in 30 Days".

Zentangles

Zentangles are something that I came across a few years ago.  

If you have never heard of them, the website describes them as "an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.

Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being."

They are basically a drawing that uses various intricate patterns.  They are usually quite small in size.  Mine are often done on a 5" x 5" piece of hot pressed watercolour paper.  I sometimes will add colour using ink pens.  

The thing about them is that you can do them anywhere.  All you need is a small piece of paper and a fine-tipped ink pen.  At first, I didn't really plan them, but as I did more and more of them, I decided on themes for doing a set of them which often incorporate a common element in each of them.  Once you get started, you just go with the flow of the piece.  You can't erase anything, so there are no mistakes.

Check out the website, zentangle.com for some basic instructions and even ordering supplies.  They have a newsletter that they email that contains new patterns with sample designs.  I recommend signing up for those as they have lots of examples and show how to do their new designs.

Here is a slideshow of my zentangles.  

Liquitex Pouring Medium

I came across the Liquitex Pouring Medium when I was doing some research on acrylic mediums.  I decided to give it a try.

(picture taken from the Liquitex website)

I found some squeeze bottles with a small nozzle that I could use to mix the paint as well as pour it out.  These bottles were actually meant for ketchup and mustard, but they worked great and were really cheap.  They were a translucent white so I could see what was inside.  An opaque wouldn't be easy to see what the colour was.  I think I paid $1 per bottle.

I poured in about 2 oz. of the pouring medium and then acrylic inks.  I decided to use the inks because I had them and the colours are bold.  I kept adding the paint until I got the colour I wanted.  Then, I had to shake it really well to make sure that everything was well mixed up.  I left it overnight to make sure that all the bubbles worked their way out.

I used a small 8"x 8" canvas.  I knew that it had to be perfectly level to dry, so I found a large tinfoil tray that I would place my canvas in and made sure that it was level.  I used popsicle sticks to act as shims.  If it isn't level, the paint will run off.

I started pouring and covered the canvas with different colours.  I picked up the canvas and moved it around to mix the colours until I got something I liked.  I set it down and let it dry.

The next day, I poured more and found that the poured paint was transparent so that you could see the first coat underneath it.  It allowed me to increase the intensity of colour in certain areas.  When doing this, I totally covered the canvas again with poured paint so that I wouldn't get a ridge.

I did this on another canvas once I felt a little more comfortable with the medium.  I also tried it on a wooden panel that had a frame around it that allowed me to pour without it running down the sides.  Both worked really well.

After using this, I would certainly use it again.  Maybe next time, I'll try it on a canvas over regular acrylic paint...just to see what it looks like.

Some hints:
     *Make sure that you have some sort of tray to have your canvas in when pouring as it gets
       everywhere.  If you pick up your canvas to tilt it, it will drip down and onto your work table.  You
       don't want it on something good as getting it off is a problem.
     *Wear gloves.  The first time I poured, I didn't and had sticky hands for quite a while.  Even after
       washing them multiple times, the stickiness would remain.  Perhaps nail polish remover might
       have helped.
     *Make sure the room that you put the piece in to dry is free of floating dust motes.  If they land
       on the paint, they will stick and be impossible to remove.
     *It does recommend spritzing the piece with alcohol to remove any bubbles that appear.  I didn't
       do that with mine, but I didn't see any bubbles when it was wet.  I did have some after it dried
       which were covered when I poured another layer over it.

Here are 2 of the pieces I did.

This was the one on the wooden panel.  I call it "Desert Landscape".

This one is on a canvas.  It really shows the transparent layers.  

I call it "On Fire".

Tablet Use --Photoshop versus ArtRage

This past year, I got a Wacom tablet.  I've been using the ArtRage software that came with it to create paintings.  I have also used Photoshop, but I do prefer ArtRage for a number of reasons.
1.  ArtRage is extremely user-friendly.  It doesn't require hours of reading and practising  
     before a person can use it effectively.  
2.  It provides numerous pens, markers, brushes, and canvas/papers in which to create 
     your piece.
3.  The blending on it gives a smooth finish.
4.  Using the tablet pen gives a "real brush" feel when working with ArtRage.
5.  I find that ArtRage allows me to work on painting ideas prior to actually painting 
     them.  I can decide on a colour palette, what I want to add/subtract to the 
     foreground, and try new ideas.
6.  It gives a "realistic" painting when I'm done.

I still find that Photoshop is still the best when working with photographs. 
1.  I often use it to see what mat board colours look best with my watercolour paintings.  
     It has saved me lots of cutting time and mat board because I often change my mind 
     when I see how colours change the feel of the painting.  I often check with family 
     members what their preferences are when I do this.  It's a great help and time saver.
2.  I use it to put things into grey scale to check for values.
3.  I use it to crop images, cut out and paste images, and adjust the image to improve the reference photograph.

Here are some samples of my tablet paintings using ArtRage.

 

 
 

The above images are under copywrite and can only be used with my permission.