Lessons

APPLES ON A PLATE

2/2/2025

THIS IS YOUR GOAL:
BE PREPARED TO achieve something else!

achieving something else is a bonus firstly because it will be unique and secondly, it makes you think about what YOUR painting needs.

in no particular order, think about:

big, medium and small shapes, variety
shadows describe the subject
chiaroscuro, checkerboard of lights and darks
squint to see values
soft edges and hard edges
its not white - so what is it?
highlight - save and plan whites
wet-in-wet is the key

additional materials:
kneadable eraser
soft pencils
value scale - pencil and paint

MY PROCESS:

i drew a small value sketch, not tidy, but showing where the lights and darks needed to be. this becomes my reference while im painting.

light to mid value underpainting: I PAINTED WITH WATER Around the bowl including the underside. while it was still wet i painted the background with soft sludgy grey and let it run where it wanted to go - wherever the water was.

while still wet/damp and using the same('ish) wash, i painted the front underside with a little burnt sienna added to neutralise

i added the beginnings of stripes with less water, after waiting a few minutes before adding light value red stripes over the grey ones. the painting is not about the red stripes so i must keep them in the background IOW LIGHT.

colours i'm planning:
lemon yellow
permanent rose
alizarin crimson
winsor violet
winsor blue (red)
yellow ochre/burnt sienna
burnt sienna

A TERRIBLE PHOTO FROM MY IPHONE which i have "altered" unsuccessfully! I will not buy another!!

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Drawing Perspective

3/4/2022

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the ONE thing that really cant be wrong

SKETCHING ON-SITE & LINEAL PERSPECTIVE:

Shows depth/volume on a 1 dimensional surface ie paper.
Look for a VIP - a Very Important Perpendicular, this is your starting point
Make sure photos are straight to the horizon. The horizon line is your eye level whether you are sitting, standing, on the 20th floor or in a submarine!
Always have a long pencil with you, looking directly at object, hold pencil up at arms length and mimic the angle, one eye closed. Maintain angle of pencil and bring down to paper - draw angle. Measure twice!!
A general angle is best rather than thinking you can recreate “accuracy” - streets are not as straight as you think; windows don’t always align; pesky cars, trucks and buses obscure your view.
VP Vanishing Point often trails off the paper
Aerial perspective is atmospheric dust particles that “cloud” distant objects and forms by giving them a bluish tinge and reducing details as they recede into the distance
There are many elements in a painting that can be altered and your work will be ok, lineal perspective is NOT one of them!

SINGLE POINT PERSPECTIVE CLOCK
Print your photo onto A4 paper, black & white is most useful, and draw/rule your own perspective lines with a red biro.

go out drawing , observe for 20-30 minutes, what angles can you see you see how do they look when you move your pencil up to mimic. where you close or shockingly wrong.

keep it simple, then start drawing, keep it small no bigger than a5

ciao amanda

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Author

Amanda's demonstrations include an emphasis on composition, colour, design principles, relationships and values.
By helping you to simplify what you see and how you think, Amanda will work with you to develop quick and energetic painting
skills whilst focusing on your painting "idea".
A wonderful opportunity to paint with a contemporary watercolour master.

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Amanda Brett - Watercolour Artist

Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.

Quality Guarantee: All my watercolours are painted with only modern professional grade watercolour paints on Museum exhibition grade watercolour papers, they are extremely lightfast and will become a family heirloom and passed down to subsequent generations. ALL art of ANY medium should be hung away from direct sunlight. Ifproperly cared for, watercolour paintings will last as long, if not longer, than oil paintings. I only paint on 100% cotton rag paper, mostly Arches and Fabriano, and frame to conservation standard with acid free materials.

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Drawing Perspective

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Amanda Brett - Watercolour Artist