Just checking in, to prove I haven’t bailed on this whole endeavor.
I started doing the next assignment in the first Oil Painting course, but when I got to Mr Watts’ “gestures” painting tutorial, it rocked my whole world so much I just completely stopped painting for the course and did some “gestures” for my own gallery. (Which I can’t show here, else I not be anonymous anymore!)
It just never occurred to me to try this before now. Use a limited palette of Burnt Umber and white, give yourself about an hour to complete something, and see what happens!
It was GREAT! I loved it! I felt such a sense of accomplishment to get something in about an hour!
Anyway, enough of that, back to the doing the assignments for the atelier. I’ve now returned to the Oil assignment and am almost done with a skull painting (which I will post as soon as it’s done).
Quick Sketch and learning the whole charcoal/carbon pencil thing
So I’m posting a few more examples of Quick Sketch. I feel I am getting the “gist” of it, but there’s a lot to it, so much more repetition will be required before it truly even starts to sink in.
I got some smooth-textured newsprint, and yes, in the 18×24″ size that was required, but I know how I am and how I work, and I knew that as I sit perched in front of my computer monitor that 18×24 is too big for everyday practicing. So I got some smaller sized pads too; Seth Cole pads of various sizes from DEW (current as of 2023). They have a lovely texture.
I feel a little more comfortable using the unique charcoal pencil technique (with the shaved, elongated point) but there’s a learning curve and I’m not “there” yet. I see the advantages of learning this technique, so I’m all in.
I’ve also been playing around with other types of smooth paper to use with these charcoal pencils.
I’ve never really warmed to charcoal up until now. It was always too “smeary” and I hated it when I first studied figure drawing. Conte Crayons (the sticks) with newsprint were okay, but they didn’t “translate” well for me with other types of paper. Now with these wonderful Conte Charcoal pencils and Wolff’s Carbon pencils, I’m changing my mind.
Layout Bond is a little too pricey for just practice, but I love love love the texture and since it’s acid free, I could theoretically sell drawings on this type of paper.
For all these years I’ve mostly stuck to graphite for drawing (using a mechanical pencil) but Watts is now “expanding my horizons” and I’m very grateful!
Well, back to work!
