DISCOVERING ART THROUGH EXPLORATION
Since I was a child I loved Greek myths and thought that whole world could give me enough scope to develop some ideas. It also gave me the chance to move away from more natural colours to the fantastical. Earlier in the week I designed layouts for three pieces. Compared to the last exercise this... Continue Reading →
Odilon Redon is probably not the most well known of European artists. He was/is grouped with the Symbolists who practiced art around the turn of the century. To put them into art history context they were a reaction against the Impressionists ideals and possibly laid down the blueprint for any succeeding movement that explored more... Continue Reading →
The technique used on Day 1, where the base layer was made up of cross-hatching colour, was so effective and interesting I adjusted today’s exercise to involve more of the same. Layering – all colours at once (using Staedtler Karan Aquarelles) This drawing was about applying all the colours at once from light to dark. One... Continue Reading →
When I started this project, colour pencils wasn’t something I was looking forward to. Matter of fact I was apprehensive – past experiences were that they’re a very labour intensive medium requiring a lot of patience and time. Even when I did a search online for colour pencil art I was suprised that practically all... Continue Reading →
It feels so long since I posted and I have definitely lagged in my commitment to this project over the last few weeks even months. I blame the World Cup – damn living in the southern hemisphere and all those early morning matches! Anyways, things are back to normal, I say with trepidation, the English... Continue Reading →
The design layout of this exercise also required some pre-planning. Again, I went back to the internet for real references of cupcakes and teapots. I then arranged them on a page to make sure they all fit with equal spacing around them. If I hadn’t of done this, I would have drawn the first couple... Continue Reading →
Paul Klee A favourite artist of mine. He is so different from the usual mob I swear undying fealty to – Caravaggio, Frans Hals and all the other Baroque gods. His work is quite magical and maybe he creates colour envy within me. As mentioned before, I struggle with using more than three colours at... Continue Reading →
I’ve never formally studied fine art or art history but ever since I was introduced to the works of Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec by my high school art teachers I’ve passionately tried to absorb as much as I can. When I handpick artists to reference for these exercise it's coming from accumulated knowledge and familiarity with... Continue Reading →
I don’t recall ever buying a colour pencil set, they were always birthday or Christmas presents, so I’ve had my collection since I was ten! I never liked colouring-in as a child – too many memories struggling to get colour to adhere to crappy colouring-in books printed on newspaper print. Testing Before I set off... Continue Reading →
This medium is an enigma. With all the exercises I’ve undertaken you would assume I’ve developed an understanding about how it works, yet it is a complete mystery. When I think I have it sussed it collapses on me, when I give it no prospect it comes up trumps. It does my head in. I’ve... Continue Reading →