Ten minute Sketch: Tiny

Welcome Back

Today I’d like to share a picture of the ten minute sketch I created of my budgie Tiny. It was a warm day and he was having a rest, this meant he sat still for ages

Ten minute sketch of my budgie Tiny, sleeping

Materials used

• Progresso 2B pencil
• Daler Rowney hardback sketchbook

Hope you like it and will give quick sketches a try yourself, you can learn lots about observation. You will be surprised at how different a ten minute sketch will be compared to your regular drawing, but it all helps you learn more skills.

Please send healing thoughts n prayers for Tiny, he’s looking very sad at the moment. Loving how much he’s snuggling up to me but worried about him too.

Budgie Cuddles from Tiny

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie

Read Full Post »

Tutorial; Sketching Outdoors

Welcome Back

This month I’ve been showing you around my favorite painting items and why I love them. Have you been wanting to try painting and sketching away from home, in the big outdoors? Here are a few tips for making your field trip more fun and less of a chore.

You Will Need

• Travelling sketching kit
• Something to sit on.
• Clothing suitable to the weather conditions
• Food & water
• Planning your location
• Staying safe
  

  Travelling Sketching kit

Method

During my limited experience of sketching outdoors I found a few things that made a big difference to making the experience more comfortable.

Sketching kit; I covered this in an earlier post, both what I use and things to consider. Modify yours to suit your creative style. Keep it simple to avoid having something too heavy and bulky to carry

Something to sit on. A folding chair is great and doesn’t have to be heavy. If you have a good back, you can get away with just a folding mat.

Clothing suitable to weather conditions; Bear in mind you are likely to be sitting/standing outdoors all day. Choose clothing suitable to the weather conditions. Wrap up warm on cool, windy days. On hot/sunny days go for something with long sleeves and a collar, don’t want to get sun-cream on your art work A hat is a good idea too, which ever way the weather goes

Food & Water: Will you be sketching all day? If you aren’t sketching near somewhere you can easily get food and drink do take some with you. It’s easy to loose all track of time and get dehydrated, especially in hot weather. A flask of your favorite beverage and a sandwich or two won’t take up much room, but you’ll be glad of them later on

Location; Choose carefully, try not to set up in the middle of a walkway/path. Its better to take a photograph of a superb scene than set up somewhere very precarious! Choose somewhere you will be comfortable, and safe for a pleasant day. Under a shady tree on hot sunny days can be great!

Staying safe; Take a phone with you, they take up so little space, just think of it as insurance. You can keep it turned off, but it might be useful if you run into unexpected difficulties.

If you are painting near tidal water, make sure you know the tide times and keep an eye on the clock!

If you are painting somewhere remote, make sure someone knows when you expect to be back.

Options/Added Extras

Do you hate people standing behind you when you paint, or too much attention? Here’s how to minimise the possible audience participation

Pick your location; If you can sit with a wall/hedge or building behind you, people can’t stand behind you. Try to sit somewhere out of the way-rather than in the middle of a path and most people will either ignore you or pause only briefly.

Minimise your Equipment; I found if you don’t have too much kit out, you are less obvious I use a small bag with painting kit on and a little sketchbook on my lap, at this point you look more like you are having a picnic ;) so attract less attention. It also depends on weather the area is known for artists. If you are somewhere picturesque, where there are lots of people painting regularly, then as long as you aren’t in the way, no one will take much notice

Most people will show little more than a passing interest and walk on. If you don’t want to chat, just focus on your sketching. If you hate drawing when someone is watching and they stand right by you (Which is rare) just measure things for a while, without putting down any marks. If nothing is happening they soon get board and wander on.

 

Thanks to Dymphie for telling me about the following video:

 

This video was not made by me but has some great tips in there. Have fun

Best wishes and thanks for reading see you soon

Billie

Read Full Post »