sketching – Africantapestry

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016

Watercolour for Sunflowers.

Some subject are painted again and again and they never look the same, like sunflowers. I have done sunflowers in 2007, then in 2010, 2011, 2014 and now again. they are just wondeful to paint/sketch…the colour alone gives me huge kick when slapping it onto the paper. Sometimes my painting/sketching didn’t work, but I enjoyed painting sunflowers every time. So, before the season runs out, I need to get some sunflowers done in oil…looking forward to that.

Sunflower 1: Watercolour and pen, watercolour block, 30x30cm

sunflowers 2016

Sunflower 2: Watercolour and pen, watercolour block, 3030cm

sunflowers 20160001

à bientôt

Ronell

July 25, 2016

Agapanthus in watercolour.

The agapanthus in my garden are blooming profusely and beautiful in their blues ad whites. To my amazement I realized yesterday i haven’t painted any agapanthus yet. I gave it three attempts. The first attempt is probably still the best , even though it is not what I am after. Most of the time that I try two or more attempts of the same subject, I find that the first attempt is the best.I have experienced it so many times. I think it is probably an instinctive reaction to what you see for the first time in front of you..in order to capture that is…and as we all know… first, spontaneous reactions are always instinctive.

Agapanthus 1: Not great composition, but the first attempt and probably the best of three.

Agapanthus -001

Agapanthus 2: The values way too dark and the overall effect too messy.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus 3: Third attempt and I think it turned out the second best of the three efforts. I quite like the lightness of the blooms, but the overall effect is a bit stiff.

Agapanthus -002

Until next time

Ronell

July 11, 2016

Paris sketches in july.

When we drove into Paris last week and arrived at Porte d’Italie, I could feel it has been a long time since I have been there. I forgot the traffic, I forgot the speed, I forgot the taxis, the motos…but I haven’t forgotten how much I enjoy going in to Paris. I didn’t do any museums. The weather was perfect and I just wandered the streets, took in the summer ambiance…and I did some sketches of which only one or two were completed, the rest will be finished next time I get to Paris.

Paris 1: The ever recognizable presse kiosks of PAris. this one is in the tree lined Blvd St. Germain.

Parissketches 2016

Paris 2: Resting in the shade by la fontaine Sulpice, just opposite Annick Goutal, where I get my favorite perfume, Eau du sud.

Parissketches 2016-001

Paris 3: I can’t remember where I did this sketch, since I haven’t noted down anything. I could be somewhere where I stopped for a coffee.

Parissketches 2016-002

à bientôt

Ronelle

October 19, 2015

La Dordogne and a walnut grove: catching autumn colours 4.

The Dordogne is such a beautiful river and with the walnut groves just beside it makes for magnificent scenery, especially in October with its multitude of colour.

I am still doing landscapes “the new way”;, although I am beginning to think it isn’t the real me. My sketches are much more loose and more spontaneous, albeit not always pretty and correct. But it is me. The landscape sketches I am doing lately feels more like small paintings done in sketchbooks. They are much more detailed and take much longer than my usual way of sketching. I am still enjoying it though. Maybe I will find that golden median between sketching like this and my usual style..

..la Dordogne in October

watercolour and pencil in A4 sketchbook

..walnut grove..

watercolour and pencil in A4 sketchbook

..à la prochaine..

Ronelle

October 6, 2015October 6, 2015

Different sketches of the same street.

Right opposite my physiotherapist are some interesting houses in Beaulieu sur dordogne. I arrived early for the previous sessions and did these 2 sketches of the same street from opposite directions on different days. One of my goals is to move towards change in my sketching; my subjects, the way I approach it and the way I do it. In a next post I will lay it out in more detail. For the moment then, these 2 sketches: the same street, different angle and different approach.

..Street view 1 south..

watercolour and prera pilot pen in moleskine aquarelle sketchbook 21x13cm.

..Street view north..

watercolour and rotring tikka pen(0.1) Daler & Roney sketchook, 21X14.9cm

I tried a different technique for each one. The view north is similar to how I paint in oils .more impressionistic if you will. The view south is more true to my original way of watercolour washes. In both instances I wanted to keep the sketch loose and light. I also tried to complete a sketch under 45 minutes and I succeeded in doing the top sketch in about 30 minutes and the bottom one in about 40 minutes.

..à bientôt

Ronelle

September 10, 2015September 10, 2015

Beaulieu and people sketches

I am struggling enormously with my sketching lately. The whole process of art doing in my atelier is actually on the struggle. My art has taken a dive for the worse, but hopefully it will resurface with vigor soon. In the meantime I just follow the giant Nike’s advice: “Don’t think, just do it”. All in all, I felt better after doing these sketches.

All sketches done in the Stillman & Birn, Epsilon series, 14×21.6cm with watercolor and pilot prera pen.

I sat in the square in Beaulieu, first doing the Wednesday morning market and afterwards the view down the street.

I also did some people sketches while having a coffee. I find I have lately been moving into feathering again when drawing and I absolutely hate feathering. It always happens to me when I feel insecure in my art making. What I call feathering : I don’t draw a line in one go, I feather- feather in the direction I want a line to go, a lot of fiddling with shape and line…awful! It was good to get back into one line drawing, or rather sketching, by doing these people. they are wonky, but I feel good about the line work. More and more people don’t want to be the object of observation and I really try to respect that by being so discreet and unobtrusive as possible, making my observation a somewhat off the mark. I have to train my eye again to get to that discreet-drawing-level.

..pantalon rouge..

..pantalon arc-en-ciel..

à plus

Ronelle

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015

EDM-art 28-31: birdfeeder, garden ornament, faucet and eggs.

I am quite satisfied with my contribution to EDM. I have done every subject, 31 days. Definitely not project to do every month, but I am pleased with myself for sticking to it and completing it.

..eggs..

watercolour and pentel brush pen in Daler Rowney sketchbook,14.9 X21 cm

What has EDM 2015 meant to me.

I have realized once again that drawing every day is essential for developing different skills and keeping them oiled.
Drawing every day makes us see the world and every day subjects through different glasses.
It forces self discipline.
It pushes you to push yourself.
It makes an artist work through a problem and not around it.
I didn’t always like the theme/subject of the day, but being committed made me do it anyway.
Looking back on a completed month of drawing is highly satisfactory.
It is inspiring to see others interpretations.
The enthusiasm of new comers to drawing and sketching is contagious.
New artist friends are made.
New directions in expression are considered.
More looseness and free strokes/lines creep into work.
Perfection lies in the imperfect strokes.
Deadlines lead to getting the work done.
There is no such thing as “not enough time/don’t have time”.
Doing art/drawing/sketching/painting every day is simply fun.
The journey supposed to be fun.