Ink and Wash : Tutorial

Alright, so the video below only goes as far as making this sketch and you'll have to wait for part two to see it painted - mainly because I haven't actually painted it yet. I wanted to upload it to YouTube first, and the thing is that it's takes about 4 times as long to upload a video as it does to make it. Here's the sketch: -

I've tried to simplify my style so that it should lend itself more to painting. Here's the video - oh and here's a tip - watch it at twice normal speed - I sound a bit like Minnie Mouse.

Ink and wash - Take Two (and three)

Okay - if you read my last post you'll know that I decided to try once again to take my sketching on to the next stage - applying watercolour washes to them. My previous efforts left maybe something to be desired.

Okay - so I made this sketch of Mariners Quay, Aberavon Beach: -

Mariners Quay

Positives: - I like what I did with the sky. The shadows on the buildings are clear . I like the different shades of grey on the path in the foreground. The colours aren't too bright and overpowering either.
However: -
While, in my opinion, it's a definite cut above any line and wash painting I've done before, it's maybe still not quite where I'd like to be. So I looked closely at it for a while, and what eventually struck me is that it's a little bit over-drawn.

I'll try to explain that. If you compare this to the sketches I made on Saturday, you'll see that this is nowhere near as heavily shaded. That's helped. However, there are still some unnecessary lines here. The glaring one is the line of the distant hills - this could have been better done just with the paint itself. The railings on the left and the wall in front of the buildings on the right are a little fussy too.

So I tried to put these points into practice for my next sketch. For this one I picked a building in town which I've always liked. Here's the ink sketch: -

Talbot Road

As with the previous picture, I kept shading to a minimum. Unlike the previous picture, everything apart from the main building has been simplified. I've been reading up and watching some YouTube tutorials as well, and so decided to use different subtly different shades of blue for all the buildings apart from the main one. I did later apply some light washes of different shades once I'd painted the main building.

It's got something - as an urban sketch it's approaching what I want to be able to do. However. . . I still think even this is a little over-drawn. The main building is fine, but the foreground and background buildings, although simplified, are still too much. So I had one more go, this time based on a couple of boats I saw moored in the river just a wee way from the sea. Here's the original sketch:-

Boats on the Afan

Now, I think you'll agree - that's minimal. I made the decision that this picture is all about the boats, and so the boats were the only thing that I was going to do in any kind of detail. Only one tiny patch of shadings, and any lines not actually part of the boats are extremely light. The idea was to try to convey anything else with paint. Here's the finished painting:-

For once, maybe my first time, the paint is not overpowered by the ink, and the two media work to enhance each other. This was only ever a simple sketch to start with- but the colour makes it.

Mariners Quay - line and wash

A friend of mine who is the Head of the Art Department at the school in which I teach said he liked my sketches, but he'd love to see me try to use line and wash more. I watched a couple of tutorials this morning, and then went out and made this. Definite improvement on previous attempts I think: -

Mariners Quay Port Talbot - line and wash

Aberavon docks and beach sketches

Took the pen and sketchbook with me for a walk this morning

Video Tutorial - Figures

In my latest video tutorial I demonstrate how you can put figures into your sketches, and why it's often a good idea to do this. I demonstrate making this sketch: -

There are actually three parts to this video - this is the link to the first: -
You Can Sketch Too 6: Firgues part one

The Back Yard

Sketching trips like Thursday's trip to Laugharne are fantastic, and really enjoyable. But you don't even have to leave your house sometimes. On Friday I was looking after my two young grandchildren, and the weather was nice enough for us to play out in the back garden. While we were doing this, I made this sketch f part of the back yard: -

Laugharne - 18th May

Took a day out yesterday - I have never before been to Laugharne, despite always meaning to one of these days. Remedied it yesterday, and made some sketches -

This is the famous Dylan Thomas' Boathouse: -

and this is a lane I sketched

You Can Sketch Too Tutorials

I uploaded my 4th and 5th tutorial videos to YouTube today. Both demonstrate making this street scene.

If you want to look at the notes which go with the tutorial, then follow the link below and scroll down: -

You Can Sketch Too - Street Scene

More Sketches

I made this one as a tutorial on sketching street scenes for my YouTube channel, only to find that the camera had stopped recording after the first ten minutes.

I also made this sketch yesterday morning. The building is Port Talbot's original fire station, originally built in 1912 - no longer used as a fire station: -

Video Tutorials - You Can Sketch Too

I made my first two videos today. They're called "You Can Sketch Too - 1 and 2" and you can find them on YouTube. There's a link to them on the right, but also a link here: -

You Can Sketch Too 1

The first video, which lasts about 8 minutes, is not a tutorial as such - it's just really an introduction to me, and talks about urban sketching in general, materials etc.

The second video is a tutorial/demonstration of how to make a sketch of a more simple building, and shows me making this sketch: -

Wedding Invite Commission

I undertook a commission last week to provide some illustrations for a wedding invitation company. Here's one of the finalised designs: -

I did the original illustration of Fombon Castle - I also think that the coloured paper and wash tinted variations look fantastic.

The company is The Invite Press, and if please, by all means check out their shop on Etsy - just follow the link: -

The Invite Press Etsy Shop

They also have a Facebook page - please check this out as well: -

The Invite Press Facebook Page

Project: House Painting

For over a year my wife has been asking me to make a painting looking like a huge line drawing of our house. Last week I made this small line drawing as a preparatory sketch: -

She wasn't all that impressed, if truth be known. Basically it's too detailed for her liking - he doesn't want the bricks or tiles or anything. Still, nothing daunted I bought a massive canvas, and began sketching out the house in pencil at artists group last night: -

Granted, it's not easy to see the pencil lines, but at least it's underway. The plan is to use a small brush with black paint in the place of ink - watch this space.

Urban Sketch - Brecon

Only time for the one sketch today while I was in Brecon: -

Urban Sketches : Cardiff

I made these on Saturday in Cardiff

Last week I undertook a commission for a wedding invitation and stationery design company and I'm delighted to say that it was well worth a bob or two. Very satisfactory deal all around.

Blast from the Past

Tidying up today I found these two coloured pencil sketches. These are the first pictures that I ever made in Afan Nedd Artists' Group. The little blonde chap is my grandson Ollie, and the little angel beneath is my granddaughter Amelia

St. Fagans Museum of Welsh Life: Sketches

3 sketches made during a (cold) visit to the St. Fagans Open Air Museum of Welsh Life at the weekend: -

Aberystwyth South Gate toll house

Oakdale Institute

Gwalia Stores