Betsy's Bliss Art Blog
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Fall Color Hike
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Painting an Autumn Leaf Step-by-Step in Watercolor
A great way to start sketching or painting a leaf is by finding the vein structure. It maps out the shape of the leaf from the inside out.
Beginning with a wash of cool yellow brightens the colors to come. When the yellow layer is dry, you can add reds, like this Alizarin Crimson mixed with a little Burnt Sienna.
Taking each section of the leaf and working wet-in-wet allows the many hues within each leaf to merge gracefully, and prevents hard edges.
Working wet-in-wet with complimentary colors Alizarin Crimson and Sap Green can become a playful dance. Keeping the two colors from touching prevents muddy browns, and the bold contrast of red against green catches the viewer's eye.
Happy Creating!
Monday, October 14, 2024
Pencil Drawing Class: Your Eyes are Your Most Important Tool!
Happy Creating!
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Stories in an Autumn Nature Journal
Happy Creating!
Friday, October 11, 2024
Make "Bad" Art!
I recently watched this inspiring YouTube video by Marie-Noƫlle Wurm on making "Ugly Art:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kngc8LXYdkc
She invites us to intentionally make art we expect to be ugly, and in doing so, releasing ourselves from the expectation that we'll make something pretty, acceptable, worthy, or popular.
I tried it & had fun! When I meant to make my bird drawings ugly, I stopped judging every line and nuance as I made it. The first one (top) I feel is truly ugly. I don't really like it, but it opened the way for me to experiment & quickly draw these other 3 birds.
Each one has its own personality. This one seems like a mashup of Foghorn Leghorn and a magpie.
Happy Creating!
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
More Fun with a Weekly Planner
Sometimes your world is so full of beauty, that you feel inspired to include it wherever you can make sketches -- in the borders of notes, even your planner.
I love this time of year for taking walks and picking up the bounty of nature - like this pumpkin and the little green apple.
When I make my week-view planner page, I start with a concept, like having a circle in the center of the page, and arranging the days of the week around it. Then I label the days and decorate with watercolors (pumpkin & acorns) or colored pencils (apple) and add my week's events.
The sky's the limit when you're experimenting like this. You may find that you make a sketch for your planner, and that starts you down the path to creating more. And isn't it fun to look back on your sketches each week, reminding yourself that you are an artist?
Happy Creating!
Monday, October 7, 2024
A Vase of Fall Flowers to Draw
I bought myself a bouquet of mostly mums and then played with making sketches on scrap paper.
I used a Conte crayon and a white watercolor crayon.
What do you love to look at in this season? Making a sketch of it will deepen your enjoyment and enrich your observations of it.
Here are my top sketching tips:
1. Pick something you love to look at and are curious about drawing.
2. If you feel too pressured to make "pretty art" on the blank page of a sketchbook, start with scratch paper or a loose sheet of drawing paper. If you want to include the resulting drawing in your sketchbook, you can always tape it in later.
3. Let your eyes drink in what you're drawing. Look at your subject (a flower in my case) 85% of the time, and take quick glances at your paper. This may feel "dangerous" at first, but if you trust your hand and use your eyes to see all the beautiful shapes, lines and textures in your subject, your drawings will come to life.
4. Keep speaking encouragingly to yourself. It's quite common to have an inner critic who loves to yell its negative opinions about your art, especially when you try something new. Please remember this critic is wrong. Incorrect. Off the mark. Never right. So just keep drawing, because the more you draw, the more fluid your drawings become.
5. "Bad" art: If you make a sketch that you don't like, turn the page and try again. Later, you will notice parts of the "bad" sketch that you do like (for me, it's that dark leaf with the light vein that hangs down on the bottom right side of my first sketch).
6. Just keep drawing! Everyday if you can, but as often as possible.
For me, following the contours of flowers is always pleasant & relaxing. What is relaxing for you to look at and draw?
I hope you take 20 minutes and make sketches of your favorite things this week!