Quick Sketches: J.W. Waterhouse

As a patron of The Unexpected Gypsy, I enjoy getting inspired by her art practices.  Lately, she has shared her copies of drawings by British artist J.W. Waterhouse.  She included the source material from the book:  J. W. Waterhouse: 93 Drawings ,by Narim Bender.

Copying other artists'work is called making a master copy.  As long as you don't pass the work off as your own original creation, there's nothing wrong with making master copies.  In fact,  it's a great way to learn from the masters.

Every drawing teaches you something, and especially master copy drawings.  

What artists do you admire? Pick a favorite artwork of theirs and try to recreate it.  The process will unlock new understanding and provide inspiration.

Happy Creating!

Watercolor Faces with the Unexpected Gypsy

As a patron of the Unexpected Gypsy, I receive access to paint-with-me videos she creates monthly.  I love slowing down, and following along with her step-by-step approach.  I use her process, and create my own artwork.

Last month, she painted a woman's face from a very loose and watery start, through several layers, adding contrast as she went along.  She used a photo for reference, then created her own unique person based on the photo.

Faces can be very expressive of our feelings, and as humans, another human face is endlessly fascinating to us.  You can invent your own faces, or find a magazine picture or other photograph and draw from that directly.  In the end, even if you try to stay accurate to the photo, you will put your own unique touches into the work.  Often, portraits come out looking a bit like our own reflections in a mirror.

I see that as a good thing.  It's as if we are looking at another human and painting or drawing what it would be like if they were us, or we were them.  We share a human connection through our art.

If you're interested in learning more about The Unexpected Gypsy, you can check out her YouTube channel for free, or join her Patreon.

Happy Creating! 

A Quick Pencil Sketch

One of my favorite artists on YouTube is The Unexpected Gypsy.  I have taken so much inspiration from the honest way she talks about her life, her emotions, and her art-making, that I joined her Patreon, where she shares photos & videos from her life every weekday.

The sketch above was from a pic she shared of an artist's date with her partner to a romantic, old castle.  I felt swept away by her story and video, and inspired to see the art she was making from this scene of her dressed up & sashaying to the magic castle.

Do you have photos that sweep you away?  Do you follow other artists?  Why not use that inspiration for sketching practice?

Happy Creating!

A Mixed Media Face with the Unexpected Gypsy

As one of the Patreons of the British artist Wendy Robinson, The Unexpected Gypsy, we get monthly videos showing us how Wendy creates her art step-by-step.

They're instructive and inspiring, and feel like a cozy visit with The Unexpected Gypsy herself.  You can find out more about The Unexpected Gypsy's Patreon, follow this link:

patreon.com/theunexpectedgypsy

I created this face by following along with Wendy's latest video.  She started the process with a loose watercolor sketch.

We added in skin tones and shadows.

Deepened some of the shadows,

and layered on more skin tones.

We let our faces dry, and began adding Prismacolor colored pencils to define the features.

Having the control of a sharpened colored pencil allowed me to fix problems I had with the tip of this imaginary woman's nose.

The Prismacolors were easy to blend.

Creating rich, layered colors, like the complexities of the lips.

Taking your time with a project like this allows you to relax into the process.

And when you're done, you've expressed a part of yourself.  You can give your person a name, and ask them if they have any messages to share with you.

I hope you give this process a try!

Happy creating!

Copyright 2024 Betsy Bangley.  All rights reserved.

A Zoom Art Date with The Unexpected Gypsy

As a Patreon supporter of The Unexpected Gypsy, I get regular inspiration and instructional videos from artist Wendy Robinson. One recent benefit of supporting her was a live Zoom session in which she & her Patreons created while we chatted.

It was lovely!

Each of us chose our own project to work on.

I created these faces on old book pages using an India ink brush pen.

The ink flowed readily from the brush, and sassy, peaceful, powerful faces appeared.

I find that doing this type of open-ended creative project while listening to a conversation or watching a video allows me to shift into a relaxed attitude and just play.

This character looks like a fairy superhero to me -- I added splashes of watercolor to the face after the India ink dried. 

I hope you find an opportunity to create in a loose, unplanned way.  To simply allow yourself to play with your art supplies.

Spring Watercolors with The Unexpected Gypsy

The woods canopy is beginning to fill in with every shade of green and gold.  

I love this time of year, when it feels like I can watch the leaves unfurl and expand hourly.  Awash in colors after the grayness of winter, I revel in the yang after the yin.

I recently enjoyed a "Sketch Date" with Wendy Robinson, The Unexpected Gypsy. As a Patreon supporter, I get to join Wendy and other patrons in a monthly live Zoom session.  We chat and sip tea as we create, a delightful group creative session.

Each person picks a project to work on.  Inspired by the beauty of nature outside my studio window, I painted a cherry tree decked in spring foliage.

I began this painting with an India ink Pentel brush pen to lay out the trunk and branches.  

After the ink dried, I sketched in the major shapes with Sakura Koi watercolors and a water brush pen. Details were added with Prismacolor colored pencils and Caran D'Ache Neocolor II watercolor crayons.

Making art with friends is a lovely way to energize your practice.  You can support each other, admire each others' creations and feel inspired by each other.  

Why not get together with a few friends and have a creativity session together?  If you'd like to join The Unexpected Gypsy for her next session, you can find her here:

Wendy's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theunexpectedgypsy/posts

You can also find her on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@theunexpectedgypsy

Happy Spring Creating!

Transatlantic Crossing Travel Journal: Dreams for the Future

Back to being a full-time landlubber, I find myself dreaming of visiting the UK again.  I love the friendliness and kindness of the British people, and the beauty of the countryside.  An artist I follow lives in Glastonbury, and speaks of climbing the hill to the Tor in her YouTube videos.  

I Googled Glastonbury and found photos of the town and the Tor to explore with my paintbrush.  My art practice extends my delight in traveling, even at home. 

I hope you'll get a chance to explore someplace you'd like to visit, even simply with your art supplies!

Faerie in Turquoise

During the lockdown, I discovered an artist on YouTube who creates for self-care.  She paints, writes, and collages in an art journal as a way to calm anxiety and support her mental health.  The Unexpected Gypsy's public YouTube videos inspired me to start an art journal -- then fill it, and embark on several more.  Creating simply for my own joy and self care is freeing and has become part of my self care routine.

I joined her Patreon, and it feels good to support a working artist who inspires me.  She produces special "Paint with Me" videos for patrons, and it was while watching one of those that I painted this little faerie. 

What a delight to play with colors and my imagination, and watch a character appear from my pencil and paintbrush! 

Hoping you'll take the time to play with your art supplies for no other reason than for your own joy! 

Art for Self-Care: Art Journaling

 
I recently began following The Unexpected Gypsy on YouTube and Patreon.  Her willingness to share her art process and to speak authentically about her life & emotions has inspired me, taught me new techniques, and encouraged me to trust my own creative process. As a result, I have created an art journal.  I relish my time listening to music, sipping tea, and playing with colors in my journal.

For the longest time I resisted art journaling, thinking, "I have a nature journal, a gratitude journal, a writing journal, and lots of materials for art-making, why should I add one more journal?"

Here's why: I am free to create anything I want in my art journal.  I don't have to share any of it, and because it is dedicated specifically to uncovering my own true self -- my creativity, my ideas, my dreams, my struggles, and the images my soul needs to express -- new types of art pop out. 

Sometimes it's just quotes that speak to me and give me a starting place to play with designs & materials.  But often, I find that I start with colors and shapes, like this liquid watercolor painting on gesso.

And then other ideas rise up -- here I added white acrylic paint and white gel pen. Each added layer uncovers more within me. I'm learning to trust my intuition as I create.  

Playing is vital to creative development in any art, and this new art journal has become my playground.  

I recommend finding a blank journal or sketch book to turn into your own art journal and creative playground!