Saturday, August 3, 2013

Getting Ready...

In anticipation of teaching workshops, "Panorama in Light and Shade", I made lots of practice sketches--especially sketches that break down the process of seeing value and creating paths of light and shade across the page--easiest to do in quick thumbnails.  I bought some carpenter's pencils awhile back to experiment with--great because they practically force you to draw with bold strokes, and defy detail...so thought that would make a good workshop tool...

Sketching here at Barnsdall Park in
Los Angeles...




 ...and a few more at newly re-opened Echo Park...


Easiest to see values when working with one color, so next step was moving to watercolor washes--a good way to think shape and value, and notice the effects of atmosphere and distance on the landscape (aerial perspective!)...



 While I was thinking about panoramas, I also had to sketch interesting stories and details that suddenly appear...


I came to the conclusion that a good way to introduce color while maintaining a range of values is to think warm/cool.  I like a split-complementary palette...and look for the color I see in the atmosphere...





2 comments:

  1. Hello Virginia,
    (we met each other already at Flickr).
    I follow your "L.A./California-Drawings" with interest, it's shows me (I'm from Germany - between Ulm and Lake Constance) a very personal (or should I better say "private" view of this region. I appreciate this.

    "Light and shadow" seems to be the most important of drawing and painting - isn't it?
    For me, it's always amazing how much expressive it can be, to draw with only one colour: Light/dark - warm/cool...

    I mean, it's a great idea to do this with "carpenter pencils" -
    very inspiring!

    Have a nice day!
    (so the people greet in California - isn't it?)

    Matthias

    P.S.
    I'm sitting on my "balcony garden" (it's very hot in Germany these days) and dreaming of California, I call it "Balikonia Dreaming" ...:-)
    You can see it on my post (blog).

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  2. Hi Matthias, so nice to hear from you! I agree that understanding light and shadow is vital to drawing and painting. That's why I made it the focus of my workshop at the Urban Sketchers Symposium in Barcelona last month. Thanks for your kind words!

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