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...
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!)...
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...
Hello Virginia,
ReplyDelete(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).
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!
ReplyDelete