Sketchbook Pages - Oil Pastels

In my last sketchbook post I said that I was going to carry on and start using my old oil pastels that I have had since I was about 16.

Many are now broken but the colours are still as bright as ever.

Even the original box ix still hanging in there!

I went back to my rose drawing and this time I added lines of cream, pink and dark red and then using a cotton wool bud I smudge it all together a certain direction to show the curve of the petals.

I then became a little bold and decided to go straight in with a page using all of the flowers and oil pastels on their own!!  I started in the middle and worked my way out.

I do like the texture that can be achieved using the oil pastels.

I really do like completing pages and over the past few months I have gotten myself into the habit of trying to do just that.
I can see a few more cards in the pipeline.  With the oil pastel pages I think that I shall print off these pictures and mount them on to card.

This turned out to be contrast pages.
On the left as you look at the pages the roses are in oil pastels, the leaves are in watercolours with pen to highlight details.  The other page shows pen, paint and soft pastels.
A complete change in direction then comes by swapping to charcoal.

Charcoal has its place and I do not dislike this page but sorry.....the pastels have the vote.
I think that I shall use the pastels on some more pages.  The bright colours also remind me of the summer that we all hope will appear soon!!
Have a good week.
xx
PS. I have found two City & Guilds Sketchbook distant learning courses and I am tempted to use the money I will earn exam marking to sign up for it.   What do you think?...........

Sketchbook pages- Even more...

Hope I am not boring you with these pages and I have pretty much finished these lessons but I have not filled the sketchbook.  How do people manage to do that?

Anyway, the ones above use just about everything that has been covered over the weeks. I am completing these pages much faster than I used to and I am having to snatch time here and there.

 Felt tip pens.  Not so sure about this one.

Trying to put several elements all together on to a page.  Gone for a brighter colour scheme and added some notes around the outside.  Used all sorts of media for this one.

A completely different direction with flowers and using white to highlight areas  These are some camellias in my garden, I did have to use a photo due to them flowering and now gone.  I did go on to make a card with this idea for my Mum's birthday in August.  Very organised for a change.  This was part of a task set to do.  I then took this further.....

using the hydrangeas that we have coming into bloom in the garden.  I do have a lilac colour and blue tone flowers heads.  Which are going to be huge this year.

Very happy with this page.  I then got a bit carried away and did some more pages.

Took a picture of a flower that we bought for the Jubilee weekend and had a go drawing it.  I think that I let the page dictate too much here.....a bit square looking!!!

My little paintbox has been working over time in the year since I bought it from Amazon.  I needed to buy some replacement pans of paint last weekend.  The course does not cover pastels but that is where I headed next....

I wanted to try and achieve a rose design.  I used the paints and whitener but I do not think that it turned out right.  So I decided to try some soft pastels and a cotton bud to smudge it in.  Much better.

I have not finished this yet but this design has all pastel with some paint for the leaves and bits of the background.

Next I want to try these oil pastels.  Again they were not in the lessons but I want to branch out and do my own thing as well.

There is a little story behind this box of oil pastels.  I bought these, not really knowing what they were, when I was still at school, about 15/16 years old.  I was doing O'level Art and wanted to try something new.  Saved up for them too.

They have been with me through all of the house moves, my BTEC Fashion course, BA Fashion course, City and Guilds etc.  They are still going strong.  Worth the money. 

I shall be back with the pages that I do.

Hope you are still with me.  I am really enjoying my sketchbook and I am looking into trying a course which will give me a qualification too.  That will also make me find more time to do this , I have managed it in the past.  Especially if I have to pay for it as well.

I shall let you know what happens with that.

xx

More Sketchbook Delight Pages

I am nearing the end of my Sketchbook Delight lessons with Alisa Burke and thought that you might like to see what I have done.

We were encouraged to have a muse to draw from and I decided to use shells and  dried poppy seed head.

Looking at different types of pens and thickness fo lines, shading, cross hatching and basically trying out ideas.

I then used some of the test exercises using the shell.

A mixture of media to create sketches of both objects.

I really do like using watercolours paints the most and today I needed to buy a few more half pans of paint to replace the ones that I have used up.

Mixing up the media again here.  Some of the sketches may look similar but it is the learning that is involved with these sketches.

One of my better pages, I like working in black, white and shades of grey. The exercises certainly gave me the confidence to just throw caution to the wind and just put paintbrush to paper and all of the other media that we had been practising with.

Gradually adding of colour to the drawings.

Watercolour paints, water colour pencils and black fineliner pens on thick water colour paper.  

I have noticed a change in the pages as I have gone along and I have been really pleased with how the tasks have had a positive effect on my drawing.  The online course has been worth every penny.

I have a few more pages to come once I have finished the final lesson.

Take care

x  

Sketch Book Sunday

In February I signed up for an on line Sketch Book course with Alisa Burke.  I have been working slowly through the lessons over the past few weeks/months.  I am finding to a good way to relax in the evening too.

I have also been putting my Polaroid Pogo printer to good use too.

This is the cover of my sketchbook it features a dried poppy seed head from my Sister in Laws garden plus a sketch of a shell.  There are reasons for these pictures.

Alisa Burke is having a reduction week for her on line course if you want to pop over and take a look, but be quick.

Getting to grips with pens and pencils with notes.

Moving onto to shading and light with a range of media.

Introducing colour.  I like using water colours and water colour pencils a lot.  Started using them when studying for my Fashion Degree and loved using them ever since.  They are a bit of an investment but they last a long time.  You can also buy them individually if a colour runs out.  I have still got my original tin bought in 1991 and added a few colours along the way.

Then a big sketch using the skills covered so far.  I am using an A5 sketchbook for portability but also I also have a chance of actually finishing pages.  i have signed up for the follow up course and I think I shall get a bigger sketchbook for that.

I decided to add some pictures of the item I was using to add another dimension.  It does not call for that in the classes but I wanted to be able to use them anywhere without having to carry a dried poppy seed in my handbag!

A change of media and on the left I used some of Sophie's wax crayons.  The picture on the right is Derwent  soft colouring pencils and some of these I have had since doing O'level Art and Design at 6th Form!

They are lovely to use and some are very small to hold so I may treat myself to a new set at some point.

Looking at patterns in everyday things meant more fun with my Polaroid Pogo!

Bold shapes and colour.

Doodling and shapes with colour to add depth.  I love doodling and letting my brain empty itself of the days

This is one of my favourite pages.  Bold lines and working quite quickly without being too precious resulted in something much better than I was expecting!  One of my favourite pages.

Moved onto lines, shapes and tone.
I am now working on a full page which I will show you when it is done. I thin that is enough sketchbook goodness for now.
I have really enjoyed this and wish that I had more time to work on it, but I am getting there..........gradually.
xx