Hoping to inspire and encourage those interested in drawing or painting to have-a-go.
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Pen and Wash
A friend in my Art Forum recently posted a wonderful Pen & Wash painting of a farm yard scene and I was instantly struck by the combination of pen and paint. I just had to have-a-go. This effort was fairly quick ... 30-40 minutes tops ... but it was just a trial. I learned a lot from doing it, in particular that I need to use the pen much more. I tended to just draw the outlines relying on the paint for the detail but I think I need to do enough with the pen for the drawing to stand in it's own right, just allowing some washed in paint to provide the colours.
Still, I'm quite happy with the overall effect and shall try something a little more involved first chance I get.
Friday 5 October 2007
Fuchsia's - the end of the season
I love to grow Fuchsia's and have about 60 different varieties. A drop in the ocean, but with 2 or 3 plants of each variety, as much as I have space and time for. We will soon be getting our first frosts and so it is time to lift them all up, put them into pots, and take them into the comparative safety of my greenhouse.
Regrettably, the process of lifting them will set them back and most of them will lose their flowers and foliage. To avoid large amounts of dead and rotting leaves in the greenhouse it is best to defoliate the plants first, and this is an excellent opportunity to prune them back into a nice shape. It is a hard job taking a plant full of flowers and reducing it to little more than a woody framework but it is essential for its survival.Because what gets pruned off is going to be thrown away, this also makes it an excellent time to take some cuttings. In my experience cuttings don't take quite so easily this time of year, but since there is no shortage of cuttings material, there is nothing to lose in trying some. For anyone not familiar with how to take Fuchsia cuttings I have some instructions, with photo's, on my web site.
Also see:-
Friday 28 September 2007
Pencil Drawing
Dipping my toe into the world of watercolours caused me to have to sketch out, very lightly, the rough outline of what I was going to paint. Over time I began to wonder how a picture might look if I did it all in pencil. When I finally decided to have-a-go I was extremely surprised and very pleased. In many ways I feel more at home with a pencil than I do a brush, and certainly get more satisfaction from the drawing.
Soon after the loss (through old age) of my beloved dog 'Tess' I decided to attempt my first-ever drawing of an animal. Tess's coat was what they call 'Brindle' and I found it very difficult to depict the varying light and dark shades without making her look strippey. Still, I was very pleased with the end result and her picture now hangs proudly in our hall for everyone to see. What was particularly comforting was that the long periods I spent working on her drawing, so soon after her loss, provided a warm and meaningful 'farewell'.
Thursday 27 September 2007
Watercolours for Beginners
I believe that everyone has the ability to draw and paint. What don't have is the knowledge of "How". If a person starts with very simple scenes and grasps a few basics, then progressively more difficult images can be accomplished as experience grows. This is why I make such a big thing on my site about "having-a-go".
Regrettably, many people who do have-a-go, start off with something much too hard, make a hash of it and therefore conclude that they can't paint. This is what I did in my teens and I wrote-off any artistic tendencies I may have as a result. When I tried again, more sensibly, in my fifties, I was absolutely astounded. Oh, don't get me wrong ... my pictures aren't brilliant ... but that's not the point. They are MY pictures and I had great fun making them.
In my Art Forum we run a Monthly Painting Project in which we all, regardless of experience, paint the same subject. We then look at them all together, not to determine which is best and which is worse but to appreciate each others approach, style and accomplishment and learn from what others have done. Interestingly, 'the others' learn from us also. In another post I will show you some of the projects we have undertaken. They may not be 'great art' but we're all proud of them.
So, if you've ever thought you wouldn't mind trying your hand at drawing or painting then visit my website. Better still, join my forum. Guaranteed, the question "I'd like to draw but don't know where to start" will be greeted by warm and friendly help, suggestions and encouragement. Go on ... do it ... "have-a-go".
Wednesday 26 September 2007
Rugby Forecast again
If only I'd have had some money on that one. :-)
Tuesday 25 September 2007
Sony DSC-H9 Digital Camera
Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra
Though the web site is functional from a display point of view, I have always felt it lacks one major ingredient .... sound! I would very much like to add the sounds of the various instruments in an interactive way to help children better appreciate the role each instrument has in an Orchestra. Regrettably, I have not been successful in finding a suitable set of sound files. Either they are not the type of sounds I am looking for or I can't get permission to use them. If anyone reading this can offer a solution to this problem then please let me know by using the contact form on the web site.
Monday 24 September 2007
Rugby World Cup Forecast
I don't claim to know anything about the game, in fact there are very few people who know less than me. My forecast is largely based on world rankings but with some additional parameters to take into account recent trends, current performance and performance during the World Cup itself.
The main purpose of the Forecast is really just an excerise in modelling. It isn't intended as a serious attempt to predict the outcome of the world cup. That said, unexpected results like a poorly rated team beating a highly rated one, will have an effect on the expectations for the latter games. That has already been seen with the shick defeat of France in the opening game. The Forecast was initially showing an 'All Blacks' v. France final, but not after that game.
Holiday in Scotland
New Chapter
LOL ... I'm quite sure this blog isn't going to get a massive following (or even a small one) but if I can get it working sympathetically with what I am also doing on my web site and in my forum, then it will prove to be very useful facillity and one that moves the development of my online presence into a new chapter.