Day 185 Low Country Cottage

September 14, 2020May 19, 20215 Comments

Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev. And of course more work to do on it. Fun painting the palm trees though couldn’t get them dark enough the first time round.

Arches 280 cold press.

I know I am going to try to paint the roof grey. Will paint some yellow on a scrap and then paint colors over it to see what turns it grey like a metal roof. Thinking purple will. Maybe on the blue side. We shall see. Will posts my tests too.

The photo. Kind of nondescript right??! Really in Cortez FL but I have seen 100 like it in the low country.

Value sketch.

The sketch.

First wash

Second wash. Actually a lot lighter than the photo

Adding darks. Should be one shot but I never get them dark enough.

And more darks.

Done for now. Definitely needs work. Thinking lighten the small palm in the middle because the chair is the focal point NOT that palm.

Tomorrow right?!! Margaret xoxoxo

Day 183 I might have learned something

September 12, 2020September 12, 20202 Comments

Looked at this one and thought that hubcap in the middle is TOO yellow. I have to knock it back.

So I did. Now the focus is on tractor not it’s tire. Woohoo. Progress.

Finally I know that I have learned something taking the paint alongs with Vlad and that I can do it ON MY OWN. Hallelujah

Because the focal point is the point of highest contrast. Anything else should be greyed out. The focal point should be on a third point. And this one is done. See how your eye goes right to the white boat on the left top?! FOCAL POINT!!!

Today I spent some time emphasizing it.

Before. The boat did stand out but now it really goes boing LOOK AT ME! It was killer trying to straighten out the wash not he right side. Was not sure of the mix!!!

NEVER EVER stop a wash w a HARD LINE. What was I thinking?!!!

Day 182 Tractor time

September 11, 2020Leave a comment

Ok so I like to draw vehicles. If I had my big sketchbook and fav juicy Derwent sketching pencil I probably would have drawn the cars at Costco or Chic Fil A drive through today.

BUT NOPE so I drew the tractor at Good Earth a local store that sells local produce. Great tomatoes green beans corn peaches apples and some locally produced items like my favorite popsicles King of Pops.

Today o realized there was a convenient place to draw the tractor and it’s trailer. I added some of the plants and moved some around for a more interesting arrangement a la Vlad recommends. Why take the class if u don’t give it a try?! If I had a pencil I would have done a value sketch.

Pilot micro pen Fabriano Venezia sketchbook. Tiny thing postcard sized. Sooner or later paint when I get around to it. It would love some paint. Maybe when I finish this one tomorrow.

Kitty taming coming up tomorrow. Aren’t they adorable?

Top-Bottom

Tiger 1 or 2 (twins), Blackie and Halley short for Halloween kitty. Her twin sister is Weenie. 🤣

Xoxoxoxo Margaret Tahred from shopping hauling groceries upstairs and then washing them all. Endless washing washing washing.

😘

Day 175 Done and another started.

September 5, 2020May 19, 2021Leave a comment

Finally. And I like it. Made me nervous darkening the sky and the foreground. But I like it. Very dramaticPaint along with Vladislav Yesileyev.

I painted a lot of the foreground with these brushes. That was fun. My acrylic paint brushes.

Green St, Key West 15×22″ Fabriano Rough

And started this one in an online class with Vlad Yesilesev all about how to pic photos. I know I learned a lot but right now too tired to tell you what I learned. The paper was out in the middle of the day for several hours so i have been behind all day.

The photo

Mind you this is suppose to be painted. Sigh. I think it took two hours to draw. Ridiculous. And I haven’t had time to do the value study.

Groan.

Off to bed. Margaret xoxoxo

Day 170 – The Way I Like Costco

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020Leave a comment

#2 Derwent Sketching Pencil small Stillman and Birn Alpha.

EMPTY. A couple of times a week I drive to Costco on the hunt for that elusive tp and sundries like Chlorox wipes and alcohol.

I drew this one to show the empty parking lot. Today when I went there were five cars there before me. Loving the early hours M-F for people over 60. They actually card us. This one old guy in front of me quipped can’t they tell my white hair and wrinkles mean I am really old. They need a card. But card they do anyway.

Got to say I feel safe in there. Sanitizing stations everywhere. The carts are sanitized too. And more wipes available if u want to do your own wipe. Hand sanitizer abounds. And miles to walk in the cool air conditioning. Just leave your debit card AT HOME. Wait they only take plastic. Touchless check out. LONG Sheets of plastic between you and the clerk. Just think most of the stock is never touched by human hands. They unload the palettes and stack them high.

Anyway pay a visit to your Costco. You will be happy. They go the extra mile!!

Margaret who can clock two miles in a Costco visit. Xoxoxo

Day 169 Cadaques Spain

August 31, 2020May 19, 2021Leave a comment

Verdict out on this one. I know u are tired of that line but maybe I will like it better in the am. Usually do.Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev

Vlads photo

My drawing

First wash

Still first wash on sky and boat.

Background trees washed in.

Done for tonite.

Margaret watching kitties play. Xoxoxo

Day 160 – Wow

August 22, 2020August 23, 20202 Comments

We are already 160 days into the corona virus epidemic. Hard to believe but then I guess 170000 dead says it all. Right?!! 😢😢😢

So I entertain myself with drawing my back porch birds and the other animals in my life. I do love to think about what they think. So I give you the Beauty contest page 😬

Lamy Ef, Caran d’ache neocolor ii, Noodlers Eelskin Ink, Stillman and Birn Alpha.

Five kitties on my back porch. Anyone need one. Wild cats one and all but hopefully tame soon.

Terrible pics. They really are adorable playing the way kittens do.

Margaret xoxoxo who hopes you all are safe and healthy. Bet I will be drawing kitties soon but first I better wash those windows. 🤭🤭🤭

Day 158 Update

August 19, 2020May 19, 2021Leave a comment

The Finger Lakes Upstate NY

Fabriano 300# rough 15×22″Paint alongs with Vladislav Yesileyev

Done. I lost a lot of whites and can be almost impossible to get back.

Had fun drawing white lines on it with my white pentel gel pen. It easily lays down a really white covering line. If it’s not getting entered in a Watercolor Show doesn’t matter if it’s gouache or gel pen does it?! Yesterday. I added ALOT OF DARKS today and tried to finish the water. A few more windows and darker ones bigger shadows more shadows. Greyes the power pole down. Built a fence and a dock well sort of.

Somewhere in Paris
Fabriano 300# rough 15×22″

Done

Added more darks and some whites with my white pentel gel pen. The darks really make both of the paintings pop don’t you think!??

I think when it comes down to it I just like to draw with something. A pen is good a crayons works so does a dark juicy pencil.

Fabulous clouds tonite.

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 153 Mustang

August 14, 2020August 15, 2020Leave a comment

My youngest son has always wanted a Mustang and last fall he finally bought one. You can read about the 64 1/2 Mustang here.

Yesterday I decided to draw it. Did I say he did not want ANY Mustang but an old vintage Mustang. He’s wanted it since at least high school. A red one.

Hmm he didn’t get a red one but he did get a lovely original Mustang in metallic blue.

Can’t decide if I ruined it coloring it. Stay tuned for more mustang torture. Ps it rides great w an engine that growls.

Lamy EF Namiki Fude Stillman and Birn Alpha Caran dache Neocolor ii

Vroom vroom vroom. Margaret Xoxoxox

Day 150 worse ways to

August 12, 20204 Comments

Spend the pandemic than virtual painting travel with Vlad Yesilesev

St. Martin du Mont

Almost done. Had to put my light pole back in. Oopsey.

Before I scraped the light pole in.

This paper loves to be scraped. Not sure what it is. Thinking 300# Kilimanjaro cold press.

I scratched the pole in with an xacto knife point. Doesn’t leafs work well but this paper loves it. I don’t like the way the same knife acts on Fabriano or arches.

The photo

Vlads value sketch

The sketch which I kept rearranging.

First wash.

Cad yellow and red, cobalt, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, Alizarin with a little dioxzine purple and a grey mix of those. Aka stir up your palette. Some yellow ochre gold.