SKETCHING, AN IMPORTANT PART OF PAINTING
Many students say 'I dont want to sketch, I want to paint' but without a good sketch you will not get a good painting and this is a good way to improve your sketching ability.
Whats New:
Ready To Paint Sketches
I am producing ready to paint sketches from sketches that I have done on painting holidays and sketching days out, I then scan these into the computer and then print them on to Saunders Waterford paper. This takes away the fear of spending two or three hours sketching and then making a mistake while painting. The student knows that all I need to do is press a button and they will have another sketch to work from.
updated 20.8.2011
CurrentNews:
Life Classes Once A Month
I am now running life classes once a month, instruction is given on sketching and using the key measure to get the proportions correct. it is a real challenge and one that will improve your sketching immensely.
Updated: August 21st 2011.
RecentEvents:
The Derbyshire Painting Holiday
The 2011 painting holidays have now finished and we look forward to 2012 starting with Derbyshire and based at Castleton.
Updated: December 22nd 2011
Materials
if you don't have materials
don't worry, you can hire materials for the day, so don't rush out buying materials wait until we've had a chat, and use the palette that I have already set up for hire.
Subject matter
ready to paint sketches
I have lots of sketches I have done on painting holidays and days out in Derbyshire that I turn into ready to paint sketches and initially we will be working from these.
If you are a beginner we will be painting from ready to paint sketches as a paint along. If you are an improver you can set your own pace or work along with the rest of us.
Life classes
once a month
I will be doing live classes on a regular basis. This is a fantastic opportunity to improve your sketching skills, they are five-hour lessons with a lunch break provided.
Sketching days
Learn the importance of sketching
sketching is such an important part of the painting. Without a good sketch it is almost impossible to get a quality painting, the sketch is the backbone of the painting. Having said that, sketching in its own rights is very enjoyable and it is so easy to carry a pencil and paper with you at all times and grab a quick sketch when you out or on holiday to bring back to the studio to paint from. Sketching is much better than a photograph, the camera can tend to distort perspective, whereas the human eye will catch the full essence of the scene. I don't even consider a camera is needed for capturing colour, as you know the colour of grass, the sky and the land, the only reason for a camera is to catch that fleeting shaft of light or the interesting shape of a shadow.
A good sketch cuts out the confusion when painting. It is so easy to see when a student has become confused in an area of the painting, that area becomes confused within itself. When painting it is important that everything within that painting is organised and a good-quality sketch helps that.
I say to all students they should have at least four small sketchbooks with them at all times. one can be used for capturing interesting tree shapes and texture. Another can be for capturing rock shapes, I can tell a student to draw me a square and they will. I can ask a student to draw me a circle, and they will. Then, if I ask a student to draw me a rock shape, they say what is a rock shape. Another sketchbook can be used for sketching people, getting the perspective, movement and realism of people living their lives. Another book can be made up of animals, sheep been one of the most difficult to paint and get the shape right, you can put sheep in almost any landscape. With these books if you need a rock, a tree, a person or an animal ,in the painting you have an example and it cuts out the guesswork.
