Postcards from the Pool
In this workshop I will be showing you how to create 4 of my recent Abstracted figures. First we will be creating 4 colourful, patterned backgrounds on watercolour paper. This is the really fun bit! And feel free to create as many of these as you wish, for future projects.
Once we have done that, I will show you how to create a seated, a full figure, a standing and a 2 figure pose.
It is not necessary that you have had experience with figurative work as both the abstracted nature and the exaggeration of the figure allows us to bend an awful lot of anatomy rules! Just the way I like it.
OBJECTIVES
Learn to layer colour and pattern
Learn that even some composition is required even when making the backgrounds
Composition of pose
Fill your substrate(however big or small)
Exaggeration of the figure
Creating character and story
Including enough detail but still keeping it simple
Allowing raw areas to stay
What to paint over and what to preserve.
Bring the detailing of the underpainting into the subject matter.
Stop the need to ‘colour in’ everything.
Learn Not to fiddle and when to stop!
MATERIALS
A3 watercolour paper, i use 300g weight Daler Rowney
Masking tape(or painters tape)
Acrylic paint, i use mainly Amsterdam or Golden, (all colours can be replaced with something similar)
Titanium white
Raw sienna
Golden titan buff
Azo orange
Pyrole red
Turquoise green
Golden prussian blue
Sky blue light
Naples yellow green
Vallejo #57 Rose Red Azo (optional) or Winder Newton permanent Rose
Windsor & Newton naples yellow deep
4 inch brayer (roller)
Old credit card or similar
Foam Paint roller for the stencils
Stencils of your choice, i highly recommend www.stencilgirlproducts.com for really unusual stencils.
Palette sheets
Water spray
Paper towels
Hair dryer
Sharpie china marker (amazon) black
Stabilo mark all pencil 8046 (amazon) black
Flat edge paint brushes 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch.
INSTRUCTIONS
Backgrounds
When creating the patterned backgrounds, its not all completely random. We need to make some decisions as we go. We need to think about the relationship between the colours we use, how they relate to each other. I think it always best to start with the darkest or strongest colour first. In this case, Prussian Blue. Just a couple of flicks with the brayer is enough, we are not trying to cover everything. Allow to dry.
Repeat the process with each colour. Remember less is definitely more, don’t over do the coverage. Just a simple flick of colour can be all it needs.
Next, bring in some pattern by using a layer of stencils. How much and where you stencil is totally up to you.
Remember to experiment.
Drawing the figure
For this we will use the Sharpie pencil, remember that it is near impossible to rub these out. So start softly to map your composition in. But at the same time be confident with your drawing, we can really go crazy with the anatomy so don’t worry about proportion.
Painting the figure
Painting in the figure is kept simple, no blending, just layering simple coloured skin tones. We want to preserve alot of the fantastic underpainting colours and pattern.
Starting with the highlights first, think where the light would be, this will help the figure emerge and you will continue to create tonal values.
Block in the negative spaces around the figure but do not block out all the amazing background detail.
Create a horizon line.
Return to strengthen the highlights.
Lastly go in with your mark all pencil to strengthen any lines you wish. Do not be tempted to draw round the whole figure though. Have fun with some extra line and mark making.
Requirements
- Check the full list of requirements in the description
Features
- Follow along videos
- Repeat the workshop as many times as you like
- Join private facebook group
Target audiences
- Any one that wants to learn a new form of art