Step-by-Step: How I paint

Our Glamorous assistant being, Erick.

(Yes, I do know it's Edmund from Narnia....)

But, he does provide the base for my Erick.

First, I sketch out all of the basic pencil outlines.

Then I watercolour in the base colours for each section.

Wait for that to dry...

Paint in the shadows....

And finally, ink in all of the outlines.

These have to be quick and sketchy, accuracy is not the aim of the game here. I find it gives them more character this way, more undefined details.

Very simple, yet quite effective.

And very good for characters. As I've said before, I dislike knowing precisely what a character is supposed to look like. I use a reference image, yes, but more often than not it is a mash up of two or three different images... or even people! It is within avoiding facial features which allows the imagination to truly run riot.

If there are any questions, referring to my story, or the art, I will be glad to answer them. If anyone would like to read it, I will take suggestions on how to go about it in the comments.

Erick

Character 5, Erick (and he gets annoyed when people misspell his name, just like Allan). His chapter is most definitely one of the last ones... He is an archer, like Ida, and he is in charge of that branch, descended from Sir Tristan.

I haven't written much yet for Erick... But I do know he's very kind and empathetic. Painting him was fun too, and someone had asked for a step-by step of how I paint these, so I will do that in a separate post. It gave me something to do today, as I was rather bored... I think the green is a nice colour, and it suits him.

"There were scrapings of chairs, and muttered sympathetic apologies to Kate. Erick patted her shoulder, smiling encouragingly, and murmured into her ear."

Greek Rock (how descriptive....)

Sorry! I seem to have neglected my coursework Posts for a while... This one is still following the theme of 'Surfaces'.


This was a double page spread, plus an A3 enlargement painting that I created for my project.
The inspiration came from my visit to Rhodes, the Greek Island, in one of the previous summers. I had found this piece of carved rock, perhaps once a pillar top or part of a cable, and it fascinated me. I loved how intricate the carving was, how intricate and delicate it was. And it made me think of how much history it must have seen, made me dream up all sorts of wonderful stories as to how it had fallen, or who had touch it. I love history.

For this page, I started with a pen and ink study of the painting, which I then photocopied, and worked into with Watercolour.
The result was beautiful, one of the best things I think I've done. It captures light and shadow, and the stone wheel in the background is gorgeous. Everything about this painting, I love completely.
I thin did an acrylic painted study, using heightened colour and a small section of the rock for enlargement. I used the paints 'dry' giving it that stony, scratchy look.

I love these, for their history and how successful the mediums were. This was a good way to continue my Surfaces project.

Ida

Character 4, this is Ida. She'll be narrating one of the later chapters, depending on when I get round to deciding whether she'll be in first or third person... She's an archer, descendants of which I have attributed to Sir Tristan.

I have found that Watercolours are particularly difficult to keep light, without losing the colour. Ida is meant to be Scandinavian, and I wanted her to have really pale hair and skin. I have to say the photographs are better than the original for conveying that, but her hair is still a bit too dark. I tried repeatedly to make her hair lighter by adding several layers of white on top, but they don't seem to have worked.

I think the lesson learnt here is to not try and paint things that are too light....

"The rally continued for several more flying retorts before Ida got fed up and threw something at him. It must have been Ida, it was her aim and the speed that it flew at, and the sound of his pain caused by the direct impact; it could only have come from an archer."

Happy Hunger Games!

Wow.

I think that just about sums it up.

Wow.

I'd read the books, and loved them, and this film stayed so true to it, everyone was cast perfectly, and they kept near everything as I had imagined.

Wow.

This is seriously beginning to provide competition for Harry Potter.

Maybe not....

But, I still had a brilliant day out! (after I had stopped panicking about missing trains, tickets, food, etc...)

I like trains.

...

We also managed to smuggle food into the cinema!

In this bag.

Food which included: Sweets, donuts, and, weirdly, Hot Cross buns.

Yes, I did just say Hot Cross Buns.

We are Strange.

Oh how horrible, a picture of me....

In honour, I plaited my hair like Katniss.

And I wore a dress that reminded me of Rue's flowers.

And a feeble attempt at a MockingJay pin, which I will only show as a vague reflection, as it's that bad.

See? Bottom left!

Ah. I'm still hyper on sugar.....

Have you seen the Hunger Games yet? What did you think? Do you love it as much as I do?

Maya

Character number 3, Maya. I think she will end up narrating Chapter 8... but everything is set in custard at the moment....

(Yes. That is a technical term.)

Maya, like Allan, doesn't know her ancestor, at least not yet. I plan to reveal several of them throughout writing, and I think she might know hers by the end...

Maya is calm, determined and one of the oldest in the group, but not in charge. This riles her sometimes, but she's generally a nice person, but has that mischievous side to her.

She's an interesting character, I'll tell you that, and while painting her, I debated what colour she should wear... I think the pink works well, doesn't it?

If anyone has any questions, please just ask, and I'll be willing to help.

"Her name was Maya, and she had deathly pale skin, and shoulder length dark brown hair. Her eyes were colder, but there was a sparkle, a cunning glint, and her smile was mischievous."

Craft Review: Week 14: Sunday 25th March - Saturday 31st March

This week mainly comprised of Art...... Which I in no way mind, but please notify me if you find it boring/tedious. Likewise, if anybody has a request for a drawing or a painting, please let me know. I would be thrilled to oblige.

Sunday

I Painted my lovely Rugby Players today. I love them, they're gorgeous. In all sense and meanings of the word....

Tehe. I love them.

Monday

I did some knitting for my second Fluffy/Buckbeack Scarf....

Tuesday

I did after school art, but as it is exam work, I am not showing you because I like to keep things secret.

Wednesday

I painted Matthew on Wednesday.... I was just extraordinarily busy and couldn't get to the computer to take a photo of him until Thursday...

I love Matthew also... His references were made from a combination of my favourite Rugby Player (anyone willing to guess?!) and the gorgeous Luke Smith from The Sarah Jane Adventures...

Thursday

Four hours of Art Exam prep work.... Joy.... and I mean that without the slightest hint of sarcasm. I love art, and I don't see it as a strain

Friday

I painted Allan (very late at night) and I nearly fell asleep in the process. Explaining for his arrival on only Saturday.

Allan, I'm not quite as in love with, but it's a nice painting, and he is growing on me...

Saturday

Yesterday, I actually painted Maya, but I forgot to take a picture... But I have now.

Tada!