the point of yellow I 9.6.16
the point of yellow II 9.6.16
the point of yellow III 9.6.16
the point of yellow
From Yardwork to Artwork: The Photinia Story Part Three
branch lines I 6.6.16
After the success of From Yardwork to Artwork: The Photinia Story Part One and Part Two, today Part Three will feature the photinia branches themselves that I have discovered make such versatile drawing tools.
One branch in particular has become a favourite as it takes on so many roles as you will see in the video later in the post. The wonderful marks it can make depend on so many factors. They can be either broad or fine depending on the angle at which it is being held it, and opaque or transparent depending on the pressure exerted. Plus the extra bonus is the frottage that the underlying wood of the drawing board produces within the lines themselves.
I think I’ll let the bough take a bow.
Why not find your own branch, buy some drawing ink and paper, and make your own branch lines. Let me know how it goes.
branch lines II 6.6.16
branch lines III 7.6.16
over my shoulder IV – the making of branch lines III
If you would like to see more over my shoulder videos here are the links:
The texture of the lines reminded me of figure drawings of mine from over thirty years ago, which I have now taken out from a drawer in the studio and pinned to the studio wall. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming next.
Finally, I’m linking today’s post to this week’s Discover Challenge: Origin Story for two reasons.
First, The Photinia Story Parts One, Two, and Three are all about the origin of an image and the story behind how it is created.Second, and the main reason with Father’s Day so close at hand, is to dedicate this post to the memory of my late father who set me on the path of making art from a very early age. He was an amateur artist himself and this painting of his hangs proudly in my office at home. It is a constant reminder of the true gentle man that he was.
Thanks Dad
a day like no other
Today has been a day full of honour, gratitude and inspiration.
Where to start?
Perhaps I’ll use the words of Dylan Thomas from the opening of his great poem Under Milk Wood, “To begin at the beginning…”
The day began with a message from WordPress Discover on Twitter that my post “From Yardwork to Artwork” was being featured today as an editor’s pick.
I had received an email a week ago from Krista, one of WordPress’s great Editors, informing me that she had made the selection and I wrote back to thank her and to say how honoured I was. Her weekly photo challenges are always so enjoyable as you all know, so a big, big thank you once again Krista.
This week’s Photo Challenge is all about Numbers, which certainly applies to today with my reaching over 1000 followers on The Changing Palette…
…so I extend my gratitude to all of my wonderful followers for staying around for so long, and to those of you who have joined today in response to the post on WordPress Discover, a special welcome. I will be replying to all of your great comments over the next few days, so stay tuned.
Finally, the inspiration today was from all those taking part in this year’s Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s Disease and Colitis. I walk every year and wouldn’t miss it. This year it was held at Trout Lake in Vancouver on an unusually hot Sunday morning, but as always everyone was in the greatest of spirits. A special thank you to all of the volunteers, organizers and sponsors.
It really has been a day like no other as you can see.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Numbers
“Numbers are everywhere” says Ben for this week’s Photo Challenge.
They certainly are and within a few minutes in the studio today I realized I was surrounded by them. On pens and pencils, paints and brushes,
boxes and cases…they were just about everywhere I looked.
the golden bough
A view of English Bay last night during the golden hour and beneath the golden bough.
I think Virgil would have approved.
A new champion takes the stage
7-5, 6-4
The numbers spell Garbine Muguruza the new French Open Champion at Roland-Garros today. What a match! What a future!
Photo taken from the television during the broadcast by NBC sports
sometimes the smaller the better
a mini landscape of the imagination 2.6.16
On my trip this week to Opus Art Supplies, my favourite art store here in Vancouver, I bought some new paints, which included a much appreciated free gift of a tube of Cobalt Blue.
The 4″ x 4″ square of watercolour paper that came with the tube, together with
a mini palette of paints, were extra bonuses and a nice surprise…
…and perfect with which to doodle a mini landscape of the imagination.
Sometimes smaller really is better.
Machu Picchu Revisited
Machu Picchu 1.6.16
Every day is an adventure in the studio and today was no exception. With a sparkling new Arches pad, together with Krista’s prompt to choose our own adventure for this week’s Discover Challenge, Machu Picchu seemed to be the obvious subject to revisit.
Those of you who follow my blog will know that the greatest adventure of our lives was the six day trek my wife and I took in 2013 to Machu Picchu. I started the blog in May that year before we left so that family and friends could be part of the adventure, albeit virtually.
Over the past three years I have posted many photos from the trip, including a gallery in response to Krista’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Reward last year, but with her prompt today and my pristine new Arches pad, I think June may become Machu Picchu month in the studio.
Stay tuned…
Weekly Photo Challenge: Spare
Seven days to go to the Annual Gutsy Walk for Crohns and Colitis.
Spare change always appreciated.
Why not register and help make a difference.
From Yard Work to Art Work: The Photinia Story Part Two
Photinia II 26.05.16
After Part One of The Photinia Story for this week’s Discover Challenge,
Part Two today is all about the leaves.
The green bin’s overflowing contents were collected on Wednesday but some of the leaves made their way into the studio…
…and it was time once again to turn the yard work into art work.
First another ink drawing using those perfect photinia branches to draw with…
…and then it was time for some colour.
And finally as a postscript to this post 🙂 an old painting of mine that dates back to 1974. It resides at the back of a shelf in the studio and I have to confess I had forgotten about it until I started painting the photinia leaves this week.
The title is Autumn on Hampstead Heath a place I used to walk almost every day with my parents during my childhood in London. The painting takes me right back to those distant halcyon days as happy, loving memories of mum and dad come flooding back.
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