The children explored techniques of using simple pen and ink tyo create their artwork.  They practised different shading techniques, such as cross hatching, to create 3D images just using fine liner pens. The challenges with perspective raised their ugly heads again, but I think you will all agree they did very well!

posted from Bloggeroid

Children's drawing course

I am always amazed at the amount of detail these young artists apply to their work. We are still using fabulous inspiration from nature to practice and improve drawing skills.

posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday 8 September Painting Class

What a great day! Some wonderful paintings and drawings done by the students.

 This painting was done by Julia. I love the colour combination and the moody sky. Just the water and reflections to do so looking forward to seeing it finished.

 Julie's squirrel in acquarelle is developing beautifully. She has really mastered getting the fur and the softness of the fluffy tail.

This is only Jim's second ever watercolour painting. I love the bright colours. Just need to put in the darks and he will have a very nice painting.










If you would like to have a go at painting, drop in next Tuesday and see us in action.  It's only £5 per session, either morning or afternoon with no committment. So just turn up on the day!

Tuesday 1 September Painting Class

September already, where has the year gone?
A few of our regular students are on holiday this week, but those who came made the most of their time and got stuck in to their paintings.

Here are a couple of photos from the day.

Jim has now completed his watercolour painting with trees and water. It has turned out really well and I have persuaded him to get it framed. Canalside Studios will be organising an exhibition of students work at the Navigation Pub on Hanbury Road.  Watch this space!

Julie is a new student. She has done some drawing before but wanted to have a go at coloured pencils. I suggested she try acquarelle or watercolour pencils. See her loveley drawing of a squirrel below.  Lots more work to do but it promises to be a very nice picture.



Post by K Hotchkiss, Freelance Artist and teacher

Tuesday 25 August Art Class

The students at today's morning art class continued with their pieces. See the results below.

Ruth started the painting on the church whilst on holiday. She just needs to finish the snow and she'll have a winning Christmas card! Ruth has now completed bridge in the snow. She's going to have a choice of Christmas cards this year !

Jim's first painting is coming along very nicely. I love the contrasting colours of the bright sunny day and shadows beneath the trees

Roma's gorilla has grown some hair! Beautifully handled in watercolour - not the easiest medium for fine details!

A triumphant finale on Friday

One of our artists can now put her feet up and sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labour! This tiger is to be one of three, the others being a lion and a gorilla, and is acrylic on canvas.   Roma builds up her painting by using numerous layers of colour to add depth and interest to her paintings. We will be posting a picture of her lion and look forward to her starting the gorilla very soon. We will try to post pictures of the gorilla as a work in progress.

Thursday - Children's Botanical Art

A couple of weeks ago I was invited by Karen to attend a demonstration on coloured pencil drawing. The artist was a botanical artist, who had won awards for her illustrations of apples. Botanical drawings can have up to 40 layers of colour on them and have to be absolutely correct. Even with today's technology it is argued that the camera cannot capture the true 'essence' of the plant. This inspired me to have a go at botanical drawing with the children. They collected their own plants from the canal side centre and attempted to capture all the details such as the veins on the leaves. This was a particularly challenging task so I was delighted to see how well the children did however one particular young artist showed a Stoke of genius with her detailed drawings!

posted from Bloggeroid

Children's craft Thursday

The children had a great day covering diaries for next year, and ring binders using fabrics and paper craft. This is a great project for all ages as the older children planned their projects whilst the younger ones just like to decorate them! Its great to see how children are nor restricted by colours and use colours they like rather than what matches. Let's see if I can successfully put some pictures up!

posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday 4 August Watercolour Class

Today the class was just about full. Everyone was busy painting a variety of scenes.
Brian continued his rose which is coming along well., Ruth, Sheila and Julia were doing bridges although in very different climates. Julia tackled a Mediterranean scene, Sheila did a canal in autumn and Ruth a river in winter.

 

 This is Sheila's canal scene. She has used lovely warm autumn colours against a moody purple-grey sky. The strong foreground trees help guide the eye into the misty distance seen through the bridge giving it a wonderful depth. I am looking forward to seeing this completed.

This is Ruth's painting. Again a canal scene but  in winter. The cool greys and purples give a sense of the cold. Ruth has used just three colours in this painting. She has some trees to add in the foreground and the reflections to do on the water but already it could be this year's Christmas card!

This is Julia's bridge painting set in the Med. A deep blue sky contrasts with the pale, sunlight buildings. Still lots to do but coming on  nicely.

Jess joined us for the first time today and did this night sky scene. The pale light coming through the clouds give the painting an ethereal atmosphere. The darker foreground gives you the sense of standing on a hill and looking over the lake. Lovely wet-in-wet technique in the sky contrasts with the hard-edge lines of the mountains.

Today Daniel came to the class and completed his unusual painting of  painted watercolour figures pulling water canisters over the snow in a pencil-sketch setting. Daniel said one of his former tutors has seen this picture and has said they would like it. Well done Daniel!

Today's paintings Tuesday 28 July 2015

A fabulous morning at Justine's Art Studio with some great artwork being produced.
Here are some of the results.

This is Julia's painting of the quayside. I love the colours used. The limited palette really lends itself to the moodiness of evening light and deep shadows. A great composition; the light-paved area leading your eye right into the busy harbour where all the boats are moored. The simple light coloured building on right is a perfect foil to the boats. 

 

This is Ruth's painting. A very strong composition with the grasses leading the eye into the picture to the silhouetted castle.  The sandy areas are just the right colour, Don't you wish you could walk along that shore and feel the sand between your toes? The dark patch of sea on the horizon looks good as does the hazy sun just peeping through the cloud.

Here is Roma's French street scene. 
Roma has done the outline in pen and then washed watercolour over the top. The photo on the left does not do justice to the lovely warm glow of sunlight on the buildings. The purple shadows are a great contrast to the yellow ochre and I really like the splash of orange of the canopy over the main entrance. The simple foreground just sets the scene. You could almost take a gentle stroll down the road and maybe stop for a sit down and enjoy a coffee sitting in the warm sunlight

This painting was done by Brian. Brian has just joined the class and this is his first painting with us.  Brian chose to paint in acrylic as he has already used it before.  I like the background very much and he has made it interesting without it becoming too strong and over-powering the main subject. He has carried though some of the main colour into the background which pulls the whole thing together. He has a very good eye for form and tonal values. I imagine that if I touch the rose petals they will be velvety soft.

Today we welcomed new starter Shirley to the group. Shirley is painting a canal scene. Come back next week to see how it is coming along. 

Well done everyone, hope you enjoyed the class as much as I did.  Karen

Watercolour Classes on Tuesdays

Hi!

Watercolour classes are held every Tuesday morning from 10 - 1 pm and from 1.30 to 4.30 pm. These classes are great fun and we have complete beginners to students who paint in other media but not tried watercolour before. Here are a few of the paintings the students have done so far.

We cover a whole range of subjects, from landscapes and seascapes to flowers and portraits.


    Last Tuesday we learnt about perspective and how to use it in compositions. We have also tried out pen and watercolour wash, using masking fluid and how to create texture, such as on rocks and pebbles.

My name is Karen.  I have not been teaching watercolour painting long, but I am really enjoying the experience. In fact, I think I am learning as much, if not more than the students!  I have met some lovely people and made some fab friends.

Hope you come back often to see what we have been doing!

Tuesday morning classes are now full, but we are starting a class on Tuesday afternoon at 1.30 pm.  So come on and join us!