June 2009
South East Open Studios
June sees the 13th annual South East Open Studios. For a fortnight from 5th -19th June 271 artists throughout Kent,
East Sussex and Surrey will open their studios to the general public. Why not visit a studio near you?
Not only do you get to view the art, but you also have the opportunity to discuss the work with the artist.
Plan a circular route and visit several studios
My studio will be open on:
Sat 6th and Sun 7th 10.30 – 4.30
Mon 8th 11.00 – 3.00
Sat 13th and Sun 14th 10.30 – 4.30
Mon 15th 11.00 – 3.00
For a full listing of artists, their studios, addresses, directions, opening times etc visit www.seos-art.org or pick up a
SEOS ‘Guide and Artist Directory’ from your local library.
May 2009
Using a Sketch Book
Sketch books are an invaluable aid to an artist. Photographs can be used to capture detail and as a back-up to your sketch book work,
but are unlikely to capture the essence of the scene as you saw it as well as sketches or paintings completed on site. Back in the studio,
a series of thumbnails in your sketch book can help you to decide upon composition, tone and colours to be used in the final painting
April 2009
Painting in Tones
Tone, for me, is often more important than
colour in a painting. It is light and shade
which defines form, which is why black and white
photos are often so atmospheric. It is also why
when you are painting you can use a limited
palette. I am quite happy to use just three
colours in some paintings, knowing the tone is
more important than representing the exact
colour of what is in front of me.
March 2009
One Colour
It can be very helpful to paint a picture using just one colour as this will
force you to concentrate upon tone. Use a colour that has the potential to give
dark tones – Burnt Umber, Paynes Grey, or Prussian Blue, for example. Try using
just three tones to start with. Leave the white of the paper for the lightest
tone, and paint everything else in a mid tone of your chosen colour. When the
mid tone is dry, mix up a dark tone and paint in just the darkest darks on the
top of your mid tone. You might be surprised how recognisable the subject is.
Try using 5 tones – white paper, light tone, mid tone, light darks and darkest
darks. Photographs are useful for this exercise. Squint your eyes to see the
tones clearly.
February 2009
Colour Mixing
Here is an exercise that can be both fun and frustrating, but will certainly
help you to get to know your paints.
Collect a free paint manufacturer’s colour chart from an art supply shop –
Winsor and Newton, Daler Rowney, Holbein, Shmincke, Talens – it doesn’t matter
whose, they all do them. Now from the paints you already have, see how closely
you can mix colours that match those on the chart. You might be surprised how
close you get to the originals.
Do be aware that the colours you mix may look the same as a named colour, but
may not have the same properties (eg transparent, granulating, etc). Also be
aware that different manufacturers will use different names for what is the same
colour, or will use different pigments to make colours that have the same name.
So, for example, Raw Sienna is not made from the same pigment(s) in all ranges.
January 2009
Yellow, Red, Blue - The Three Primaries
This month I have quite a bit of information (including image samples) to pass onto you;
so here is a link to a pdf file on the theme of
Yellow, Red, Blue - The Three Primaries.
BTW, Happy New Year to everyone!
December 2008
What colours should I use?
There is no answer to this question. Some artists use a lot, others use only a
very few. Most artists, I estimate, have a range of 12-18 colours, but probably
use only half of these in any one painting. There are no right or wrong colours
– but there will be colours that work for you and some that don’t. If you are
new to painting use only a few at first – perhaps just a yellow, a red and a
blue. Whether you are new or not it is important you know your colours well –
for each colour whether, for example, it is a good mixer, transparent or opaque,
staining or non staining, and whether it granulates or not.
If you don’t find time to paint every day, try to find a few minutes to mix some
colours together. Mix pairs of colours together, then three, and then four or
more – mix them in different proportions to each other and keep a record of your
results. Finding time to get to know your colours is never time wasted.
More on this theme in January 2009...
