Потрясающий художник аквалерист Jody Bergsma с небольшими уроками мастерства.

Пятница, 28 Июня 2013 г. 21:27 + в цитатник

Уроки на английском, но всё понятно.

You can copy a drawing onto 140 pound watercolor paper through a window or on a light table.
You are welcome to print this sketch at home for copying. 11 by 17″ would be a good size.

I will start with the lighter horse in the foreground.

TIP; Always paint light to dark with watercolor.

Even if a horse is white, it is more interesting to create the shadows with color, not gray.
The gray can be made with Burnt sienna and Cerulean Blue. The colors also shown are Cadmium Red Light, Payne’s Gray and Cobalt Violet.

Can you see the blue gray created with this mix?

Colors are placed on a clear water wash to keep them light.
I darken the edges to create curve and shape. Note the slight flesh color near the eye.
This makes the painting seem more alive.
SALT WASH; Just before a wash drys sprinkle salt on the wash to make a dapple look.

Здесь, для создания разводов использована соль.

SALT WASHES; are something you need to experiment with. Just play with it on a separate piece of paper before you do it on an actual painting.
When the wash dries the salt creates crystal patterns and adds texture to your watercolor.

For contrast in the mane I added a violet tint.

Eye detail; Did you know that a horses eye’s have a long pupil?
That’s so they have better vision for survival.

Note; Before I paint the Freisian, which will be Black I paint the back ground with a dark onto light wash.
Watch my Jody Bergsma”How to Paint a Watercolor Wash” video on YouTube for tips for this technique!:)

Like the white horse…I use allot of color to make my blacks. They are simply a darker version of the light horse.
Remember, “Repetition with Variation” keeps harmony in your painting.

The colors are blocked in with simple shapes.

A Freisian Horse often has red sun high-lights in the mane.
I made a new palette with Burnt Sienna and purple. When you mix those colors together you get a wonderful mahogany color.

When you paint the strands of hair alternate the darks and lights to give an illusion of shine.

You can see the same effect in the Arabian.

For the last details I use a liner brush. I use white watercolor paint for the fur and hair on animals.
You do not have to do this step to have a beautiful painting but if you want to try use Titanium White.
I mix that with the colors I have already used in the darker areas.

I keep the consistency about the weight of heavy cream so the strands will be opaque. Some would call this a “Gouche” layer.

The finished painting was titled…”Kindred Spirits.” and they are “Horses of a different color!

So if you find yourself indoors with a desire to experience nature;

Why not try painting! It is fun and every time you try you will get better..
Come along with me and PRINT OUT today’s drawing, transfer it
to WC paper ( you can trace it through the window) and lets begin.

ART TIP: I always paint from light washes to dark…
These first shades are for the tans in the bears nose.
Black Bears…are not all black!

Titanium White, Naples Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Sepia, and Cerulean Blue create the tans.
Brown and blue create wonderful grays.

I separate areas into small paint-able shapes for each wash. I let them dry before I paint an adjacent space.

Notice all the blue in the darker areas. this is created with Cobalt, Cerulean , Sepia and Burnt Siena.
REPETITION WITH VARIATION…The birds are the same colors as the bears.

Bears Cubs are small in the Spring…so I am using a bright yellow green for the back ground.

I added a bright Green Frog for more repetition of the green.

The grays for the branches and tree trunks are lighter shades of the gray in the bears. More Blue and brown
I once had a teacher that asked us to eliminate black from our art. This seemed to be impossible…but with practice,
Blues, purples and browns are all you need and your dark colors will be allot more interesting!

I use a wet on wet wash technique to add fine lines that put texture in the branches.

For Shadows I will glaze with color! These are all stain paints. Winsor Green- blue shade, Winsor Violet and Winsor Blue mixed in different ways.

Finally I add the texture of the fur using Titanium White Watercolor mixed with the original mineral washes of tans and grays.

Can you see how much Blue is in the Bear?

Most people will just assume it is black and not think about it.

So Next time you decide to paint black remember these little tips and your colors will be more VIBRANT.
P.S…
My Kitty Luna, almost one year old is learning to be an art lover, She is teaching me how to be a cat lover.

Happy Spring and “May the Forest be with YOU!

Love Jody

Having a real model is fantastic. I found this little guy in a wind storm last fall. He was almost perfect.

I keep him by my desk for inspiration and a little magic!

The drawing of the lilies was created from photos that I took in Hawaii.
The dragonfly came from my model.

These colors…Alizarin Crimson and Quinacridone Violet for the reddish/purple shades…
Winsor Violet for the purple and Winsor Green and Pthalo Turquoise for the Greens.

Place these opposite colors in alternating patterns on the wing shapes of your dragonfly.
I use a 00 liner brush with a tiny amount of Cobalt Blue to create the fine lines in the wings.

The Cobalt is added just as the wash is drying to give the lines a soft wet on wet wash look.

After your first washes dry…you can paint the adjacent one.
This keeps the painted areas from running together and the colors clean and crisp.
You can use a hair dryer if you are impatient or move on to another part of the painting and go back and forth between the shapes.
Here I have started the lily while the dragonfly dries.

The soft greens are made with Naples Yellow and Green Gold.
To dull the brightness of this green I add a little “Opposite Color” which is purple. To darken it I add Cobalt Blue.
Above the painting I kept the color research from last month?
I kept it close and in front of my palette to remind me of the favorites! Just scroll down to see this information on color.

Lily Pads are not usually blue…but artist license is a great thing.
You may not even have noticed the blue if I did not point it out!

The rings in the water are patiently painted one by one.
Alternate the colors in the wash in each shape and remember that water reflects the colors above it.

In some areas I added salt to create the crystal shapes in the water. Salt is great for creating “Sparkle.”

At this point I have decided that my lily is not purple enough.
All of the petals received a second coat of “Thalo Purple/Winsor Purple” stain mixed with Ultramarine Blue.
This second coat is called “Glazing” and is a secret trick to creating more vivid colors with this usually “Pastel Colors” medium.

I also glazed the wings of the dragonfly for more color.

I took some time to look up the meaning of Dragonfly as Totem Animal.
Here are a few things I found. First the key words…
prosperity
good luck
strength
peace
harmony
purity
The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization.
The Dragonfly is unique as it starts life in the water, climbs out it’s environment, and grows wings to fly.
These are the kinds of changes that we can aspire to when we meditate on this miraculous animal.
The dragonfly encourages us to “Remember that you too can rise above it all and make your life more then you ever dreamed…you can make it…a magical masterpiece.”
The dragonfly has a very short life and helps us be mindful of each precious moment…do not miss the opportunities to live, love and grow each day.
And lastly…if dragonflies are always finding you…remember that they are said to have once been dragons from another world and that their magic is right beside you.

Look carefully. The aqua’s in this photo are even more vibrant because the are placed next to soft blue lavender grays and white. Below you will see the colors I use to make the turquoise blues.

Lively turquoise has a few surprising elements like the Pthalo Green and Turquoise shown above.
These are “Staining” paints. The Cobalt Turquoise and Cerulean Blue are “Mineral” paints.
To find out more about how these work you can watch my video…Watercolor washes on YouTube.

I created the grays with Cerulean and Sepia…but notice the stain turquoises under the dolphin.
This color placement is there to suggest a reflection from the sandy sea floor.

Notice the subtle light gray next to the shore. In nature this color is rare. It only exists at the seashore and in the stone Aquamarine.

Create it with turquoise and a tiny bit of sepia. Keep your washes very light in the
foreground and dark at the horizon.

The rich teals in the background are a mix of Pthalo Turquoise, Cobalt Blue and Sepia.
The wave reflection at the sea bottom is made by using a clear water wash over the area and
then placing the color strategically to leave some areas light.
I often refer to “Repetition and Variation” which you can see in the color of the Turtle.
She is repeated in the rocks and the water.

To add interest to the darker water hues I added salt. This creates crystal patterns in the water.
Practice salt washes just for fun. Use coarse and fine salt to see the difference and put it on your wash
before it dries but not when it is still overly wet.

Here you can see the same palette with a little Naples Yellow Added. Don’t use too much!
Now for the darker blues. You need Cobalt Blue and Prussian blue.

Tese items are my preferred standard tools.
Flat and liner brushes are my favorite. The bottle is to help with the initial pre-wetting of the water washes.
I have 8 ceramic palettes for all of my colors.

Every painted surface that I do begins with a clear water wash and then color is added. The lighter areas created by the clear water wash makes the highlights possible.
The Prussian Blue creates the dark under-shade with very thin cobalt towards the top.

Little details are added with my liner brush and white watercolor.

I have now added some cobalt blue to the underside of the Dolphin to create an even stronger reflection of blue from below.
Adding a thin wash over a preexisting one is called glazing.

The final painting has line details added and some bubbles to give motion.
May I present the new dolphin and friends titled…”So Happy Together!”
End of Class.

Love and Happy Painting, Jody

Today’s lesson includes a few tips on “How to Create Compositions”
But this is not just about art. These principles can be applied to any part of life.

I call it the 3 C’s…Creativity, Craftsmanship and Challenge.

If we just do the same thing over and over life can become dull.
So when you construct your new project ask yourself…
Did this challenge me? Did I go beyond my comfort zone and ask myself for more?
Did I compromise my creativity with sameness?
Did I do my best work…and lastly…did I surprise and delight myself with the results?

Does your drawing tell a story?
Are there elements that draw the viewer into the picture?
Does the art make you smile or make you think?

Sometimes it takes awhile to get the result you want.
ART TIP…
I start with thumb-nail sketches that just allow the idea to emerge without the detail.
I suggest you draw on a small scale quickly to get intuitive and fresh results.

The drawing above is a thumbnail…none of the details are finished.
After I am sure of the basic composition I redraw the subject with more clarity.
All my drawings start with a “rough sketch”.

ART TIP…
I often use the principals of thirds.
Imagine a triangle and how a composition can fit into this basic shape.
Can you see the triangle and the principle of thirds above?

Story telling in a painting is another way to engage the viewer and make a more captivating drawing.
This creates curiosity and results in greater interest in the image.

And lastly…Does you work embody emotion. How do you feel when you create from your heart and soul.
Not only do you love the end product more…but I believe with “A Job Well Done” you love yourself a little more as well.

This principle is not just for artists.
Put more of the 3 C’s ( Creativity, Craftsmanship and Challenge) into all you do; work, friendships , family and life.
It all adds up to pride in what you have created and all the effort is worth it!

When you love what you do it will show.
As a matter of fact…All the best things begin with love.

This is my new horse…She is a young Polish Arabian mare and I named her Zenya.
Which means, high born, well bred and loved!

Life bleeds into art.
Let what you love be what you do.~Rumi

I wish a creative and full-filling Spring!
Cheers, Jody

Dear Friends and Associates,

Have you ever wondered about the significance of color?
Why do you love one and dislike another?
Why some make you happy and others make you uneasy?
And for painters and artists, do you consider this when creating your palette…

Are the colors you choose for your paintings in harmony with the meaning of your drawing?

In this blog I would like to discuss this mysterious subject.

First I wanted to do a little research. I asked my Face Book friends what their favorite colors were from the color wheel below and received more than 500 votes. Which one’s do you think were the winners?

What are your favorites? Below you can see the responses of the Face Book voters.
There were also a few additional colors that people mentioned that were not in the wheel like dark green, indigo, black, brown and pink.

By now you probably have your favorite colors in mind… cobalt blue and orange have always been mine.
Lets see what the colors you love say about you, your world and your character.

Color influences our emotions, our actions and how we respond to people, things and ideas.
Much has been studied and written about color and its impact on our state of mind and our daily lives.
Below are some of the personal characteristics attributed to certain colors.

Red;
Will, Energy, Action, Confidence, Courage, Vitality, Beginnings, Leadership, Masculinity, Appetite and Zest for Living.

Pink;
Universal Love, Joy, Romance, Self Worth, Protection, Caring, Acceptance, Gratitude, Appreciation, Fun, Exciting, Youthful.

Orange;
Enthusiasm, Happiness, Creativity, Sincerity, Luck, Passion, Survival, Sexuality, Nurturing and Caregiving.

Yellow;
Manifestation, Prosperity, Wisdom, Play, Joy, Happiness, Intellectual Energy, Sense of Self and The Will to Get Things Done.

Yellow/Green;
The Color of New life, Compassion,The Rising Green dragon, Abundance and Spring, Self Respect, Expansion and Increase.

Green;
Balance, Master Healer, Heart Wisdom, Enlightenment, Love, Nature , Fertility, Life, Attraction of Money. (Green is the center of the rainbow is very balanced and activates heart energy and wellbeing.)

Aqua Blue;
High Ideals, Calming, Healing, Refreshing, Soothing, Mental Peace, Youth, Fidelity, Hope, Divine Balance, Angels, Comfort and Rest. (Aqua and Turquoise activate the immune system.)

Turquoise/Teal;
Refreshing, Sophistication, Communication, Health, Protection, Confidence, Strength, Soothing, Dreams, Movement, Water.

Blue;

Power, Intention, Communication, Creation, Will, Cleanliness, Harmony, Loyalty, Dependability, Wisdom, Royalty. (Cobalt Blues activate inner vision and mental capacity while lighter blues create better communication.)

Indigo/Purple;
Wisdom, Self Mastery, Spiritual Realization, Good Judgement, Life Purpose and Connection to the Divine.

Note…Purples and Violets were the most popular colors this year. The last time I did color research (2010) Blue was the most popular.

Lavender;
Grace, Elegance, Refinement, Wellness, Delicateness, Uniqueness and Romance.

If this year you would like to increase an energy in your world try adding one of the colors that describes what you want more of. Better yet, create some art from the color traits you desire!
And most all…have some fun.
Color is the best antidepressant of all! (Especially Orange;)

Jamie, Lanette Tara and Jeannie. (From Upper left to lower right.) A heartfelt Thank YOU!

Art Class…”The Purple Rose.”
We received over 100 great title entries for this piece and the winner goes to,
Krista Kellen Delort for “Change Can Be a Beautiful Thing”. It won with 19 “Like” Votes.
She will receive a free print. Thank you Krista!

Purple is a tricky color so setting up a good pallet is important.
When mixing strong purples I use a combination of purple stain, sepia and cobalt mineral paints.
I started with some lavender rose petals (Compliments of James W.) and set up a series of purples and greens.

Wet the area with clear water to start and then add your colors.
Leave high lights and strengthen the pigments at the shadowed edges.
The Greens are placed in the base of the petals to create contrast and shadow.
GREEN IN THE PURPLE WASH IS THE SECRET!

As the purple stains dry into the structure of the paper
the cobalt blues remain on the surface and add interest.
Compare the last frame of wet purple to this dry violet. See the difference in intensity?
Watercolor paints dry back 20-40 % which must be planned for.

Now for the Butterflies…I chose to add brown to the purple for the wings.
Burnt Sienna and Sepia with the colors of the rose make the pallet.

The undercoat is made with neutrals.

The butterflies received a thin layer of transparent violet stain to bind the colors together.

Winsor Green, Winsor Violet and Thalo Violet stains will create the shadows and the overlays.

I use violet and green in the shadows.
Finally I add a few fine line line to make the details and the painting is finished!
I hope you learned some new tips on HOW TO PAINT PURPLE!
End of Class.

“Change is a Beautiful Thing”… and”Love gives us Wings.”
Congrats to Kim and Frank Bond on your new original!

I send all of you the bright colors of the season.
Wishing you Happiness, Hope and Peace,
Jody and Team Bergsma!

Walgreens of Ferndale, and Anacortes also have cards and ornaments!

Now onto ART CLASS; The Fun of Painting Snow-People.
The first thing you need is to get in the mood.
How to paint Christmas before Halloween requires a moon shift.
For me, I play carols!
Then I begin to draw.

I believe in “QUICK THUMBNAIL” sketches. This style of fast sketching can put energy and emotion into your drawing!
I use tracing paper to work out object placement and an opportunity for sketch improvement. (See the growth of the design from the rough blue paper “Thumbnail.)
Did you notice the addition of detail in the clothing and the rabbit in the final drawing?

After the sketch is transferred to the Watercolor Paper I mix a series of colors.
(I don’t work out drawings on watercolor paper because erasing ruins the delicate fibers and I usually ERASE!:)
Here I have Cobalt, Green, Violet, Blue and Cerulean Blue. They are light mineral paints.

To create white you need very clean water.
I apply my water with a squirt bottle and get just the area I want to paint wet!

Add very small amounts of paint to the pre-wet area. Notice the pink cheeks on the snowman.

After the snow people are painted white I create the dark background. Can you spot the salt washes?
Always remember to paint light colors first.

Your next step will be to mix allot of interesting greens. I mix the reds last because they “RUN” the most.

COLOR is is the fun part…Colorful details are a must.

Did you know that red and green are opposite colors?
Artists know that when you place them next to each other they create a feeling of BRILLIANT contrast.

Finally you can add the details of white for the highlights, stars, snowflakes and bunny fur
with thick white titanium watercolor and a fine liner brush.