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Building Bridges in Art – Graphite Sketches – Aspiring Artist

Building Bridges in Art – Graphite Sketches – Aspiring Artist

by | Living a Creative Life

Building Bridges

Bridges join two places together they bridge the gap between one side and another.

To cross a bridge is an important movement as we go from the known to the unknown.

It is easy to stay on your shore and not travel across a bridge both physically and intellectually.

You can reach out to new people and situations by building bridges, so you can grow in life in your mind and body and soul.

To try something new is a given in the act of building bridges.

During the design phase, an engineer will work out exactly what is required to build a particular bridge.

Each bridge requires a different blueprint.

 

Bridges in Your Art Journey

Find places in your art life where you can build a bridge to close a gap, chasms or abyss.

Do you stand on one side to watch and wonder about what happens on the other side?

Maybe you plan to do oil painting one day, I know I do.

Let’s see what that looks like.

Steps to Build an Art Bridge

First, I consider what things have to be in place for me to welcome oil painting into my life

For example, I will:

  • Require an oil painting class to show me the ropes.
  • Have to purchase oil paints and brushes.
  • Acquire new canvases.
  • Perhaps have to get, and store, some linseed oil and turpentine.
  • Need time as it take days to make a painting, because oil paints take so long to dry.

 

Beneficial Effects of Building a Bridge to Oil Paints

I’ll probably end up with quite a smelly studio so I’m going to make have to make sure that the windows and air-conditioning offer adequate ventilation.

The mess of oil painting the cost of the paints (and to be honest this is probably the most biggest blockage I have) two beginning with oil paints.

Questions I Ask Myself

Will the investment into all the equipment I will need for oil painting worth the result?

What if I’m no good at oil painting?

Should I concentrate on watercolors?

Who says I can even paint?

How I Built a Bridge to Art

I practice daily art.

I’ve even written about my current daily practice, and you can read more about that.

But the actual act of maintaining a daily art practice, is how I plan to prepare to build a bridge to further explorations of art, such as starting with oil paints.

I have never done oil paints, however I did one painting in acrylics and realized I wasn’t very keen on that medium which is why I chose with watercolor.

In the meantime, I still love pencil sketches and I have some of bridges near me that I want to share with you.

First Bridge over Niagara Falls

Let’s have a look at how bridges are actually built because they don’t just happen overnight.

This is the story of how the first bridge was built across the Niagara Falls valley between the USA and Canada.

Back in the day, a youth named Homan Walsh flew his kite, with a string attached, from the one side across the gorge to the other side where another person was waiting.

With the very first twine, they were then able to pull a lightweight rope over across the gap.

Next, they heaved heavier ropes which were ultimately made into a pedestrian bridge, and it began to be a substantial crossing point.

From that point on, they were able to heave wood and planks and eventually build the first wooden bridge that crossed Niagara Falls.

The point of this is that bridges are not just built overnight.

Bridges in Your Art Life

If you want to extend yourself by reaching over to an area of your life that is perhaps a little unknown, or of which you are unsure, it will take time.

You will be tentative to start with such as the kid with the string on his kite.

The first step for you to build a bridge in your life, to expand your artistic ability into whatever medium it is that you are considering going into, is to just begin.

For myself, I did take an art class in painting mediums which I had never used before.

At the art class, I used the studio’s art supplies and their products and was able to decide whether or not a particular technique was for me.

Such as with the acrylic paint, I didn’t like the way it moved and quivered, but I enjoyed the watercolor paint and the way the color pooled and puddled and how I could manipulate the colour with my brush.

That was what attracted me to do watercolor paintings to start with.

One day I may build a bridge to oil painting, but I don’t think it will be this year.

Graphite Sketching

When I began my art practice last year, I started with a pencil although I’ve subsequently realized the artists don’t talk about pencil drawings they talk about graphite

Graphite is actually what is inside the pencil.

As a child I was brought up believing that the grey stuff that was inside a pencil was lead and certainly it may have been many years ago, but these days it’s a substance called graphite.

Therefore, I’ll just talk about graphite sketches and that’s what I’m saying here.

Three Bridges in Vancouver

Recently I took my pencil and sketchbook out to three of the bridges that are nearby my home in Vancouver, Canada.

The downtown area of the city is built on a peninsula which is surrounded by water on three sides.

Vancouver has many bridges and each one is unique in its design.

Two of these bridges are within walking distance of my downtown apartment and the third structure was further away, but I went there for a day out sketching trip.

Burrard Bridge

This is an interesting bridge it was built many years ago and it has two concrete towers at each end with some kind of the superstructure in-between.

It is a highly used bridge which brings people into the city.

The way the municipal peninsula is formed, you can sit on the sand at Sunset Beach and see the Burrard Bridge which makes it ideally placed to be drawn by an artist and many do draw it.

This was an extremely interesting urban construction to draw.

Lion’s Gate Bridge

The Lion’s gate Bridge was built years ago.

It is a huge artery to flow people from the north shore twin cities of West Vancouver and North Vancouver into the city of Vancouver proper.

The Lion’s Gate Bridge is part of the Stanley Park nature reserve and due to its huge presence, is easily observed and thus can be drawn from many areas of the city.

This particular sketch I drew from the Coal Harbor side of the peninsular.

The Lion’s Gate Bridge is a huge structure, and it does look very reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco although the Lion’s Gate Bridge is painted green and does not have the span of its bigger cousin.

Port Mann Bridge

The Port Mann Bridge was only finished a couple of years ago and it replaced the smaller bridge that runs adjacent to it.

This was a very interesting bridge to sketch with lots of superstructure and cables holding it up that were remarkable to draw.

There are also two massive knobby things on the top of the pillars and I’m not quite sure what they’re about, but it was a very interesting silhouette to outline.

The Port Mann Bridge is the most recent bridge that has been built in Vancouver and it is very modern in its construction.

I went out to New Westminster one day for lunch and I was able to get into a position where I could draw this bridge in my pencil sketchbook.

Aspiring Artist Activity: Bridges to Art Mediums

In your art journal please do the following:

  • Write down any art mediums that you are thinking about trying in the future (graphite, watercolor, acrylic, oil, charcoal, collage, sculpture, mixed media etc.).
  • Choose one medium mentioned above, and list three blocks you have to bridging this gap.
  • List five steps that you can take to start your new art practice.
  • Over the next week, consider which will be the first step and think about when you can take this first step (next week, next month or next year).

 

Share on social with the hashtag #AlisonHazelArtAspiringArtist, so we can see the creations from your heart.

Daily Art Practice

Daily Art Practice

by | Art as Self-care, Living a Creative Life

Introduction

I want to talk about getting a daily art practice going. You may think you are not a good artist or perhaps you don’t even consider yourself as an artist at all, but I urge you to accept that you are an aspiring artist. My journey to being able to say I am an aspiring artist, or a beginner artist only came to me last year. On a whim, I attended an “Art Retreat” which was one day event at an art studio here in my city. Before that, the last time I had drawn anything was as a kid at school although I had dabbled at an urban sketchers group on and off.

Art Retreat

Joining me at the art retreat were seven other attendees keen to get arty. We made our introductions over hot coffee and delicate pastries.

The morning session began with a Lino carving which was then used for roller printing. I managed to print a few cards with the cut out. This printing with paint was a really messy process and I’m not likely to ever do that again.

Next, we made a watercolor painting and please note that I had never used watercolors since I was a child many Moons ago.

Then the group worked an acrylic painting and I had not ever done acrylic painting before or even seen acrylic paint. This medium did not appeal to me as I thought it was plastic and therefore when washed down the sink would eventually get into the seas and the food chain. I’m still not quite sure about this, but I know I’m not keen on acrylic paint either way.

After a highly nutritious lunch of vegetables and fruit washed down with beetroot juice, we constructed a crafty seasonal foliage wreath from eucalyptus fronds. This was fun and the one I created still hangs in my studio (note I said studio and not sitting room, see I’m already seeing myself as an artist), although the wreath is now very dry and if you brush up against it bits fall off.

Additionally, we made a mini terrarium with a tiny succulent which unfortunately did not make it, but I still have the handy jar where I now store my washi tape.

I came home with all my treasured artworks, and I was inspired.

I shared my experience with anyone who would listen. It was all I could think about for days afterwards. It was a turning point in my creative life.

Showtime

The next week I opened an Instagram account to show off my drawings and then started this website. I had no idea what I was doing or where I thought this would lead, but I wanted to give my newfound art expression a place to live and breathe.

At first, I struggled to get a name for this website because I just wanted to share my art journey. I hesitated to call myself an artist. I mean, don’t artists go to university and have degrees in fine art and five years training in all sorts of topics related to the craft? Who did I think I was?

But after quite a bit of thought and discussion with my daughters I realized I could call it “art” and actually added my name to end up with, Alison Hazel Art. This is the place where the art that Alison Hazel does is showcased, good or bad, big or small, juvenile or adult, skilled or not.

I post my art because it is where I am right now in my art journey. I could have waited for another five years before I felt I was good enough or received a certificate from a great art institution to say, “she is an artist,” but I chose to be who I am today.

This is why I share what I’m doing in my art life and the type of drawings, painting and sketches I do.

I urge you to as well.

Alison

Daily Art Practice

I know that to get better I have to practice. I may take a few more classes on art, I mean, why not? But there is no rush.

Having bought a couple of sketch books in different sizes and with a variety of papers, I now can dabble to my heart’s content.

This summer I’m aiming for daily art practice. For me this means doing a drawing, sketch or painting every day.

It will typically be a small art piece. I plan to put aside half an hour each morning to build this habit.

I prepare myself the night before by opening my sketchbook at a blank page and placing it on my desk ready to go.

I’m never sure what I will draw or which medium I will choose but that’s okay. It just happens that I reach for my pencil, markers or crayons and start.

So far, I’ve drawn little groups of houses, ladybirds and now fish. They are all simple and quick to do but I love how they work out. This seems to be a series of drawings that take a simple shape, a limited palette and black details. Simple.

I know they are not masterpieces and will never hang on my walls, but they are a testament to the path I am taking as an aspiring artist.

Consider developing a daily art practice, or any art practice, which suits you.

Have a creative day.

Alison

Aspiring Artist Activity: Daily Art Practice

In your sketchbook, or a variety of sketchbooks, please do the following:

  • Select markers or colored pencils from one color group like maroon, red and pink or navy, blue and turquoise.
  • With the darkest color, draw simple shapes in different sizes, for example, squares (for houses) or ovals (for ladybirds) or vesica Pisces (for fish), then draw some with the mid color and finally the lightest color.
  • With a black pen, add the details to finish the shapes off and bring them to life.

 

Share on social with the hashtag #AlisonHazelArtAspiringArtist, so we can see the creations from your heart.

Light and Color for Aspiring Artists

Light and Color for Aspiring Artists

by | Living a Creative Life

Introduction

As an aspiring artist, I’ve always been fascinated with color, how we see it, where it comes from and how it can change your mood.

Many of the great artists chose their color palettes and stuck to them through the different emotional stages of life.

In this series I want to share some basics of light and color as they relate to art and rtists.

If you are an aspiring artist, you could disocver that your color choices stem from how your day went.

Join me as I develop a few posts around the influence of color on our lives.

 

Visible Light

Visible light is electromagnetic radiation that we can see.

Light has wavelengths thay vary between infra-red at one end and ultra-violet and the other.

Infra-red has longer wavelengths than ultra-violet.

The human eye can only see light between the wavelengths of red and violet and not infra-red or ultra-violet.

 

Light Sources

Light is emitted from three main sources:

  • The Sun and stars.
  • Fires.
  • Bioluminescence in some animals like fireflies.

The Sun provides light and energy.

Green plants use to convert to sugars which in turn provide energy for the animals that eat the plants (herbivores and omnivores).

This plant energy goes up the food chain to animals that eat other animals which have eaten green plants (carnivores), and us (humans).

Light is energy.

Light gives life to planet Earth and energy to all the plants and animals.

Optics and Properties of Light

Optics is the study of light.

Light has several properties:

  • Intensity.
  • Wavelength (visible light is a small part of the wavelength).
  • Speed – the speed of light is around 300 000 000 m/s

Visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny packets called photons.

Photons are measured in waves and particles.

Your Eyes and Light

Your eyes are where light enters your body and consciousness.

Through your eyes the spectral sensitivity of your cone cells in your retina at the back of your eye can perceive changes in the photons between the infra-red and ultra-violet spectrum.

You have light receptors in your eyes and when the wavelength is within the spectrum you see light as colour.

Your ablity to percieve light and color is an amazing thing that your body does.

Other light (or electromagnetic radiation) like gamma ray, x-rays and microwaves you cannot see.

Optical Phenomena

Some interesting optical phenomena that break down lights are:

  • Rainbows.
  • Aurora borealis.

The spectrum is the colours we can see, and they are usually known as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

These seven colours are not always evenly distributed in a rainbow.

The  names of the colours are where they are their most intense.

We see an object and call it a colour by the way it throws light back and what we see in our eyes.

Objects will either:

  • Reflect light.
  • Refract light.
  • Absorb light.
  • Or a combination of all three.

How you Perceive Colour

You see colour through the rods and cones in the retina of your eyes.

In daylight you can see all the colours but during twilight, as it gets darker at night and in predawn, you can only perceive colours at the blue, indigo and violet end of the spectrum.

That is why it is hard to see red in the dark.

What you See

Most people can only see the rainbow from red to violet.

This is the normal spectral range.

Some highly evolved beings are reported to see colours at the extremes of the electromagnetic colour range and they can see infra red and ultra violet.

Animals and particularly snakes, can sense infra red and some insects and spiders can sense ultra violet.

In both cases the animals don’t ‘see’ with their eyes but have developed other sensory glands.

This suggests that perception, or what you see can be brought to your brain through other channels than your eyes.

Sensory Channels to See Colour

Colour is not only seen with your eyes, but it can be perceived through other sensory channels.

Some people can feel colours and many colour therapists report this ability.

Others hear colours through listening to music and can ‘picture’ the tune in their head.

Physiology of Colour Therapy

Physiology looks at how color therapy relates to your ordinary functions.

A physiological state exists in your normal holistic state.

Monochrome

If we lived in a black and white world where everything was a shade of grey there would be no use for color.

A monochrome state marks the boundaries of a yes/no and on/off function of black and white on the human experience.

Add Color to the Mix

On a basic level color changes how we live, think, feel and act.

It brings things to life and we cannot imagine life without colour.

Each colour can make subtle changes to our mood, outlook and physical being.

Colors can be used to transform us from one state of existence into another.

Limited Palette Sketchbook Tour

Limited Palette Sketchbook Tour

by | Living a Creative Life

Limited Palette Sketchbook Tour

Field Sketchbook

Last month I bought a field Peters Pauper Press field sketch book from my local bookshop.

This sketchbook is quite dinky and measures around 10cm x 14cm, A6 or 4 1/8 inches by 5 3/4 inches.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a sketchbook that I could take with me everywhere I went.

At first, I had no idea what I would draw in my shiny new sketchbook, but I had high hopes.



Evening Art

I sat down in front of the TV that evening and drew the cover page, and admittedly, this has color.

The next evening, as I had left the little sketch book on the coffee table in the living room, when I sat down again after dinner, I picked it up.

 

Angel Drawing

I drew a little Angel which I had done often in the past.

I thought I would colour it in like a stained glass window, but by the time I went to bed I’d only done the black outline.

The next night I drew another stained glass window with three angels.

At this time, I was still planning to add vibrant colour, but it was not to be.

Limited Palette

I began to enjoy how the pages were simply inked in black and white.

I realized that this is the ultimate limited palette, actually one color really, the black, as the white was the paper after all.

And so, it went on.

Each evening I picked up my little sketchbook and created a drawing of something in simple black and white.

Supplies Tray

After a few days, I set up a wooden tray on my coffee table with three different thicknesses of black pen that I would use in the drawings.

I had 0.3mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm black pens.

I started each artwork with a pencil sketch and then added ink, so I added my pencil and an eraser to the now officially called, “Art Tray.”

Right Hand Page

When I work in sketchbooks, I only like to draw on the right hand page.

I am right handed, and it is more natural to work this way.

I really never draw on the left hand page as that is the back of the page before’s drawing.

I live in the hope that some of my art will be good enough to frame, so I don’t want artworks on both the back and front of the paper.

Also, it stops the ink bleeding from the first image through the paper to the second drawing on the other side.

 

Daily Drawing Practice

I pushed on, drawing every night for about six weeks and still the sketchbook is not yet full.

When I’m finished all the pages, I’m going to flip through it so you can see what I created.

I hope this inspires you to start another field, or mini sketchbook, for yourself.

I may do something else in the next one, or I might make it another theme, perhaps with black, red and white like the color palette that cave painters had.

Using a limited palette is a fun way to make simple art.

Benefits of Sketchbook Art

The benefits I received by doing this daily art practice are immense.

  • I feel more creative in general.
  • I am now a productive artist.
  • I have stretched what can be drawn in under an hour.
  • I have really got to grips with pens and their thicknesses.

Sketchbook Themes

My subjects have been quite varied, although there are a few definite themes that developed in the completion of this sketchbook.

The main themes that emerged during this sketchbook practice are:

  • Angels
  • Shells
  • Leaves (flowers, plants and botanicals)
  • Portals (doors, stairs and windows)

My Art Supplies

The art supplies I used for this sketchbook project are listed here and include an Amazon link for each one if you want to purchase them yourself.

 

Here is the full list of my art supplies in my creator studio..

Aspiring Artist Activity: Limited Palette Sketchbook

In your creator studio, do the following:

  • Get a fresh sketchbook and create the front page to be your limited palette sketchbook.
  • Consider which three things (people, objects or places) inspire your daily art practice.
  • As you create artworks in your sketchbook note which themes emerge naturally.

 

“Almond Blossom” Colored Pencil Art

“Almond Blossom” Colored Pencil Art

by | Sketch Journal

Coloured Pencil Art

This time I’m drawing the beautiful five petalled blossom of the almond tree on toned paper with colored pencil. 

The petals are typically in shades of pink to white.

Botanical Details

The almond is not a true nut, but rather a drupe.

A drupe is like a stone or a pit in fruits like apricots and peaches.

The Latin botanical name is prunus dulcimer.

The almond tree is pollinated by honeybees.

Grown originally in the Middle East, the almond is now propagated on all continents in the warm climates surrounding the equator.



Greeks

The Greeks called it after the amygdala in the brain which is almond shaped.

In the brain, the two almond shaped amygdala are part of the limbic system.

This is also known as the reptile brain associated with basic survival reactions like thirst, hunger, the urge to procreate and alertness to danger.

Almond Blossom Meaning

The meaning of the blossom is “new beginning” as it is the very first tree to flower and open its petals every spring.

The almond blossom heralds the onset of a new season of prosperity.

Other symbolic meanings are watchfulness and the awakener.

Toxins

Almonds can be either bitter or sweet.

We eat the sweet varieties.

The bitter almond is a natural source for the poison cyanide that forms from the amygdalin.

Art Supplies

You can check out my full art supplies list here.

Reference Drawing

I searched for a reference drawing on the internet, that clearly shows the structure of a single blossom.

There were many images of almond trees, but I wanted to zoom into the actual blossom for this artwork.

 

Art Process

I began by drawing the outline of the petals with my white crayon. This is a good way to start when working on toned paper.

Then I colored the highlighted areas of the white petals not the shaded grey areas.

I added colors from lightest (white) to darkest (cool grey II).

It is always a good idea to do the lightest colors first as you can build up the intensity later.

Try to work in layers and don’t use a heavy hand in a vibrant color first.

I used two shades of yellow for the center.

I chose three shades of pink to color the inner petal that attract the bees to the nectar. This is like a landing strip for flying insects.

The green leaves helped to define the edges of the petals . I used two greens here.

As a final touch up, I took grey again and edged the petal below the one in front to add depth and a three dimensional effect to the drawing.

Coloured pencil art

Aspiring Artist Activity: Almond Blossom

In your toned papaer sketchbook do the following:

  • Draw an almond blossom,
  • Or draw a blossom that is white,
  • Or perhaps draw a blossom of a tree that grows where you live.
Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Get her newsletter.

Artzlife Newsletter

Artzlife Newsletter

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: December 2024 Artzlife Newsletter Creative art journal inspiration for hobby artists Welcome to a Place for Passionate Hobby Artists Are you a hobby artist seeking inspiration, connection and gentle guidance on your creative...

Sketch Journal Page – “Florist Shelf”

Sketch Journal Page – “Florist Shelf”

by | Sketch Journal

Florist Shelf

This week I’ve created a florist shelf with watercolor and markers for my sketch journal. You can follow along with this video.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGxJDDDj00[/embedyt]

My Process

Pencil sketch.

Ink over.

Watercolor wash.

Markers.

Gratitude notes.

Sketch journaling is a way to document what happens in your life, once or twice a month.

A sketch journal is a beautiful memory book for how life was for you in any given each year.

What do you think?

Aspiring Artist Activity: Florist Shelf

In your sketchbook please do the following:

  • Draw three shelves.
  • Add assorted florist details just like we did.

Share your sketch journal pages with us on the hashtag #AlisonHazelArt so we can find your images.

We’d love to see what you create.

Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Get her newsletter.

Daily Art Practice

Daily Art Practice

,

Introduction I want to talk about getting a daily art practice going. You may think you are not a good artist or perhaps you don't even consider yourself as an artist at all, but I urge you to accept that you are an aspiring artist. My journey to being able to say I...

Artzlife Newsletter

Artzlife Newsletter

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: December 2024 Artzlife Newsletter Creative art journal inspiration for hobby artists Welcome to a Place for Passionate Hobby Artists Are you a hobby artist seeking inspiration, connection and gentle guidance on your creative...

“Bookshelf” Sketch Journaling Page

“Bookshelf” Sketch Journaling Page

by | Living a Creative Life

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: December 2021   –   Revised: January 2024

Sketch Journal Page

This time I’ve created a simple bookcase for my sketch journal. 
You can follow along with this video.

My Process

Step 1: Pencil Sketch and Layout

First I do a pencil sketch. I use a 2H pencil and light lines.

Step 2: First Ink Over

Then I ink over with a fine 0.3mm pen.

Step 3: Watercolor Wash

Next, I add a light watercolor wash. This can be several layers asnd I may let it try in between coats.

Step 4: More Pen Over

Again I pen over aand this time with a 0.3mm and a 0.1mm pen for the finer details.

Step 5: Touch of Gold

I typically add a touch of gold. This is eithre with a glod gel pen or with me gold watercolor paint. I only put a little here and there but I do enjoy embelishing my artworks with gold. It’s almost like a style thing.

Voila.

Getting Organized for Art

Creating sketch journal pages can be a wonderful and mindful way to express your creativity. Start by choosing a sketchbook that resonates with you—perhaps one that feels good in your hands or has a cover that inspires you.

Gathering Materials

I collect my favorite pens, pencils, markers and any other tools I enjoy using.

 

Let Go of Perfection

I embrace the free-flowing nature of sketch journaling. My pages don’t need to be perfect; they’re a reflection of my thoughts and feelings. I allow myself the freedom to experiment with different styles and techniques.

Incorporate Mindful Techniques

Since mindfulness is important to me, I try to incorporate mindful techniques into my sketching process. I focus on my breath, stay present in the moment and let my intuition guide your artistic choices.

Experiment with Layouts

I like to play with the layout of my sketch journal pages. I often mix full-page illustrations with smaller doodles and I’m not afraid to experiment with different arrangements. This dynamic approach keeps my sketchbook visually engaging.

 

Art Supplies

See the art supplies I use here.

Sketch Journaling

Sketch journaling is a way to document what happens in your life, once or twice a month. A sketch journal is a beautiful memory book for how life was for you in any given each year.

What do you think?

 

Read more >>> Sketch Journal Page – Florists Shelf’

Read more >>> Sketch Journaling for Beginner Artists

Reflect and Connect

Before I finish every sketch journal page I take a moment to reflect on each completed page. I consider how it relates to my current experiences and emotions. This reflective practice enhances the connection between my inner world and my creative expressions.

 

Share

Share your sketch journal pages with us on the hashtag #AlisonHazelArt so we can find your images. I’d love to see what you create.

Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Pencil Crayon – Weekly Sketchbook Art “Nasturtium”

Pencil Crayon – Weekly Sketchbook Art “Nasturtium”

by | Living a Creative Life

“Nasturtium, Love Conquers All” – Pencil Crayon – Weekly Sketchbook Art

Nasturtium

This week I’ve drawn a bright orange nasturtium flower in pencil crayon in my sketchbook.

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC5XUESMpK8[/embedyt]

 

For flower reference pictures, I reached for my go to handy dandy book, “The Secret Language of Flowers” by Samantha Gray.

The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Gray

Back in the day the Victorians would give a posy of flowers that held a secret message through the meaning of each flower within the bunch.

Nasturtium means, “Love conquers all.”

So, I expect that nasturtiums would feature in a bouquet given when a couple was having a difficult period and perhaps, they had to overcome some minor differences that crop up all the time, and the pair went back to basics with the secret bloom that said, “Love conquers all.”

So romantic.



My Process

First, I drew a border of 10mm around the page to help frame the finished artwork.

I drew my composition with a 2H pencil the flower and one leaf as I decided not to draw two flowers.

1cm border and pencil sketch

 

Then I added light shade with warm grey II under the petals and in the center of the leaf.

Shadows

 

I lightly added some cream on the leaf veins and the lower edges of the petals.

 

Next, I used cadmium yellow and started to build up some color on the outer petals.

 

I continued to develop the petals with chrome yellow and orange glaze over more of the petals.

I tried to keep the strokes in the nature of the petals vertically from the center of the flower.

 

I began fleshing out the leaf with earth green yellowish and olive green more in the middle.

 

Back to the petals with heavy scarlet red and a light polish of deep red.

 

Finally, I went in again with orange glaze all over the petals to provide more coverage and I added the wiggle on the leaf with a very sharp chromium green colored pencil to provide the texture of the crumpled look of the leaf.

 

The background is a very light diagonal flow of warm grey II.

Label

Because I only ever draw on the right-hand page in my sketchbook, so each drawing has no bleed from behind, I added the main title on the left-hand page.

 

In the title block I wrote the words, “Nasturtium, Love conquers all.”

Finishing off by signing my name and the date.

 

The completed artwork.

Question

Do you draw weekly sketchbook art?



Warm and Cool Colors – “Grove of Trees” Watercolor and Ink

Warm and Cool Colors – “Grove of Trees” Watercolor and Ink

by | Living a Creative Life


Warm and Cool Colors “Grove of Trees” Artwork

This week I created two similar watercolor and ink artworks of a row of trees.

One piece is painted with warm colours and the other with cool colors.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WEey11nJEg[/embedyt]

 

In a way, the first painting looks a lot like it is the autumn season and the second one is reminiscent of spring.



 

 

This time I did not create only one painting for my sketch journal, I actually created two really pretty cards with original artwork.

 I can use these cards for many occasions perhaps to send to family and friends for their special days or celebrations.

The bonus is that I get to share my creations with others.

Spectrum

The color spectrum of seven colors of visible light in order are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These colors can be seen with a human eye.

At the further red end comes infra-red and at the further violet end we find ultraviolet both of which cannot be seen by us. The color spectrum can be loosely divided into warm and cool colors.

Mood

Warm and cool colors bring temperature to your work additionally they can suggest mood as well. The warm colors are hot and spicy and suggest friction, danger and sex.

The cool colors are restful and calming and suggest tranquility, peace and harmony.

Using either a warm or a cool color palette in your artwork will shift the mood of the piece even when the subject is the same as in our grove of trees.

Color Palette

Your palette refers to the colors that you have chosen to use in a particular artwork.

Avoid using all the colors in your paint box. Instead select a few colors that work well together such as the warm colors of red, orange and yellow or the cool colors of violet, indigo, blue and green.

Warm Palette

In general red is a hot color. The warm colours are found at the red end of the spectrum. Warm colors are red, orange and yellow.

Warm Paint Palette

Choose reds like Mars red, madder lake and cadmium red. Select oranges like burnt orange, cadmium orange and pyrrole orange. Opt for yellows like yellow ochre, hansa yellow and Naples yellow.

Choose reds like Mars red, madder lake and cadmium red. Select oranges like burnt orange, cadmium orange and pyrrole orange. Opt for yellows like yellow ochre, hansa yellow and Naples yellow.

 

Warm palette

Warm Colored Pencil Palette

In crayons choose alizarin crimson, scarlet red, deep red, pink carmine, orange glaze and cadmium yellow.

 

Warm colored pencils

Cool Palette

In general blue is a cool color. The cool colours are at the violet end of the spectrum and are violet, indigo, blue and green. Sometimes green can be considered as neutral because it nestles between warm yellow and cool blue. But typically, green is considered as a cool color.

Cool palette

Cool Paint Palette

Choose violets like caput mortuum, ultramarine violet and magenta. Select indigo. Pick blues like ultramarine blue, cobalt blue and phthalo blue. Elect for greens like sap green, olive green and emerald green.

Cool Colored Pencil Palette

In crayons select may green, light cobalt turquoise, phthalo blue, ultramarine, cobalt blue and violet.

Cool colored pencils

These color names are all from Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, but you can find similar colors in your crayons.

When you start out you do not have to know the exact color names but rather let your instincts guide you towards using a limited palette of either warm or cool colors.

Picasso

Picasso’s famous blue period is followed by his just as famous pink period.

It’s all about mood.

During his blue period, he was suffering from depression an during his pink period he had found a woman to love and life was rosy.

My Process

I painted my two groves of trees on separate cards.

I used Strathmore Mixed Media cards 140lb (300g/m3) size 5″ x 6 7/8″ (13.3cm x 18.4cm) which come with envelopes in the box.

I followed the process I’ve used before that you can see in detail in the “St. Chads, Poulton” painting and my recent sketch journal “Workdesk” picture.

I began with a simple 2H pencil sketch of three trees.

 

Pencil sketches

 

I added pen and ink over and then I gently erased the pencil marks otherwise they will show through the paint.

 

Pen and ink

 

I gave a super light wash of watercolor paint, one in a warm color palette and one in a cool color palette.

 

After they were both bone dry, I added more intense watercolor to the underside of the trees.

I added the sky and foreground still keeping in the color pallets that I had chosen.

 

 

Using colored pencils in the same warm and cool palettes, I enhanced the depths and shadows in the grove here and there.

Colored pencil touches

Cool colored pencil touches

 

I went over some of the main details with a black pen again to add definition.

 

Pen over

 

Final Thoughts

That trees are normally green, it seems that the cooler palette painting is better somehow.

It resonates with what we expect.

That’s the one with the green tree.

I may repeat this warm/cool exercise with something that can be either red or green like an apple.

That project might be something to create in the future.

Question

Have you noticed, do you naturally gravitate towards a warm or a cool palette for your paintings?



St Chad’s Church Poulton-le-Fylde, Ink and Watercolor

St Chad’s Church Poulton-le-Fylde, Ink and Watercolor

by | Christian Art

St Chad’s Church Poulton, Pen and Ink and Watercolour

This is a pen and ink and watercolor painting that I created this week.

The method that I used is similar to the Sketch Journal Page from last time, but without the commentary that goes with a journal entry.

Buildings

I do enjoy drawing buildings. I find them easier than people or animals which always seem to look a little weird.

I joined my local Urban Sketchers group the year before lockdown and I found it very interesting to draw what was in my city.

Back then I was using a pencil and Tombow markers because I had no paints or crayons for that matter. I didn’t know just how much I was going to love getting back into art after so many years.



Sacred Places as Subject Matter

Sacred places are typically buildings, groves, fields or monuments that have special meaning for people. They can be places where people congregate and find community.

St Chad’s Church

Many years ago, I lived in a small village near St Chad’s church in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. I was christened in that church, so it seems a good sacred building to start with.

I found some images of St Chad’s church online, and looking at the images for reference, I drew the front façade of the building and added a tree.

I suspect that it is a Norman church by the square tower, but that is really as far as my knowledge goes.

In a way it is an inconspicuous building as churches go.

It seems to have been built between 1086 and 1094. You can read more about the history of this St Chad’s church here.

Each spring there is a wonderful display of lilac and purple crocuses over the entrance lawns.

Crocus

Pencil Sketch

Using an HB pencil, I began with a light sketch and combined all the features from a few photos that I looked at online. I can’t show those photos here as they are copywrite to someone else.

I chose watercolor paper from Strathmore size 140mm x 216mm or 5 ½ x 8 ½ inches.

Pencil sketch

Pen and Ink

With a 0.1mm black pen I drew the main lines of the building and the other features.

After this I gently erased the pencil lines so they were no more. If you leave the pencil lines on the page you will see them through the watercolor paint and then you cannot get rid of them once they have been painted over.

Pen and Ink

Watercolor

With a light mixture of Payne’s grey and brown I started to lightly wash the building walls. I tried to add a little more grey for each separate type of brick work just to add some interest.

Here I used a number 6 watercolor brush and kept gently rolling it to mop up excess water each time.

I repeated the color layers a few times to add depth to the color and to vary the shadows a little.

Watercolor

Once that part was dry, I went in with a finer brush (number 2) and with denser paint I laid down some brick marks and roof tiles just to give the effect of rough texture to the stonework.

For the grass I mixed an olive green with a touch of burnt sienna.

I always avoid the bright greens that are in my paint box. They are not natural and are glaring when used in a landscape painting. It is best practice to mix colors and never use them straight out of the little pans.

Pencil Crayon

With my pencil crayons in several tones of cool grey I gently added small definitions like the shadows below the eaves and the door recesses. This brings details to life and adds shadows to suggest depth.

Colored pencil highlights

Pen Again

I went over the main structure lines once more with my fine 0.1mm pen and in some places I employed a 0.3mm black pen.

Gold Trim

I do love some gold trim in my artworks. In this drawing it was a challenge to know where to add a spot of gleam, but I found one or two spots that could do with some life.

Shimmer of gold

Overall

I am really happy with this painting. Receiving a watercolor set from my son-in-law this past Christmas, I am a relative newcomer to watercolor painting.

This piece is probably my fifth painting so far using this art medium.

Complete

There was some flow over of color especially around the tree, but I will get better at controlling the paint and handling my brushes with some practice.

Let me know what you think.

Alison



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