Buildings

Wrapping up Buildings, Looking forward to Foundations

Buildings was great for me this year. I didn’t quite manage to finish. Again. But I got farther than I have in previous years, and had a number of breakthroughs. Seasonal depression is a thing, and in the middle of a pandemic its far worse, so I will be kind and forgiving with myself about not finishing. I loved every minute of class, every Livestream, and every sketch I did was the best I’ve yet done, and that’s a massive set of wins!

Getting better and better! My biggest success has to be in “thicknesses” and that there are a LOT more lines needed when drawing buildings! I’m getting so much more dimensionality. Even my angles and proportions, by far a big weakness of mine, are getting better! I really need to keep using pencil set up lines for that accuracy aid!

I actually sketched outside! On location! This was in a quiet neighborhood, so I didn’t have to worry about social distancing. I added the paint at home later, though, since the sun was a bit brutal by the time I was done. Next time, I need a hat! But I’ve only done “one location” sketching a few times, so every one is scary and a huge accomplishment.

“Working Structurally” may be the best thing! I couldn’t believe how fast and accurately this little sketch of Notre Dame came together! I really have learned so much. Now the trick will be to remember those seven steps!

Next up is Foundations. This will be my fourth run through Foundations, though I’ve not done a great job of finishing that one, either. Hopefully I’ve learned just how much time those lessons really take so I can try to keep up next month!

I’ve decided to go for the six color palette that Liz Steel uses for the class. It feels refreshing and interesting to me to simplify my colors, and work on color mixing, I feel pretty strong with my color mixing, and I have so much fun with it!

Once upon a time, when I got my first watercolors, I’d see a pamphlet that Winsor Newton put out about which of their colors they recommended for a six color palette, so I had to go research that and put it in my notes. However, I’ll be using Liz’s for class, particularly since I’m really curious how the earth colors will mix. Can I get “clear” tones? I’m excited to find out!

For the holidays I got a set of water color pencils! So, for the first time, I’ve got all the colors for the set in the Foundations class, and I’m so excited to be able to experiment with those, too! Never had them all in previous runs!

Edges, Shapes, Volumes

I seem to “getting” the lessons of this buildings course more than I ever have in the past. Learning how to sketch really is an ongoing process. You think you get it one time, but then you realize there was so much more to get. I keep getting more and more every single time!

My homework assignments, utilizing Liz’s exercises for drawing using edges, shapes and volumes.

As ever, I’m best at “shapes.” I always like my paint first, or paint only sketches. I think they are far more forgiving. I love this spread. I tried to achieve an open design, with overlap and white space. Those techniques are a challenge for me. Yes, sketchbook design in addition to technique assignments! I must keep going with it!

Other things I’m learning, or should I say having to relearn, is that I really do need to use at least a little pencil set up lines. Especially for buildings. I’m always so wonky, and off with my first lines. I think that is one reason paint only is good for me–its adjustable!

My efforts to overlap my sketches in this layout was perhaps a little less successful, and thusly I learn this, too, is an ongoing skill! One reason for the difference, is that this is in a smaller sketchbook. I had been working in the 8×10 Stillman & Birn Alpha, and this is was in a 7.5×7.5 Stillman & Birn Alpha. The smaller size is quite the adjustment.

First Week of Buildings Class

The first week of Buildings class, and I’m already behind! I keep promising myself I will NOT consider myself behind, because when I do, that’s when I quit. I don’t want to quit, I love this class far too much! (And the people! The people are so great!)

I have thusly given myself permission to go fast! Finished is better than perfect, and I can still learn plenty if I do a sketch in 15 minutes! they don’t all have to be my very best.

Then, since I had a dentist appointment I decided to treat myself to a sketch outing afterwards. When I did the course last time, for the outdoor assignment to sketch a church, I’d gone to St. Joseph’s only to find it had burned and was razed completely to the ground!

Now here is the new church, almost two years later, nearly completed. I knew I had to sketch St. Joseph’s for this assignment, and capture that story!

I will say that attempting a sketch just after the dentist really had my hand ultra shaky! I did the Edge on location, but as I was feeling poorly, and the construction workers kept eyeing me in the parking lot, I decided to head home. I finished with the Shapes, and Volumes from the photograph. I’m very proud of myself I did some of it on location, as I’m working on breaking through that mental barrier!

I’m loving class, and I’m excited to get to Lesson Two this week!

Buildings Begins

Sketching Now Buildings begins and I couldn’t be more excited!

I sketched my home and the first of the intro assignments, which I’ve done before. I’ve never finished the course, so I’m determined to do so this time! It is really interesting to see my own growth in these exercises. If you’d asked me, I wouldn’t have thought I’d improved much, but there it is, in ink and watercolor, all I’ve learned in the past months! This, of course, confirms what I’m learning every day. It’s practice that matters most!

Still working on my landscape skills. I took some notes on various paint brushes that Terry Harrison used/designed for landscapes. He works a lot larger than I typically do!

I was hoping to get a bit more blending in my sky, but I’m really beginning to think that it’s not me, it’s my paper that isn’t quite up for the blending I’m thinking of. I’ll have to try both cotton paper, and a different style to experiment!

I took a short trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. My intention was to paint on location, but I’ll admit I chickened out. Again! So these are done from photographs I took. I was experimenting with different techniques with my brush to get different effects.

You can sure tell I struggle with open layouts in sketchbook design. I’m not sure if the amount of white space here is perfect, or dreadful! LOL! I’ll keep practicing, though, because clearly that’s the only way to go! Plus, it’s super fun.

I had no intention of making this map and entire double page spread, but it really got away from me! I love it, however. I do love maps, and one of the things I’m eager to add more of into my sketchbook is maps!

Since I did not sketch on location at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, I was determined to do so somewhere, so I went to the Japanese Friendship Gardens and painted this on location. While not my first on location effort, it is the first since Pandemic started. It is also the first time anyone spoke to me about it! He was so complimentary and impressed! So that’s a new first for me, and what a pleasure it was!

I started Buildings by Liz Steel. These first lessons were done in the 3.5 x 5.5 Stillman & Birn Beta.

What an improvement in my sketching ability! It’s amazing!

Buildings Course

In January 2020 I started the Buildings Course by Liz Steel. I love her work, and her classes! She is an inspiration to me! I decided to use this sketchbook, though I had several going at the time, in an effort to finish it off.