This segment is an idea for other artists – especially if you are starting out or wanting to explore a bit more…   It could also interest those interested in art appreciation too!

Firstly, here is a simple Australian landscape treated several ways…

1.   In acrylics, using brush and painting knife textures…

2. With chalk pastels over acrylics, which often gives the best of both worlds…

3.  With chalk pastels only, used with vertical strokes for effect…

This was fun and I plan to do more examples using this subject and add them in here later.

The chart below shows a number of different way to render pastels, using the one subject:

Now for subject matter of a different nature:-

One wet week some time ago, I decided to take a small drawing from my sketch book and render it in as many different ways as I could think of, just for fun!

 I was so surprised to see how differently they all turned out.  I just used whatever materials were around – chalk pastels, acrylics, watercolour and oil paints – plus some heavy paper.  Here are some results….(click on image if it is cropped)

After about 12 renditions I grew tired of the exercise, but I learned so much! Here are the final 6….

Here is the overall chart showing methods used.

I really feel you would learn so much from taking just a simple subject like a still life and trying out some new ways of rendering that at quite different from your normal approach.

 I was wishing half way through I had chosen a much simpler subject, like an apple sitting on the table – but it was really exciting thinking up ways to render it differently and I enjoyed it very much.  

I keep these little studies nearby in the Studio and it makes me more aware of choices when I start something new!  I never have been one to specialise in a style – I’d rather let the subject dictate a suitable rendering.   After all, some things just cry out to be in a particular medium – like a watercolour sky, or a textured landscape.   The exercise has been very useful in my art classes too to help beginners see options.

Anyway, I just thought I would share these “explored image” options with you in case it inspires you to have a go – but if you do, please choose a simple subject like a small still life or similar or you might get tired of it too soon.   I’d  love to know how you get on so please post a comment if you do it!

Cheers,  Julie

Comments:

From Mike Rubbo:

Julie, I’m amazed at what you’ve done in a few short days. I apparently taught you something. Now, You must teach me. How do you get that category thing to work.

In any case the content is chatty and charming, and a credit to the idea of ourselves and art. I love all the history stuff especially and the photos to back it up. No doubt you’ll get round to photos of your dad as the travelling mailman.

I’m sure mind is racing with topics to treat.

I’ll put a link on olive’s blog.
Cheers,

Mike

Mar 7, 8:21 AM

Note: To view or leave comments, you may need to click on “Continue reading” below.