Total Art Soul - For Artists

It's been a while since we blogged as it suddenly got very busy round here :) We've just put a new exclusive range together for a bridal business, so lots of beading and taking of photographs. On top of that, we're appearing in two gift guides and have just opened a uk shop online !

Then there's the drawing- I'm still working on a range of licensed images, which brings me to the subject of this blog. I've been asked to do a series of black and white images, for which I've been playing with different mediums to show the client how many different effects can be achieved. So, thought I'd compare and contrast for you :) Some of you will have read the first bit before but bear with...

First up, my usual charcoal. I use charcoal pencil normally, as I can sharpen it to a needle point for fine detail and it still blends beautifully. I tried the posh ones that come in sets but didn't get on with them due to the colour change because of the binder. I now only buy the kind that cost about £2 for a pack of 12, as you can see here they are very versatile.



Then, I tried Wolff's carbon pencils, claimed to be the best drawing medium in the world. These cost around £2.50 for a set of 4.  Now, this is just a sketch and done from a photograph that had been blown up so not the best example but...


These were very interesting to work with- not as precise as the charcoal, on art paper close- up it almost looks like ink painting, but the blackest, blackest black you can imagine. It was almost more than my little gothic soul could take :)  Also, unlike the blended charcoal, the different grades showed no colour change, from b through to 6b.
It blends a little oddly too, you rub away like mad with your paper stubby to little effect then suddenly it decides it will blend after all and you nearly take the lot off. I've got the hang of that now, it's not really an issue but just thought I'd warn you.

In the event of you making a hash of it, the carbon is about as tough to rub out- possible but hard to remove all traces so take your time drawing in guide lines. Oh, and quick note- neither charcoal or carbon will go over graphite so don't use standard pencils when you're setting up.
I think I'll use a combination of the two for most images- charcoal for fine detail and carbon for heavy shadow, but I also think the carbon would be fantastic for flowers, the contrast you get is amazing and for the right subject, that slight fuzziness can be a good thing.

So, for those of you still using graphite, give these a go. They do everything graphite does and then some. Plus, you don't get that shine, which can be a pain especially if you've got to scan or photograph the image afterwards.
Go play :)

Karen
(the one without the beard)

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It is already Day 24 of my 100 days of summer challenge!!!  Nearly a quarter of the way through this challenge already.  I have worked hard though....just need to work harder :o

Today I can show you another Colours of Wight.

This time it is The Needles, one of the most iconic parts of the Isle of Wight.  Pretty Cool :)

Still trying to work out another 2 for this series.

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Unless you have followed my work this will look like a complete distraction from my normal work.  This was actually my first ever range of prints and still one of the most admired.

I wanted to create a range of contemporary landscapes that celebrated the rich colours that are found naturally in Scotland.  Created in graphite pencils which translate from silhouette to wnderful colour.

This was my favourite from the range.

Then I moved to the Isle of Wight.

I loved creating this range and having them as part of my display so I had to look at redesigning to suit the Island.....

......and the range has to be called "Colours of Wight"  :D

Ok, it amuses me

This range needs strong, recognisable silhouettes and when I looked around me this had to feature.

Inspired by the Round The Island Yacht race which was stunning to watch. :)

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My name is Wenona Elie founder of Nithria land of handmade craft.  I have always been a creative person. Whether it would be writing, painting, or just making things. My first creative career was to be an artist. I decided to become an artist at the age of 6 or 7.  I just loved putting colour onto paper. I found drawing quite exciting. My problem was I was never any good at it. So I changed my career path to become an author when I was in secondary school.

Here I am today making jewellery and cards for a living well at least trying to anyway lol.  I set up my business in 2008 and decided I was going to make a go of making a living at creativity. Last year I dedcided to take up an adults arts class called painting for pleasure.  I enjoyed it so much I will be going back again this september for my third term. The course runs for 10 weeks.

It was only about a month ago that I decided to take up my renewed craft and see if I can sell my work. My first two paintings  I painted for sale was 'Rocks at sunset' and 'Four Falls' . I was stuck to what to paint, but that moring I had two clear images of two paintings and painted both paintings in one day. I was actually very pleased with results.  And Marian's Arts was born.

I took them to a local street festival, along with my cards and jewllwery. Although they never sold I recieved alot of positive feed back. I also made a small contact. That boosted my confidence quite a bit.  I was told I had potential and that I should try a bigger piece.

So instead of taking a defeatist attitude like I did when I was small. I have decided to continue to paint for pleasure and hopefully someone will like my work enough to purchase one of my beginners pieces.

 

I have started my own personal website which I shall be working on in the next few months. I was looking at registering my name but someone else already has it. (I did'nt even know why I was surprised)

Thank you for reading.

 

Marian's Art

 

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