Innehållsförteckning för Issue 9 Volume 1 från Artists Back to Basics

“In spite of everything I shall rise again: I shall take up my pencil which I have forsaken in my great discouragement and I will go on with my drawing.” Vincent Van Gogh What an amazing invention the pencil is. We take it for granted, but where did this ingenious invention come from? The Egyptian scribes used a stylus, a thin metal? rod to leave an indelible mark on papyrus This technique, some scholars believe, was the precursor to the pencil. The German word for pencil is Bleistift which means literally ‘lead pen’, but pencils are made from graphite, not lead. The inaccurate description arose when a large deposit of graphite was discovered in Borrowdale, England, in 1565. This particular deposit of graphite was solid, and thus able to be…

My home and studio is at Leonay, an outer Sydney suburb. I was born in East Germany. My wife and I arrived in Australia in November 1960; and in 1966 we moved into a new house at Leonay where we have lived ever since. I have had no formal artistic training, but my interest in painting and also photography has always been strong. Painting has always been a hobby of mine, and I like it to remain that way; it makes me feel free to paint what I want to paint. This seems to work well for me. A few years ago, my wife and I were stranded in a caravan park at Alice Springs for eight weeks – due to our four-wheel-drive vehicle breaking down. I started painting local…

“The greatest mistake most people make that genuinely want to draw (or paint) is to dive in without adequate (or any in the majority of cases) mental and/or practical preparation.” So far we have explored being able to confidently sketch and draw lines, circles, and curves, the basics of hatching and crosshatching, the rudiments of creating good compositions of your own and delved into the specifics of the tools and equipment required for freehand drawing and setting up your own working studio space. Now it’s time to set off on your own original, freehand journey in your own space and time, so this article will concentrate on the place you have to find in your own mind and how to connect it to reality in an effective way in order…

STEP ONE I sketch a scene in pencil to make sure that everything is in the right place. With a large flat brush, I underwash the sky and clouds. I use a Number 5 flat brush to underpaint the background trees and the tops of the mountains. STEP TWO Here I block in the sky and clouds. I also paint the cliffs and the background trees. STEP THREE I underwash the grass area and indicate the road in the foreground. STEP FOUR Here I paint the background trees; then highlight the clouds and cliffs. FINAL STEP I block in the road and the grass. Then I paint the trees in the foreground. For the bark on the tree trunks, I use a palette knife – to make it really stand…

“Most of the problems we face with our brushwork can be solved by knowing what you want your brush to do and then knowing the principles well.” In the last issue, we discussed how many of us don’t really have an inkling of what is possible with our brushes. In this article we’re going to expand our abilities by simplifying your applications of your paintbrush. Sounds like a contradiction, but knowing the basics will always pay off. We’re going to break the process of using any paintbrush into three broad groups. Firstly, let’s look at the amount of product you can load your brush with. The bristles and size of your brush will determine this. A larger brush with relatively stiff bristles, can pick up a huge amount of undiluted…

“The only time I feel alive is when I’m painting.” Vincent van Gogh ROYMAC RAINS CAUSES A FLOOD OF INTEREST Imagine a product designed by Australian artists for Australian artists. This concept is what the Roymac brand prides itself on. Roymac creates colour products that you will love to create with; and has done this since 1960. Vincent van Gogh famously quoted: “The only time I feel alive is when I’m painting.” Roymac knows that every artist feels the same way, so they wanted to make an artists’ paint that evoked feeling and creativity; one that defined the passion of Australia. They wanted to bring their paints back to their roots. From this thought, Roymac Rains was born. Roymac Rains Watercolour Paint provides the Australian painting experience. Made with the…

Perspective is all around us. It is in the landscape, in buildings and clouds in the sky. Creating depth is an essential part of any landscape scene. Unless you understand the simple principles, your work will appear flat. Perspective in the landscape will create a sense of distance and space. The following information applies to any landscape or streetscape drawing or painting you do and will ensure you capture the sense of perspective. Elements of Distance Trees, buildings, mountains and other objects in the distance will not only be cooler, but more muted as they are further away. They will also be less detailed and distinctive in colour than foreground subjects and their edges will appear softer. Tones appear lighter as the objects recede. These factors are due to atmospheric…

STEP 1 A very light wash is applied to all areas of the painting. The pencil transfer lines should be light. Once watercolour is painted over it cannot be removed and is noticeable in pale coloured areas. STEP 2 All areas of the painting should be covered with the appropriate colour. Leave the white paper for the highlights on the leaves. The painting is built up as a whole which encourages tonal and colour harmony. STEP 3 Each consecutive wash should have more pigment and less water to achieve the desired strength of colour. At this stage all edges should be clean and midrib veins the correct width. STEP 4 Colour on flowers and main branch to be completed, with particular attention paid to edges details. Check the light source…

My life began in Sydney, in 1966. I now live and work in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. I have had my home here for the past 29 years. “As far back as I can remember, I have always painted and drawn birds and animals.” I paint at home in my studio. For two years after I left school, I had lessons with local artist Tex Moekel. My father is also an artist and he has been painting for many years. I am passionate about painting wildlife … especially Australian native birds. I do paint other things as well; but I keep coming back to birds. As far back as I can remember, I have always painted and drawn birds and animals. When I was only 17 years…