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Message
Posted
I have several ideas I want to work on. At the moment I'm doing a 'men-in-sheds' theme. I like these themes. When next I can't think what to do (and that will certainly happen), I'll have a stab at one of these. There's a need to get some done, so it actually becomes a theme not just a random idea for a picture.
I have three pics at the moment, I'm working on the fourth now. To reinforce the theme idea, I've actually done a title page, in the hope that I'll do enough to put into a small book. Here's the title page...although this may well change...it'll take long into 2022 to get enough done.
This isn't worth putting on the gallery, I've done it just to provide myself with an incentive. (Yes, I need to do that.)
Other ideas are...
A Sherlock Holmes story. It would be text and illustrations. The only downside to this idea is I'll have to come up with a story. So it still gurgitates.
A painting of Ravel's Bolero. This has been lurking for months. A favorite piece of music. How to paint it in ONE picture? Dunno yet. An insistent beat, rising to a crescendo....?? I suspect it'll lurk a little longer.
I've got a new vellum 270 gsm sketchbook, it'll take pretty much any medium. I'd like it to be themed. What theme? Maybe stuff I don't normally do. But there's a reason I don't normally do these things...they don't interest me so much. Landscapes, still-life etc...doesn't do it for me. Delighted to see other people's work in these genres, but I know I'd lose interest doing these as a theme.
AS OTHER PEOPLE SEE US. Or more accurately, as I see other people. I was thinking of doing caricatures of some of the people I've come to know (a little bit) on the forum. Not much to go on...a few tiny photos, the odd warthog, an eye...so it's wide open. (Note to self...you don't like having much to go on.)
Could be trouble ahead.
So, enough to be getting on with.
Anyway, back to the now...I'm working on the 'men-in-sheds' thing...this'll be two blokes sitting in a shed smoking and drinking. (I know... that's pretty far out there...as if that would really happen.)
This is where I am now...
16 x 12 inches, 300gsm paper. A very light and rough drawing, with no details, just to get the main shapes in place. The I draw it properly using a walnut brown polychromos coloured pencil (not water soluble). I don't bother rubbing out the initial guidelines. I've blocked in a dark background with a loose mix of black, blue and brown watercolour...very sloppy as you can see.
It will be the back of the shed.
Why the big gap at the top? They will be (whisper it gently)...smoking. This is not a PC picture. In the smoke will be shapes of things they are talking about, that's why I need a dark background up there. Not sure what they'll be yet...maybe Gina Lollobrigida or croissants, depending on how I'm feeling at the time.
There's one thing I left out, there's actually two other blokes in this shed, but they are sitting where you are, so I haven't shown them. Pity I haven't got to draw those two...they would probably be the best things I've ever done.
This isn't worth putting on the gallery, I've done it just to provide myself with an incentive. (Yes, I need to do that.)
Other ideas are...
A Sherlock Holmes story. It would be text and illustrations. The only downside to this idea is I'll have to come up with a story. So it still gurgitates.
A painting of Ravel's Bolero. This has been lurking for months. A favorite piece of music. How to paint it in ONE picture? Dunno yet. An insistent beat, rising to a crescendo....?? I suspect it'll lurk a little longer.
I've got a new vellum 270 gsm sketchbook, it'll take pretty much any medium. I'd like it to be themed. What theme? Maybe stuff I don't normally do. But there's a reason I don't normally do these things...they don't interest me so much. Landscapes, still-life etc...doesn't do it for me. Delighted to see other people's work in these genres, but I know I'd lose interest doing these as a theme.
AS OTHER PEOPLE SEE US. Or more accurately, as I see other people. I was thinking of doing caricatures of some of the people I've come to know (a little bit) on the forum. Not much to go on...a few tiny photos, the odd warthog, an eye...so it's wide open. (Note to self...you don't like having much to go on.)
Could be trouble ahead.
So, enough to be getting on with.
Anyway, back to the now...I'm working on the 'men-in-sheds' thing...this'll be two blokes sitting in a shed smoking and drinking. (I know... that's pretty far out there...as if that would really happen.)
This is where I am now...
16 x 12 inches, 300gsm paper. A very light and rough drawing, with no details, just to get the main shapes in place. The I draw it properly using a walnut brown polychromos coloured pencil (not water soluble). I don't bother rubbing out the initial guidelines. I've blocked in a dark background with a loose mix of black, blue and brown watercolour...very sloppy as you can see.
It will be the back of the shed.
Why the big gap at the top? They will be (whisper it gently)...smoking. This is not a PC picture. In the smoke will be shapes of things they are talking about, that's why I need a dark background up there. Not sure what they'll be yet...maybe Gina Lollobrigida or croissants, depending on how I'm feeling at the time.
There's one thing I left out, there's actually two other blokes in this shed, but they are sitting where you are, so I haven't shown them. Pity I haven't got to draw those two...they would probably be the best things I've ever done.
Posted
I love this series Lewis. My man is building a model railway in the shed/garage. He has spent the last month constructing a station from a German kit. Today it finally went into place, complete with miniature figures, posters etc. All in 1950’s style. But I am wondering what else men can do in sheds.
Posted
Great project, Lewis. It's only since I moved last year that I have benefited from such a big shed, complete with mezzanine level, and almost the size of a small 2-storey house. I make all my frames in there, but there's too much dust (and flies) to even think of moving any painting stuff in there. I'll be looking forward to the content of your WiP.
Linda, unfortunately, my model railway is in boxes but there are so many other (sometimes crazy) things to design and build in the man-shed.
Posted
I have several ideas I want to work on. At the moment I'm doing a 'men-in-sheds' theme. I like these themes. When next I can't think what to do (and that will certainly happen), I'll have a stab at one of these. There's a need to get some done, so it actually becomes a theme not just a random idea for a picture. I have three pics at the moment, I'm working on the fourth now. To reinforce the theme idea, I've actually done a title page, in the hope that I'll do enough to put into a small book. Here's the title page...although this may well change...it'll take long into 2022 to get enough done.Very interesting to read your thought process Lewis, and to see your work in progress. Your "men in sheds" promises to be very productive. Looking forward to seeing more.
Posted
Thank you Linda and Ron. I have a number of ideas for 'sheds', but I'll get round to the railways at some point...I'm saving it for my 'fall back' position if I get stuck. I'm glad they remind you of real people, Robert. Not intended of course, they'll become more caricaturish as things proceed. I do think of what they are thinking in the hope it gives some degree of reality. Small things. The fella on the right has just told a joke, and is hoping for a laugh. I pulled faces into a shaving mirror to see what happened to my face...on this one, at least...often I just make it up.
Hope to do a bit more on this today, when my chores are done.
Posted
Thanks Denise.
Just completed the next stage. This will be mixed media as practically all my pics are these days. I've laid on a watercolour underlay. On the left I've laid a mix of browns over the background and smoothed out the worst of the splodgy bits. I don't want it flat and even, it will be a wall of wooden planks. These will be done later...
On the right I've done the figures. These are meant to be the mid to light range of colours. I don't get too precious about this layer, it's done quickly. The light patches on the left man's face aren't as bright in the painting. They are a very pale flesh tone. I try to leave no trace of the original white paper unless there is a specific reason for it. Plenty of evidence of my wobbly hands. I need to work larger scale these days...where the wobbles aren't so obvious. A few issues to resolve.
The next stage is to work on the figures with coloured pencils. Might get some of that done this afternoon.
On the right I've done the figures. These are meant to be the mid to light range of colours. I don't get too precious about this layer, it's done quickly. The light patches on the left man's face aren't as bright in the painting. They are a very pale flesh tone. I try to leave no trace of the original white paper unless there is a specific reason for it. Plenty of evidence of my wobbly hands. I need to work larger scale these days...where the wobbles aren't so obvious. A few issues to resolve.
The next stage is to work on the figures with coloured pencils. Might get some of that done this afternoon.
Posted
Got a bit more done yesterday. This involves drawing on top of the watercolour base, using water-soluble coloured pencils (I use Faber Castell). I've shown the two stages below...on the left I've drawn some lines with a dry pencil in a few colours. Then, using clean water and a brush, I blend the pencil marks. (On the right.) At this stage it's almost watercolour, you pick up some tint on the brush as you go, and can apply that as you go.
I've only done one face so far, I'll do all of the picture like this until I start the next stage.
His hair's too blue, and the line of his hair on his temple is too straight, I'll adjust that.
The next stage is to use dry coloured pencils.
I've only done one face so far, I'll do all of the picture like this until I start the next stage.
His hair's too blue, and the line of his hair on his temple is too straight, I'll adjust that.
The next stage is to use dry coloured pencils.