Artists Drawing and Inspiration Issue 31

Born in Southern England, my love of drawing really began in my late teens. I had left school at 15 years of age to start an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner, and remember while attending technical college drawing classes, which were a part of my apprenticeship, being told that I would make a better draftsman than carpenter. By my early 20s I was married and during one particular rainy holiday, my wife Dot and I took a caravan in Norfolk England, and with no television or other comforts, we would venture out between showers and during one of our trips I bought a Broadlands Sketchbook which I still treasure today. This book inspired me to go out and sketch, a passion that has only grown over the years since…

There is nowhere to hide when you draw, visual accuracy especially when drawing architecture or the built environment with just a pencil and sketchbook is essential, for the most part the natural flow of building along a busy high street or an isolated farm cottage are something we take for granted, but when attempting to render the building the laws of perspective and their relationship with the immediate surroundings must be observed if you are to achieve a visually pleasing composition. I keep my drawing materials to a minimum when I’m out drawing with HB and 2B pencils, I like to draw with a very fine point and the harder the lead of an HB pencil will hold its point longer especially on smooth paper. When roughing out a sketch…

Helen’s love of the creative has been a driving force for most of her life. This lady was born in Melbourne, and she treasures an early recollection of her intense interest in painting (in art class at high school); although having a huge crush on her art teacher at the time may have influenced her interest. Any instruction given by that man was greeted with nods and blushes … so she doesn’t really know how much knowledge she gained from his classes! Helen’s mother died when she was 18 years old. Consequently working full-time and trying to look after her father and two younger brothers took up most of her time and energy. Hence most (but not all) of her creative interests were put on hold. After marrying and having…

STEP ONE I had started another painting on this sheet of Terracotta Colourfix, and decided to abandon it. After tapping and brushing off most of the existing pastel, I washed the paper with a brush lightly loaded with water; and blended some of the remaining pastel. The main shapes were next placed in with hard and semi-soft pastels. After checking the composition, I decided that the buildings were too large – so I moved them further back into the painting, allowing for a better lead-in for the viewer. Starting with the sky and moving down the paper, I blocked in the main features – placing the lightest tones where needed so they remained fresh. At this stage I used two mid blues, one light blue and a touch of pink…

• Always keep your colour wheel in mind, and try to keep a good balance of warm and cool tones. And, if after all your efforts you feel it’s not working, just do as I did at the beginning of this work – brush it off, slap a little water around, and start again. After all it’s only a piece of paper; and just think of all the things you’ve learnt on the journey! • An artist friend told me of this little process for making your own pastels – to make use of all your tiny pieces of pastel. Keep all your leftover pastel pieces in same-tone jars; crush them together, add enough water to bring the pastel together, roll them in foil and let them dry thoroughly. The…

The Workshop Arts Centre is an independent not-for-profit art centre and workshop facility which was established in 1961 to promote and foster appreciation of the creative and visual arts. The Ewart Gallery, housed within the Workshop Arts Centre, was named to honour the founder Joy Ewart. The gallery, officially opened in 1996 by artist John Coburn, is a space where the work of emerging and established artists is exhibited. Through this gallery the Centre aims to encourage and stimulate interest in different art disciplines by promoting the work of local artists, as well as artistic groups and organised bodies in the wider community. The Workshop Arts Centre with its integral Ewart Gallery is located at 33 Laurel Street, Willoughby NSW 2068.Email admin@workshoparts.org.au – or telephone 02 9958 6540. The space…