Marked Expressions

 

A quickie with markers using 'Facial Expressions' as a reference.

I do love to use markers, they are so much more forgiving than I first anticipated.

I usually start with a very light grey to grab my key outline and then build up with darker tones.

Jerry Waese for JKPP

JerryWaese-JKPP
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Another quick portrait created with Copic markers in my Moleskine watercolour Folio sketchbook....not the best paper choice for markers, too absorbant really...Still, that's what this party is all about for me...Experimentation!
Not done much with markers yet the lighter tones in my 5 pack are already drying out!!! Grrrr!
Any tips to revive them?

3 Minute Mill

I recently visited Denver Mill and, after indulging in a slice of their delicious madeira cake and making a quick sketch in the cafe garden, I pulled onto the side of the road to make this...an experiment...Copic markers and acrylic ink on canvas board.

I was wondering if it would be possible to sketch on canvas and ....it is...However, when I applied a coat of acrylic varnish, the markers livened up and smudged all over the place.

Oh well, worth a shot!

Luckily I spent only 3 minutes on this sketch and managed to photograph it before I applied the varnish, so all is not lost!

Beginning Of The Month

TOP LEFT: SKETCH FROM TOP OF THE DROVE WAITING FOR HARRY'S SCHOOL BUS
BOTTOM LEFT: VIEW FROM PARKSIDE IN WIMBLINGTON
TOP RIGHT: VIEW FROM SKYLARK CAFE WINDOW

The first day of March saw me visiting Skylark garden centre, in Wimblington, for a cuppa and a sketch in the cafe.

I have just one page left in this little Canson sketchbook that I started to fill with people sketches last year.

More Pages from the Derwent Floral

Another Montmartre Sketch

A quickie from a photograph I took back in 2003.

More Derwent Sketchbook Pages

Just like the Moleskine sketchbook, the Derwent floral resists the water media, in fact, I think it's worse ... seeing as I'm using this as an occasional sketchbook, I'm ok with that.

Crop Rotation

A rough sketch of a painting I had in mind a few evenings ago.

More Pages from the Derwent Floral

A couple more spreads from my new Derwent Floral sketchbook

Montmartre

In 2003 I spent a long weekend in Paris for my birthday, my first.

I also began my art adventure in 2003 and, since it was all new to me, I did not think to take a sketchbook or very many photographs...Boy do I regret that now!

I loved Monmartre and could have easily passed away many hours sat outside one of the cafes watching the artists at work...coffee and art, who could wish for more than that?

I sketched this from one of the few photos I did manage to take and, after making a few alterations in my head, am currently working it up onto canvas using acrylic interactives...More on this one soon.

Sketchbook

A landscape sketch from my imagination and a cockerel, not my cockerel though because he won't stay still for long and it's too cold outside to be patient with him.

Studies for a Painting

You may remember the sketch 'Home Sweet Home' I made from the top of our drove. I came across it the other night while looking through old sketchbooks for inspiration and decided to re-sketch it a few times in my Copic pens. The following day I decided to paint it from the information I had from both my sketchbook and my memory.

I'll upload he painting from my camera soon.

As you can see, the copics create a wonderful tonal study to work from and they are just so easy to use. The fun part is trying to remember colours or make my own up to create the mood/atmosphere I am after.

Copic People Sketches

Harry from life - 10 mins


Jake from life - 5 mins



Pausa coffee shop on location

Pausa coffee shop on location

Sketched from a Mitch Waite DVD, still frame

Sketched from a magazine - 5 mins


I have had a tonal set of 5 grey Copic Ciao markers for a couple of years now and never really used them. I recently started making thumbnail sketches with them and quickly realised their potential as a very handy location media. I have found that creating tonal thumbnails for prospective paintings with these pens allows me to see quite quickly if the painting will work, compositionally and tonally. Colour notes can be made in writing or left to my interpretation back in the studio.

Being a huge monochrome fan, I've become rather addicted to them.

They are so easy to stick in a handbag and 4 pens can be held in one hand comfortably while working with the 5th.
Finding a sketchbook that will take them, however, has been a bit of a problem...They bleed through to the back of the page, especially the black. So far, the best books I have tested are the Derwent Floral, which has paper rather like a Moleskine only a little thicker, and the Canson watercolour sketchbook .

People Sketches

Here are a few pages from my sketchbooks, I have heaps more!
I am really missing my scanner and my own editing programme so apologies if they are showing a little dark and wonky!

The first two entries were sketched while lunching with Joannie, at The Anchor pub, during her visit, the third are some quick TV sketches.

More to come...