May Gray

   This month I have been playing with charcoal on watercolor paper.  I had forgotten how much fun it is to draw with a deep dark stick.  The charcoal glides over the paper making scratching sounds as I guide my hand in straight lines and soft circles.  Usually I would use my fingers or a stump to blend but this time I used water and a watercolor brush.  I found I could very easily control the grays.  If I needed more darks, I just added more charcoal.  The values changed gradually and gracefully.  
   If you are learning about values or want a refresher just try putting down some dark darks and add water, taking your brush as far as you can until only the white of the paper remains.  Try outlining the objects in darks and blend with water for the interior as I have done below.  An alternative to that is to not draw a dark outline but only use the value of the object you are drawing as a guide.  This is basic drawing but so very satisfying.  

May 21,2016, Marque Todd will be conducting a workshop for the Ramona Art Guild.  This will be a Gouache Resist workshop where gouache (opaque watercolor) is put down and then india ink is poured over the paint, revealing wonderful surprises.   See  www.ramonaartguild.org for more information.
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Rocky and Kozy have grown since the last post.  They still run down the stairs, two at a time and Kozy jumps up on the hutch in the living room but sitting at the window or at the back door watching the hummingbirds can be just as fun.  Of course napping in the sun is an afternoon priority....