limited editions | Janette Wright Artist

I set up a simple still life with a desk lamp lighting it from the back. There was a bit too much ambient life to emphasize the shadows dramatically enough, a stronger light would have been better.

Marking a border inside the edges of the page was helpful. I sketched the basic shape of my objects and the shape of their shadows, but instead of refining the various shadow and highlight areas with more contour lines, I started filling in the shadow areas from the lightest to the darkest.

I used my eraser extensively to get rid of unwanted lines and I also used it to smudge the pencil and create a smoother texture. Later as I went darker with my B6 pencil, I erased the lightest areas to make sure that they were not smudged over. I spent about one hour on the drawing.

It was a good excersise and one I will try again!

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art classes in May

Thursday, 27 March 2014 by Janette Wright

I will be running a two part watercolour class in May.

We will cover all the traditional watercolour basics and some of my special techniques that I have explored over the years. If necessary, I will plan a third session to conclude all there is to learn, which is never possible!

SESSION 1:
SATURDAY 17 MAY, 9.30am to 1pm
Cost: R160 per person, materials excluded.
(I will research prices and give you an estimate as soon as I have it)

1. techniques:
Flat wash, graded wash, glazed wash, wet-in-wet, dry brush, lifting wet watercolour, lifting dry watercolour, splattering and textures, spray textures, back-wash textures, salt texture and more.

2. painting a landscape:
You will be supplied with a landscape photo which you will copy on to special watercolour paper. You will test and experiment with your newly aquired technical skills and return home with a lovely little landscape painting!

SESSION 2:
SATURDAY 24 MAY, 9.30am to 1pm
Cost: R160 per person, materials excluded.
(I will research prices and give you an estimate as soon as I have it)

1. drawing a still-life with pencil:
We will spend the first hour drawing a still-life which I will set up in the studio. By carefully observing the shapes, lines, textures and light and dark areas you will render a good likeness of what you are seeing.

2. painting a still-life:
You will copy the same still-life that you have just drawn on to your watercolour paper and proceed filling in colour and value with the techniques learnt in the previous session.
This time you will return home with a lovely little still-life painting in watercolour to impress friends and family!

Join us!

Janette and Tonto