Friday 25 January 2013


THIS WEEK WE WORKED TOWARDS COMPLETING OUR WINTER SCENE BY EDWARD SEAGO.
THE OBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE WAS TO SEE HOW MANY VARIATIONS WE COULD GET OUT OF 3 PAINTS.
FOR BOTH THESE PAINTINGS WE ONLY USED, CADMIUM RED, YELLOW OCHRE AND PRUSSIAN BLUE OR INDIGO.

STARTING THE BLUE BIASED PAINTING WAS EASY WITH 2 SIMPLE WASHES.





THE BROWN BIASED ONE WAS MORE COMPLICATED, ALTHOUGH WE COULD HAVE STARTED IT THE SAME WAY AS BLUE, TO SAVE TIME WE WENT STRAIGHT INTO A FLAT CLOUD SHAPED WASH WHICH WAS BROKEN UP AT THE EDGES.


THIS WAS EASIER SAID THAN DONE, AND ONLY 1 OR 2 OF US GOT IT STRAIGHT OFF, AS THE WASH DEMANDED THAT WE HAVE A MARK FEE INTERIOR, WHICH MEANT QUITE A LOT OF WATER, BUT VERY LITTLE WATER AT THE EDGES TO GIVE A BROKEN DRY BRUSHSTROKE EFFECT.



THIS INVOLVED US PAINTING VERY QUICKLY, AND EITHER REYING ON THE BRUSH BEING SPENT, BY THE TIME IT GOT TO THE EDGES, OR DRYING OUR BRUSH OUT SUFFICIENTLY TO CREATE THE SAME EFFECT.
WE ALL GOT THROUGH A TON OF PAPER IN PRACTICING THIS BEFOREHAND

HOWEVER, DURING THE EXPERIMENTATION WE CAME UP WITH SKIES THAT WERE QUITE LOVELY IF NOT CORRECT FOR THIS EXERCISE






WE ALL FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE INTERIOR OF THE CLOUD MARK FREE, WHILST 'SCUMBLING' THE EDGES.

WE DID GET SOME REALLY NICE PAINTINGS COMPLETED, AND WE LEARNED AN AWFUL LOT.



Sunday 20 January 2013

GILLY MARKLEW'S LIVE ONLINE CLASSES


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by GILLY MARKLEW, Watercolour artist and tutor
My method of teaching you will be very structured, with each technique thoroughly practiced before you move on to application. My classes are about you, your level, and your pace.
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Package of 5 Classes
Package includes: 5 Classes

I am now teaching live online classes, visit the link below to sign up
http://www.powhow.com/classes/gilly-marklews-arts-studio
LIVE ONLINE CLASS SCHEDULE
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Class
Watercolours for absolute beginners.
Join my watercolour class for absolute beginners, and I will teach you the techniques to paint frosty trees in the winter mist, and many other techniques and subjects besides in consecutive classes. You will be taught by practicing the techniques first, so you can paint with more confidence when applying your newly learned skills. In this class you will be taught how much water and pigment to use, how to hold a brush for different effects, and how to create the effect of snowflakes on watercolour. You will be contacted prior to the class, to let you know what equipment and materials to bring.
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Friday, Jan 25, 2013
2:30am - 3:30am GMT
$17.00 
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Package
Package of 5 Classes
This package is designed to equip you with the techniques needed to paint frosty trees in the winter mist. In class 2 you will be taught how to draw and paint trees, how to represent twigs, and in consecutive classes you'll be taught how to create layers of colours to build up your scene, these classes will be at your pace, so if there is any time left, I will teach you how to begin to paint another winter scene with trees.
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5 Classes
5 Powhow Credits for Watercolours for absolute beginners.
All for $59.00
A $85 value. Buy today.

Wednesday 16 January 2013

WATERCOLOUR MONOCHROME AND LIMITED PALLET



The object of spring term is to work in monochrome and a limited pallet, expanding on colour as the term wears on.

Below, are two paintings by Edward Seago of the same subject, but with a different colour bias in each, presumably painted at different times of the day.I have been able to create very similar colours to these copies by using only indigo, cadmium red, and yellow ochre, on both pictures, with a different colour bias on each.This is very useful to know when trying to capture a fleeting sky and rapidly changing light, it would save you rumaging around for exactly the right colours instead of getting what you can out of just 2 or 3.

The first exercise for the beginning of term was to separate out the difference between tone ( dark and light ) with intensity, ( pale to bright ).
We eased our way into this new term by copying the 2 bars of colours using only cadmium red and black.
The 1st bar was neutral, 50 X 50% mix of red and black in a gradating scale from light to dark.
The second was an intense to dark scale from pale to intense red, then adding black to create dark brown to black.
Some of my learners today got some beautiful subtle variations on these combinations.
To consolidate the exercise we divided the group into darks and lights, each reviewing their own and others work, then swapping sides with the benefit of the advice from the other group.

We then repeated the same exercise with small thumbnails of a church scene, dark, light and balanced, based on sides of the colour bar they had painted earlier.

Next week we will start working up copies of Edward Seago's pantings in groups of browns and blues, and following on from that we will source our own reference, or go out on location to paint from life with the same or similar pallet.



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Tuesday 15 January 2013

PAINTING HOLIDAY PRICES WITH GILLY MARKLEW


Flatford Mill, field studies center


willy lots house accommodation
FULL PRICES FOR THE FLATFORD MILL PAINTING HOLIDAY,
 23RD TO 26TH OF AUGUST 2013 INCLUDING GILLY’S TUITION FEE’S.
These varying prices are for those who can't make the whole 4 days
and therefore will not be charged the full price.

4 DAYS TEACHING AND FM TOTAL FOR SHARED,
 3 NIGHTS = £329.00

3 DAYS TEACHING AND FM TOTAL FOR SHARED
3 NIGHTS = £259.00 ( leaving out either Friday or Monday daytime class )

4 DAYS TEACHING TOTAL AND FM FOR SOLE
3 NIGHTS = £366.00

3 DAYS TEACHING TOTAL AND FM FOR SOLE =
 3 NIGHTS £329.00 ( leaving out either Friday or Monday daytime class )

NON PAINTING PARTNERS £188.00 SHARED

 A fri eve to Sunday afternoon  can also be accommodated by request
Price to be fixed by FM.


PLEASE MAKE REQUESTS TO GILLY BY EMAIL TO AVOID MISTAKES. THANK YOU.

Flatford Mill is a field studies center situated at the Mill where Constable painted The Haywain, on the Essex Suffolk border, and on the river Stour a few miles from the coast.
 Today it has full accommodation with mostly ensuite rooms, along with various teaching rooms, and it provides Breakfast, packed lunches and an evening meal. Flatford Mill has not lost any of it's charm, and is an inspiration to paint and visit.

We will meet on friday the 23rd a.m August, weather permitting, outdoors to paint, or if it's wet from 12.00, where you will be shown to your rooms by the staff and greeted by me with a cream tea, and introduced to each other.
There will be more painting in the afternoon indoors if wet, before our evening meal in the big hall.
Tuition will be from after breakfast at 9.30 a.m. till 4 p.m. and is  structured, with specific goals for each lesson, and plenty of time to practice technique before building up to a painting .

                                       After 4.00  we will free to take a walk,
row, ( or swim! ) down the river, visit a beach or
                            or just laze around on the river, then after dinner we will meet for another short art related activity, then spend the rest of the evening to ourselves. There is an excellent pub in Flatford, or for those who prefer a quieter evening F M has it's own library, and I will also supply painting DVD's to watch.






It is my aim on this painting holiday to combine painting with fun and leisure time.
We will finish at 4 p.m. on monday the 26th August.


                                                                       Some of the lovely locations near flatford, are the beautiful old village of Dedham, Pin Mill, Wrabness and Harkstead beaches, all roughly 10 to 20 minutes by car, but some 5 -10 minutes walk to get to, which tends to make them very peaceful, unpopulated and unspoiled.
We will finish at 4 p.m. on monday the 26th August.
It is planned to paint on some of these locations during tuition hours, as well as at the mill, however for some of the longer walks, work will be set for those with mobility limitations, or those who wish to take a more leisurely approach.
For more details on Flatford Mill Field studies center follow this link
Harkstead looking out to Wrabness

DEDHAM
But make Bookings through Gilly

PIN MI
PIN MILL
Boats at Pin Mill
HARKSTEAD BEACH

2012 LEARNER FEEDBACK


Hi Gilly

Thanks so much for including me in the group and for all your hard work.  I really count myself lucky to have got that last place!

I thought you did a great job.  The course was very well structured, with just the right mix of demonstration, tuition and practice.  You taught me a lot that I can apply to all my work, not just watercolour, and I definitely felt that I made progress in watercolour itself, which was the main purpose. That small landscape that I did on Saturday afternoon was a step up for me and very good for morale!

Thanks so much again, Gilly, and for the personal touches such as our welcome pack.  It was all lovely, helped by the beauty and atmosphere of Flatford itself.  I'll send you a few jolly photos when I've downloaded them.

Lots of love,

Colin XX     

Dear Gilly

what can I say, it was a lovely, lovely weekend: even though I was non-resident, I don't feel that caused me any disadvantage within the group. It was lovely to actually have time to paint and create: learning new things and consolidating old learnt things as well. It was so nice to see that many of the other people on the course, were the same as me! I see myself as enjoying painting, although I'm not very good, and although there were a couple of stars amongst the group, people seemed to be of similar opinions of their own abiltilites. I loved the way the group supported each other, expressing "like" of each others efforts and sharing similar diffculties when encounted. The feel of the weekend can only come from the leadershiop, which of course is your goodself, Gilly!  I also loved the way your were accesible , and learners could use you as much or as little as they required.

Once agian, thank you for a smashing weekend..very enjoyable, and has got me itching to go off explorer with my artist backpack on my back, so as to speak!

Sam

Hi Gilly

Would like to echo Phil's comments - a great weekend, with fun people and great balance between work and play - just wish I could improve a bit more!  I learnt a lot, especially about composition and the value of simple thumbnails, so I certainly think I can adopt these ideas when I next go into the countryside.Keep up the good work!

Love Vanessa


Gilly

What a splendid week-end that was - and I'd like to echo your sentiment of what a fun bunch you are. I've come away with some  some good memories. Willy certainly has a lott to answer for!
Regards to everyone , and I look forward to more in future.

Keep calm and carry on painting ..

Regards
Phil

Lucy.............Had a fantastic time thanks Gilly! The setting was 
perfect and you laid on the best weather for us :-)
I could quite happily have stayed another day.
Thank you for organising such a brilliant weekend - would definitely do it again.

Gilly,
very many thanks for such an enjoyable and stimulating and well organised weekend, from the welcome pack to the last swim. Fantastic location and facilities, weather even better than Turkey. Lovely painting by the water under the trees.
Good to meet others and enjoy sharing ideas and time out in the evening.
Not often we're privileged to paint surrounded by a herd of bullocks!

Colen ( my husband ) says thank you for the weekend and making him feel comfortable with the group and activities. He really enjoyed himself and getting back to sketching.

Julia

Dear Gilly

Thank you very much for all the hard work you did in organising our painting holiday.  I enjoyed it tremendously and learnt alot about composition and painting
trees (much practise needed here!).  Every one was so friendly which made it all the more fun. My one regret is that I forgot to bring my bathing costume!

I can't think of any way in which the programme or content could be improved except to say that it would be lovely to attend a similar course next summer.
I think that painting outside makes you to set down the basics quickly, with no time for dithering.  The picture can then be completed indoors if necessary.
With best wishes.
Rosemary


DRAWING CLASS, UNDERSTANDING CONTRAST


This week's class was all about understanding contrast, and translating colour into contrast, see picture above.
This term will be all about comparing high and low contrast in relation to the whole picture, see rocket reference below, where we copied the 2 boxes of tone, first enclosing a box with as dark a block as our 8b pencils could go, and shading the middle in a slightly lighter tone, then we drew another box next to it, and tried to match exactly the same tone of the interior box to the right.
The object of this exercise, was to train our minds to see exact tonal values, despite the distraction of being compared to a relative tone or colour.
It is easy to make a small area of light and dark in our drawings correct in relation to that small area, but more difficult, but necessary to judge tone's in relation to the whole.
Before we did that, we had a warming up exercise of making different marks by holding the pencil in a different way.

lign: center;"> We chose a bird bath for the drawing exercise today, as it is dark in tone, and high in contrast compared with the snow.
We started by transferring same size measurements from a photocopy to a piece of paper, starting with the top and bottom and only getting into detail when the larger shapes were outlined.
We mad horizontal and vertical measurements, with a vertical center line, and horizontal lines at right angles across the ellipse and base. 
When we had drawn the proportions correctly, we measured the tonal value from our copies with a value grader with holes in it which we made as beginners, ( so homework for begs includes one of these, from as dark black as you can get out of an 8b to a whispy light grey. )
We had the option of drawing from the Church room window over the grave yard, which was partially covered in snow.
The challenge here was to gauge the varying tones of the grave stones against snow, and grass.
Home work for the beginners who couldn't make the 1st class, please try and follow as much of the above class as you can, including the tonal valuation grader ( above ) Hopefully, I can streamline you with the other beginner who came today, and eventually the rest of the class.