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Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators (And More on Magnani Portofino)
After my initial tests with Magnani Portofino I tried different pen and ink only tests. For today’s post I did a quick pen sketch of actor Mark Benton who stars in “Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators.” It’s a fun mystery show set in Stratford-upon-Avon where everything is Shakespeare-related. Benton plays Frank Hathaway, and the […]
“Revamped” Magnani Portofino Watercolor Paper Part 2
Today here’s another portrait I painted on a piece of Magnani Portofino Watercolor paper. I’m not one to give up a fight easily. With so many quality art paper mills being bought up by non-paper making conglomerates who evidently don’t understand what watercolor artists want to do with their papers, I have to push […]
Breathing Room on the Page (or Page Spread)
One of the most important compositional tools you have in a visual journal or sketchbook is the breathing space on the page (or page spread). The negative space around an image helps define the image through silhouette, and shape recognition. The space will help you correct angles and proportions when you go off—or— if you […]
Sketching on Any Old Paper You Have At Hand
Sometimes we can get into our heads. We can spend time telling ourselves all the reasons we can’t take time right now and paint. As a teacher for over 30 years I think I’ve heard every excuse there is: no space to set up, don’t have the materials I want to work with; I don’t […]
Let Yourself Push Your Sketch Marks Now and Then
OK, we can’t get the whites of the paper back when we are working in pen and ink (unless we resort to the X-acto blade, or ProWhite gouache), but it’s still a useful endeavor to keep pushing with the lines. I find that working with a dried out pen pushes me to be a little […]
Making Neutrals with a Secondary Triad
Update: May 14, 2022. The paper used for this portrait was from a pad purchased in 2000-02. Magnani Portofino paper has been “revamped.” The current version of this paper is NOT one I would recommend for wet media work. You can see a post reviewing the currently available paper on this blog on May […]
Judging Your Own Art
It always surprises me which of my art pieces people seem to like the most. But I don’t believe we should be led by this—just interested in the perception. Obviously when you work commercially a client explains what they want. You then either execute that or have convincing reasons for how they really want […]
Working with a Secondary Triad: Another Wizard
Yes another wizard portrait. I have been sketching a lot lately with the same green, orange, and mixed purple triad. This is one of the recent sketches. I’ve been focusing on the point to my Patreon/RozInterim subscribers that painting is more fun if you mix colors from a harmonious few. If you would like to […]
Sketch People From All Angles
It’s important to sketch people from all angles. Actually to sketch the SAME person from all angles. If you can’t get out and about ask your housemates (significant other, children, Aged P, guests, etc.) to let you sketch them while they read a book or watch TV. No one around? Not even a dog, […]
Yet Another Wizard
Yes another wizard; this is one of my favorites. I’ve been having tons of fun painting wizards in-between the demands of downsizing. Tired of sorting papers to put into storage? Go sketch a wizard. At the end of this post you can also see the full-page spread where this portrait was sketched. And on […]