This pages contains videos and images on a multitude of topics related to my art, process and tools. Other information can be found on my blog here.
Ron’s Place
A short video about the creation of the commisioned watercolor (and study drawing) of the client’s home. This shows some of the process during the creation of this work of art.
Time Elapse Videos of Drawings
Video of the drawing “The Farm” on Vimeo
Video of the drawing “Rebirth” on Vimeo
These are short Time Elapse videos of some of the drawing I’ve made. First, these videos are proof that I made these drawing and also because they are fun to see how a drawing is created over time. While the videos are around 1 minute in length, the actual drawing occurs over the course of an hour or so. Note that there is no pencil first, it’s ink all the way.
My Studio Table
I use an IKEA tabletop for my workspace as I enjoy a large flat area to space my supplies around it. To my left is an IKEA desk lamp for extra light and I have an IKEA cork pad so things won’t slide around on me. I keep my iPad front and center (I surf a lot too) for images to draw and paint from. That too uses an IKEA iPad / iPhone bamboo stand (~$3). A Gorilla Board is used for painting on. It’s still and light and I have a towel rolled under the top edge for slight slant. The rest of my supplies are spread around the table top. Pencils and Markers to the left and watercolors to the right. The portable palette is a Winsor and Newton Cotman set but my larger palette is Winsor and Newton Professional watercolors along with Cheap Joe’s American Journey watercolors. Still working out which brushes I like. I’ve got a mix of Princeton Neptune, Snap and Joe Miller Signature Series 50/50.
A Book To Start With
If you are just picking art back up, I suggest this book. “How To Be An Artist”. My wife got it for me and it helps you be yourself and just plow forward. The same goes for the book “Art and Fear”. Well worth the reading.
From Subject To Paper
My drawings are not out of my imagination, they exists in the hills around me. I interpret them as my style provides. Here are a couple of the barn photo that are the basis for the drawings. Tweaks are made, but the feelings flow through.
From Lines To Shading
Drawing do not jump onto the page fully formed but must be built-up from the bones outward. Here is one of my Park City Mine drawings, shown both in the lines (bones) and fully formed (shading). It can be had to see with the drawing would be just from the line drawing as, it’s just lines. But the shading brings it to life.
Negative Space Study
Just an example of a drawing study. On the left I tested drawing the tree trunks using negative space (aka: draw everything BUT the trunks) and it worked out. Then I did a barn drawing (4×6 inches) using negative space but also cropping both the tree trunks and the barn and placed in a vertical format. I feel it worked out pretty well, showing the “rooted” trees and “rooted” barn.
Todd Blackley 