10 Tips in 10 Days - Drawing

Ok here is my last post for a few days.... I hope you enjoyed my 10 tips!  This last one is how I use my pencil  -  not just for drawing but for measuring and comparing.  So grab your favorite pencil (mine is a Ini OC-Gel  HD 0.5) and let’s get started!

Here is a lovely ocean scene at the Oregon coast near where I live:

The first thing I do is the hold my pencil vertical and stretch my arm out so that my elbow is locked.  All my measurements are done with a locked elbow so that the comparisons will be the same.  

How big are the rocks?  

With my thumb, I measure from the bottom of Haystack Rock to the bottom at the tallest part.

Now I measure how wide the rocks are.

At this point, I would make pencil marks on my paper using these measurements.  

Here I am using my pencil at a slant to get the correct slope of the rock.  Carefully bring this angle down to your watercolor paper.

If I want to add some of the ocean cabins, I measure how tall they are.

Here is how tall the nearest point of land is compared to the house and the other rocks.
Now that I have all my measurements and comparisons the next step is to do my drawing.
How about you practice drawing something using your pencil to measure and compare and let me know how it goes.

For the rest of the tips about using a pencil to measure, go to my post about Drawing Lesson, Part 2. 

10 Tips in 10 Days - Free EBook from Interweave Press

Here are some fun journaling tips from Interweave Press and Cloth Paper Scissors.  This free ebook features my article on Travel Journals, Using Maps as a Starting Point.  

Art journaling is a way to express yourself through writing and art at the same time.  This creative process pulls together a variety of materials to create mixed-media art.  In this free ebook you will get art journaling tips, including how to make a travel journal from maps, how to make an art journal instages, and how to choose the right tools for your art journal adventures!

10 Tips in 10 Days - A Fun Warm-UP Exercise

Warm and cool colors are something that I think about all the time in my painting and enjoy playing warm colors against cool colors to create vibrate and dynamic watercolors.  Here is a fun exercise that you could do with warm colors or cool colors - your choice!  I did mine with warm colors.  You will need your watercolor paints, watercolor brushes and a Gold Leaf Pen for this exercise.
Start by drawing big shapes in your journal with the gold leaf pen.  I drew my initials JN.  Make sure you go off the page here and there.

 Then add smaller shapes within your large initials.

 Pick a color scheme warm or cool.  I chose a warm palette so I painted all my shapes with yellows, oranges, reds and combinations of these colors. The gold leaf pen lines will act as a resist to the paint.

IF YOU ENJOY painting along with me, please consider my ONLINE WORKSHOP.   It is A Naturalist's Watercolor Journal with Artful Gathering - July 16 - August 26, 2017.  

This is my final page in my watercolor journal

10 Tips in 10 Days - Art Online

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL MOTHERS!

Here is an upcoming chance for you to paint right along with me online!  Once a year I teach a watercolor workshop with Artful Gathering Online Art Retreat.  This year I am offering a mix of subjects dear and near to my heart!  Did you know that before I became an artist, I went to college to get a degree in Botany?  Yes, I am a naturalist, botanist, bird watcher, wildlife gardener, flora and fauna expert!  Now I am so thrilled to offer you a mix of my two loves:  watercolor and nature!  This year for the 2017 Artful Gathering Online Art Retreat I am teaching a workshop - A NATURALIST'S WATERCOLOR JOURNAL.

Click here to Register

10 Tips in 10 Days - A Well Rounded Palette

I often have students asking me what colors to put on their watercolor palette.  I like to have a well rounded palette so that Each color on the color wheel is represented.  
I designed a kit with Daniel Smith Art Supplies called the Jacqueline Newbold Watercolor Traveling Kit.  It is a perfect way for beginning watercolor artists to fill their color palette.   This kit has it all (just add a pencil!).  I picked 12 colors, one for every color on the color wheel, my favorite folding palette, several brushes, a zippered case and an Arches watercolor journal. This would be the perfect companion to go with with my new DVD, Art Journals-On-the-Go.  You will be able to create beautiful, colorful paintings with the colors I recommend!  

Her is the list of the 12 starter colors:

1.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Lemon Yellow2.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Phthalo Yellow Green3.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Phthalo Green Yellow Shade4.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Phthalo Turquoise5.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Cerulean Blue Chrome6.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – French Ultramarine Blue7.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Carbazole Violet8.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Quinacridone Violet9.       Daniel Smith Watercolor – Permanent Red10.    Daniel Smith Watercolor – Permanent Orange11.    Daniel Smith Watercolor – Quinacridone Burnt Orange12.    Daniel Smith Watercolor – Hansa Yellow Deep

10 Tips in 10 Days - A Very Small Watercolor Palette

Speaking about palettes here is the cutest palette I have ever seen - It is called the Pocket Palette.  It comes with 14 iddy biddy magnetic pans to hold the paint that can be removed and replaced with other colors.  It is about the size of a business card (3 5/8" x 2 1/2") but holds lots of paint!

 Here it is waiting to be filled with new fresh watercolor paints.

10 Tips in 10 Days - Watercolor, Sodalite

Here is another great color that I have added to my palette:  Sodalite by Daniel Smith

Sodalite, with a distinctive deep blue color is one of the components of Lapis Lazuli and very rare. DANIEL SMITH Sodalite is the finest quality and deepest blue that comes from Greenland and the flanks of Italy's Mt. Vesuvius. In watercolor, the inky color of this semi precious stone granulates as it dries, layering a blue-black textural surface on a smooth blue-gray undertone. 

Here is an example of how I add it to greens to get a rich, dark shadow:

10 Tips in 10 Days - Watercolor, MOLOTOW

Here is a cool and easy way to save small areas of the white of your paper!  It is a masking liquid pen by MOLOTOW.
A must-have for artists, these ready-to-use, refillable markers contain a water-repellant masking fluid that applies cleanly and rubs off easily, leaving no residue. Molotow's patented pump delivery system assures precise, mess-free application and sharp edges.  

10 Tips in 10 Days - Watercolor Blocks

A watercolor block is a stack of watercolor paper that is attached together. The sheets of fine art paper are trimmed to some uniform size and then stacked upon each other. That stack of art paper is then attached to a backing board with a padding glue. This glue is applied to all four sides of the paper.
My students are often perplex as to how to get the pages apart.  First of all, wait until you are done with your painting.  The joy of using a block is that it keeps the paper from getting buckled while you paint.  When you are done with your painting, simply put a palette knife in the small slot that is not glued to the rest of the papers.  Gently slide your knife around the edges to release your master piece! Hint:  if you do not own a palette knife, a butter knife works too!

10 Tips in 10 Days - Watercolor, French Vermilion

Here is my new favorite color - French Vermilion by Sennelier Watercolor.

Vermilion is a dazzling red pigment originally made from a powdered volcanic mineral – cinnabar.  It was used in the art and decoration of Ancient Rome, in the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, Renaissance paintings and in Chinese lacquerware.  I love it for its brightness and vividness.   It is great for painting red poppies!
Check out my TEACHING SCHEDULE!

Up-close of Poppies

Upcoming Workshops, Classes and Shows with Jacqueline Newbold

Good Colorful Morning!  New Watercolor Classes - Online, Phoenix, Sitka, Oregon, and Local!
The sun is bright and the temperature is finally warming up a bit.  Did you know that I have taken up Pickle Ball.  Everyone asks, "What is Pickle Ball?"  Well it is a little bit like tennis and a little bit like ping pong.  The ball is much like a whiffle ball and it is a lot of fun!  That is what I have been doing for exercising my body.  For exercising my brain and my love for art, I have been planning some very fun and unique watercolor classes.  Here is what is coming up for 2017!

A Page from my Nature Journal

Colorful Whites and Colorful Darks