Category: tutorial

Over the past few years, urban sketching seems to have become a popular activity among artists, both amateur and professional.

It is one of my favourite ways to spend a day, but sadly, with an 18 month old toddler, it is something I now rarely get the chance to do.

That’s why I must start this blog post off with a confession: I didn’t actually paint this weeks’ piece on location (gasp!). But… I have been there and the techniques I will be sharing are exactly the same as those I’d use if I had been painting from ‘real life’.

I decided to paint the beautiful Spanish town of Peratallada which Sam’s Aunty and Uncle took us to when we visited them in March. The meaning of Peratallada is ‘carved stone’ and it’s easy to see how it got its name. Narrow cobbled streets lead past honey coloured stone buildings which bask in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun.

Urban sketching watercolour tutorial

I did this painting over the course of an evening, taking photos as I went, so I apologise for the colours changing when I had to turn a lamp on!

I began with a sketch using purple coloured pencil on paper. It’s a tip I picked up a while ago from Alisa Vysochina of Alisa Draws, and I’ve used it ever since. The purple colour allows you to draw quickly and gives you a structure for your ink lines, but when you paint over it you’ll barely notice it’s there. Graphite tends to stand out more and can muddy your paint.

I drew over my purple lines with ink, using a Faber Castell Pitt artist pen in black. I really like this pen as it has a fine, rounded nib which draws smoothly and makes a consistent line. Also, importantly for watercolourists, it’s waterproof!

I accentuated some of the lines by drawing over them again – I feel it helps give the piece a bit of character.

Then it was time to paint. Starting with the sky and the paving, I applied a subtle wash, dropping in diluted yellow and Payne’s grey to the sky, and purple and yellow to the paving. Making sure colours are not completely flat brings a painting to life.

Bit by bit I worked my way around the painting, filling in initial washes, waiting until one area was dry before painting the area directly next to it.

Building up layers of washes helps to make colours richer, this is known as glazing. I’ve used this technique on most areas of the painting, so the changes between these photos might appear quite subtle.

I used diluted Payne’s grey with a touch of purple for the shadows (note black paint was not used at all in this painting). Shadows are one of the best ways to add depth and knock back darker areas so that brighter areas stand out.

Details such as hinting at the stonework here and there and the shadows on the trees, flowerpots and chairs, were the last things to be added.

I have a lot to learn myself when it comes to watercolour, but I hope this tutorial has helped to share some of the techniques and tips which I’ve found useful so far.

I’m sharing this post on the following blogs: Handmade Harbour and Paint Party Friday!

It’s been a long while since I wrote a tutorial and since I’ve been interested on making patterns recently, I thought I’d share my step by step guide with you.

For some reason I find it immensely satisfying to make a pattern out of an original drawing or painting. It can give a whole new feel to a piece of artwork, anything from a doodle to a detailed painting can be converted into a beautiful design which you can use to make wrapping paper, fabric, phone covers – you name it!

It took me a little bit of research to find out how to make a continuous pattern, with no obvious start and end. It felt like an epiphany when I created my first shell design (see my post ‘Wildlife Illustrations‘) and it inspired me to try more. It’s amazingly simple when you’ve got the hang of it – here’s how to make a repeating pattern…

Step 1 – Illustrate your design

You can either use a piece of artwork you already have, or start from scratch on any size paper you like. The most important thing at this stage is keeping your design away from the edges of the page – none of the design should go over the edge.

Step 2 – Scan your design

You’ll need to cut up your design, so unless you want to ruin your original artwork, it’s best to scan and print it.

Step 3 – Cut and stick

Cut your design in half, right down the middle vertically (be brave!).

Swap the pieces over, so the right piece is on the left, and the left piece is on the right, and tape the join down the back.

Step 4 – Cut and stick again

Cut the design in half again, this time across the middle vertically.

Swap the pieces over so the top piece is on the bottom and vice versa. Tape the join down the back.

Step 5 – Fill in the gaps

There will be some noticeable gaps in the design you’re left with.

You can fill these with anything you like – patterns or shapes, doodles or extra illustrations for your pattern.

Step 6 – Scan and multiply

Scan the image into your computer and then repeat it over and over again, as many times as you like.

Of course, if you’re handy on the computer, you can do the cutting and sticking part digitally, which will make for a cleaner, more professional finish.

If you give this tutorial a go, I’d love to see the results – leave me a photo on my Facebook page and I might even include it in a blog post!

Take a look at my other tutorials if you’re feeling crafty!

I’m sharing this post on the following blogs: Handmade Harbour and Blue Chair Diary Illustrations!

Last week I ordered some Windsor and Newton designers gouache paints as it’s a medium I have been meaning to try for a while. I was looking for something with more opacity than watercolour, but which could be applied in thin washes when required – gouache ticks both these boxes.

I experimented mixing a few colours and adding different amounts of water until I got a bit more used to how they work.

This is the result of my first whole painting – I love it! Very rarely am I completely satisfied with something I’ve painted (any artist will say the same!) so I’m so pleased that this one has gone so well!

I took some step by step photos while I was doing it. Firstly I planned it out with a rough sketch – I had an idea in my mind so it was just a case of getting it down on paper.

Then I drew it out onto some smooth mounting board, making the lines quite dark so they’d just show through the paint. The first layer is a gradient of colours from dark blue at the top to green at the bottom. I mixed all of the colours prior to painting so I could quickly switch from one to the other without them drying.

I had to pick out some of the outlines again as they didn’t all show through, then I started blocking in colours.

In hindsight I shouldn’t have started with the lamp because I needed to paint the bushes in the background. I built up the scene bit by bit, from background to foreground.

One of my favourite parts was adding the highlights, picking up the light from the lamp.

When everything was painted and dry, I outlined it with a fine, 005 black Pigma Micron pen. Et voilà!

I’ve also been doing some more work on this paper cut commission which I started last week. Every time I have 10 minutes spare I cut a little bit more.

Finally, I thought you might like to see my little work desk as it looked today! Got the essentials there – a cupcake and a cup of tea!

I’m sharing this post on the following blogs: Paint Party Friday, Handmade Harbour and Blue Chair Diary Illustrations!