Let’s get rid of that blank page
Where I share a few ideas and examples for under paintings
I have really enjoyed using under paintings in my urban sketches lately. Mainly for four reasons:
It get’s rid of the blank page, so starting the next sketch is just that tiny bit less intimidating.
It helps me to make some important decisions early on in the sketch, mainly the composition and my colour choices. It is so much easier to choose colours when you already have a base colour that you need to work with.
There is something exciting on the page even before I start to draw. And if I choose the right underpainting for the scene, I am already communicating the atmosphere of the scene even before I make my first mark.
As you will see in this video, they are incredibly fun to make!
In this video I show you how I make three new under paintings for upcoming sketch events. For each one I use a different technique.
I have already used the ink under painting page since I recorded the video and I think the grey really helped me to capture the weather of that day.
Have you ever tried using an under painting as a basis for your sketches?
Some more ideas, tips and inspiration
In a previous post I share some tips for making and using under paintings, including materials that work well for them.
Debbie Mackinnon often uses a combination of collage and under paintings as a basis for her on location drawings and paintings. I find this video where she shares how she adds the collage very inspiring.
Ruud Otten, the founder of Urban Sketchers Nederland, recently wrote this article about common myths about Urban Sketching.
A small change to the newsletter
I have decided to make a small change to the newsletter. Starting October I will move my posts to the first and third Thursday evenings of the month. (As opposed to the Friday.) In doing that my readers from Oceania and Asia will also be able to get the newsletter before the weekend starts. Yeah to creativity filled weekends!
Thank you all for reading. And a special thanks to all of you who leave an encouraging comment, be it here, in person or in some other way.
May you have a playfully creative weekend!
Nino
Thanks Loretta! Let me know if you try out any of them.
Thank you Teresa! The second one is also my favourite of the three. Have you tried mono prints before? I’m playing with the idea of doing a mono print (with my cheap setup) for the cover of my sketchbook. I think I should put that on my list of things to do for this coming week. Fun!