Learn by doing. That's our philosophy, that's why Karen has spent a lot of time creating a structured approach to our beginners workflow. If you follow our 'mini course' it introduces you to the key techniques we use in our tutorials.
BEGINNERS WORKFLOW PART 1 -
INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS
This is a great place to start, we learn:
- Using different parts of the brush for different marks
- Creating texture
- Using cools for shadows
- Creating a feeling of movement
- Warm vs cool tones.
BEGINNERS WORKFLOW PART 2 -
ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS
Now we're looking at:
- Expressive marks to create fur, especially for the head
- Using warm to bring ares to the foreground and cool tones to recede objects.
- Creating our own composition
- Grounding the penguins using cast shadows
- Mixing our own darks.
BEGINNERS WORKFLOW PART 3 -
SILHOUETTE HAIR
Now we're looking at:
- How to preserve the whites of the paper to create a sunburst effect
- Using colours within our hare to produce a backlit glow
- Creating reflections and ripples in water
- Using tonal contrast and colour theory to create depth and distance.
BEGINNERS WORKFLOW PART 4 -
PEACOCK BUTTERFLY
Now we’re cooking! Here you’ll learn:
- How to create intricate detail without painting every line
- Skipped brush strokes to create texture
- Creating a background wash once the main subject is in place
- Softening the wing edges using the correct tones to create texture and shape.
- Fusing glorious, bold colour to create velvety wet-in-wet effects.