In The Studio: Off To Spain “50 Figures in 50 Days” Coming in Two Weeks.

I am heading off to Madrid and San Sebastian Spain for a workshop and will not be putting up blogs since the internet will be very intermittent.  I do want to leave you with the exciting reminder that starting the middle of October I will begin a series of “In The Studio” blogs title “50 figures in 50 Days” what can be more fun.  So get your images ready and practice your drawing skills and I will see you in a couple of weeks.Line and value sketch of one of my artist friends from my workshop in Rockport, Maine, This is about as detailed as you want to get in your figure sketching.  Keep the lines simple and understand the contours, the painting will be much easier to handle without too much detail.A nice little drawing of another of my friends painting.  I toned the paper with cadmium scarlet and new gamboge and the drew the simple line drawing.  Using opaque white, titanium white, I highlighted only the part of the composition I wanted to focus on.I used the boats to start the movement towards the figures walking along the beach.  Remember the figures are almost always the center of interest so make your painting support their importance by employing movement lines and strong contrast of value or color where the figures are.I hinted at figures behind the smoke, they needed to be in the painting but really couldn’t be too strongly stated or the impression of mist and smoke would be ruined.  Try a few paintings with some simple figures and I will be be putting up those “5o Figures in 50 Days” in mid October.