Running Lines

​Thanks for all the lovely notes wishing and praying for my arm to get well!  Rehab on a hand is slow.  I can scratch the right side of my head, type on a computer, and do many other gross movements, but fine work is difficult and slow, plus very fatiguing and painful.  We are still scheduled to film two seasons for PBS in Grand Rapids beginning July 31.  I have done as many as 5 episodes in a day, (usually 3) so I’m now pushing every day to get my hand back.  In a week, we should know if this is going to be possible.

​Meantime, I get emails from people with problems using my technique, so I’m going to try to give answers.  Many people have bought pens in June.  Thank you for all the orders:  this tells me many people are having fun sketching and that feels great!  The common problem is, ‘the line runs.’  That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do!  That is how it takes you right into watercolor.  You simply need to take advantage of it.  It is not a ballpoint or a Micron. 
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​I have sketched some flowers and copied the sketch.  Remember you can use the lines for probably up to 10 years.  For the colored sketch, here are the steps.  Pick the focal point.  You want that daisy to ‘pop.’  Pull the outside lines into the background using just water.  If it looks good, add color.  Then make the color dark and the opposite of the center of the flower.  The other daisies are support and shouldn’t compete.  You don’t need to bother with the inner petals.  Get enough so it works and quit. The sketch with more flowers takes advantage of the shadows in the daisies.  It’s very busy, but it’s still fun.

The next session will involve water falling in a fountain, which is also a request.  It’s far easier than you imagine.  Look on our website calendar for future live workshops.

Happy sketching!
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