sketchbook“BECOMING AN ARTIST CONSISTS OF
LEARNING TO ACCEPT YOURSELF,
WHICH MAKES YOUR WORK
PERSONAL, AND FOLLOWING YOUR
OWN VOICE, WHICH MAKES YOUR
WORK DISTINCTIVE” – DAVID BAYLES
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Mixed Media Landscapes and Seascapes by Chris Forsey
One of the many pleasing aspects to Chris Forsey’s work is his
willingness to use Crayola wax crayons in his gallery-standard art.
It’s a trick that sums up the Royal Institute of Painters in Water
Colour member’s approach to art. His colourful, seasonal take on
the landscape is backed up here with plenty of short demos that
show you clever ways to combine everything from inks to collage.
Batsford, £19.99. http://www.pavilionbooks.comMASTER TIP
EDGAR DEGAS
Techniques of the
world’s best artists
Edgar Degas’ Hélène Rouart
in her Father’s Study, currently
part of the National Gallery’s
Masterpiece 2020 tour, is a
remarkable work for several
reasons. Firstly, it shows his
restless approach, the oil
paint not only having been
extensively reworked, but also
with the addition of pastel.
Secondly, those pastel lines
are a great example of the
French artist’s edging of
subjects. This technique went
against classical traditions,
yet saw the fi gure of Hélène
outlined against the softer,
scumbled backdrop. Used
sparingly, it can be a very
effective aid to compositions.
Hélène Rouart in her Father’s
Study is on display from
27 April to 11 July at Kirkby
Gallery, Merseyside.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.ukWHY NOT TRY...
Schmincke Aqua Drop
These new liquid watercolours are
a great way to add punch to your
paintings. With pigment suspended
in a fl uid binder, they don’t need
diluting – meaning you can apply
them directly to your paper with
the pipettes for maximum
saturation of colour.
There are 24 transparent colours
in the range, none of which
granulate, so they offer a great
consistency of fi nish. What’s more,
they can be combined easily with
traditional watercolours to expand
the range of possible effects.
http://www.schmincke.de
NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON