sketchbook“IT IS THE BRUSHWORK OF THE RIGHT
VALUE AND COLOUR WHICH
SHOULD PRODUCE THE DRAWING”
- CAMILLE PISSARRO
THECOLOUR
ThefirstrealvioletpigmentwasmanufacturedinFrance
in1859.It providesa cool,deepcolour,lessredthan
ManganeseViolet.THEPROPERTIES
CobaltVioletis semi-transparentandhasa notoriously
lowtintingstrength.Manyoilpaintmanufacturersoffer
lightanddeepvarieties.THEUSES
Monetcalledvioletthe“truecolouroftheatmosphere”
andmanyImpressionistsusedit asa shadowcolour– a
complimenttotheyellowofsunlight.Thougha mutedtint,
CobaltVioletmixeswithwhitetoforminterestinggreys.EXPAND YOUR PALETTE
Discoveranewcoloureverymonth
Cobalt Violet
MASTER TIP ANDERS ZORN
Discover the painting techniques
of the world’s best artists
Anders Zorn was one artist who knew that painting
carefully and painting quickly were not mutually exclusive.
The effect of light captured in the great Swedish painter’s
Castles in the Air [below] for example, was both swift and
deliberate. “Each brushstroke was precisely calculated
before being executed,” said fellow artist Axel Reinhold
Lindholm. “First the hand described the motion in the air,
and then the stroke was performed with style and
confi dence.” Encourage more confi dent mark making in
your own paintings by miming the movement fi rst.BOOK OF THE MONTH
Painting Trees by Siân and Rob Dudley
Unlike the stuffy rigours of the atelier, a painting
session with wife-and-husband team Siân and
Rob Dudley is more akin to a reassuring tea
break with lovely old friends, albeit one that
fi nishes with you realising your skills have
improved no end as a result. The couple’s
conversational approach is still purposeful,
however. By encouraging you to think about your motivations and focus
on designing a pleasing composition, the subsequent seasonal
demonstrations are a joy to follow and packed with useful advice.
Crowood Press, £18.99. http://www.crowood.com
ERIK CORNELIUS/NATIONALMUSEUM