Artists & Illustrators - April 2016_

notebook

Jake Spicer tackles a botanical subject

MASTER TIPS PAUL CÉZANNE

Discover the painting techniques

of the world’s greatest artists

After studying colour theory and painting the Provençal

landscape en plein air, Paul Cézanne knew that warmer,

brighter hues appear to stand out, while cooler, darker

ones recede into the picture plane.

He applied this knowledge deftly to still life paintings

such as 1900’s Still Life with Milk Jug and Fruit (pictured

above), pitting rich red and orange fruits against softer

turquoise and teal backdrops to add depth to an

otherwise shallow scene.

His real skill came in applying those thick blue-green

outlines to the various objects. Squint at the picture

above and those lines soon soften into subtle shadows,

lending form to the objects they trace and backing up

the French artist’s claim that “to paint is to register

one’s sensations of colour”.

3

Texture

Finally, use a 2B pencil

to add texture and pattern,

making marks that follow

the surface direction of

the leaves and petals.

Jake’s latest book,

DRAW, is published by

Ilex Press, RRP £17.99.

http://www.jakespicerart.co.uk

2

Tone

Using the framework

of the previous pass, add

a consistent, vertical

mid-tone to everything

that you intend to darken,

leaving the light spaces as

the white of the paper.

1

Shape

Using an H pencil,

concentrate on fi nding

edges in the subject.

To avoid drawing the leaves

as you imagine them, focus

on the negative spaces

between the leaves and

petals to help make more

objective observations.

This drawing was made

from life with the fl owers in

water to minimise wilting.

Once I had arranged them,

I began the study with a

swift, twice-erased

compositional sketch to

establish which part of the

bouquet I would focus on,

developing the drawing in

three passes: shape, tone

and texture. In each pass

I fi lled in the picture-plane

completely before

beginning the next one.

HOW TO DRAW

FLOWERS

Modern Printmaking

Sylvie Covey

In the digital age, traditional

printmaking techniques are enjoying

something of a renaissance as

people revert to the simple joys of

crafting images by hand. French

author Sylvie Covey should know,

having trained in digital art and

turned to prints later in life.

This smart, contemporary bible

talks you through a vast range of

techniques, while artist profi les

reveal the possibilities of each.

Watson-Guptill, £24.99

BOOK OF THE MONTH

establish which part of the

TOP TIP

Use a viewfinder

to help isolate and

frame a potential

composition

38 Artists & Illustrators

sketchbook

37 Sketchbook.indd 38 18/02/2016 12:31