The Village
Posted: August 31, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized 20 CommentsThis week I’ve been sketching in an A4 Moleskine, the big horizontal book with the old paper that I liked so much when I started to sketch (not the newer Art Plus version). I bought this book many months ago, but because it’s quite expensive (in Canada at least) I think I’ve been saving it for something special. That seems a bit silly to me now so I threw it in my bag at the beginning of the week and have been using it every day. It’s a bit like rediscovering an old friend and I’m happy to get reacquainted.
I haven’t used Moleskine books for art, and I have heard that many people do. So I was wondering what the difference is between the “old” paper and the new Art Plus?
I haven’t done elaborate testing on the new paper but I really don’t like the texture or the way it takes the paint.
On the other hand, my friend Liz Steel has tested it quite extensively so please read what she has to say:
http://www.lizsteel.com/2014/06/review-of-new-paper-in-moleskine.html
Shari, you haven’t lost your touch for the local scenes. But I must admit that your summer travel around North America was very intersting and specially your New Foundland scenes.
I whish I can go there one day to paint.
The village is lovely and warm.
Thanks so much Andre. It was a great summer but I am happy to be back painting my neighbourhood. I will have the Newfoundland paintings at the LAA show next weekend. I hope you can come by to say hi.
Lovely work again. Are those ink lines or pencil lines in your piece and do they come before or after your watercolour paint?
Thanks, again. Those are pencil lines and they came before the washes. This time I made the pencil a little darker than usual and I tried to use a loose contour drawing.
I love the Moleskine A4 and just got two from Amazon, and am hoarding them. Sorry they have changed the paper, but will eventually try it, I guess. I love how a watersoluable pen works on it for me, but find watercolor doesn’t lift well enough without really showing my errors. Fear that they are going to disappear soon.
I fear they will be gone too but I haven’t stocked up. I will just use what I have until it runs out…
Love this village:) have not even been to the new Lois Butler though..that’s how long it has been.
I was sitting right in front of that store but it was closed on the Sunday morning. Yes, it is a perfect little village.
I have learned so much about painting trees by looking at your work. Thanks.
Thanks Lee!
Love Pointe Claire village. I grew up walking to “the Black Cat” just around the corner, to buy candy! So many memories. Great painting!
Thanks Patti! I’ve never heard of “The Black Cat” because I didn’t grow up in this neighbourhood although I do remember The Edgewater.
The last few paintings have a very “familiar” feel (not to be confused with mundane, tired or boring)… maybe as a result of the paper that you used so frequently in the distant past? Do you think the paper, provided you are using reasonable quality, has that much influence on the outcome?
They are also familiar because I’ve painted this scene so many times! But you’re right, they do feel like my the sketches I did in my first year or two of the blog because I used this paper almost exclusively.
In answer to your question, I think the paper has a huge influence on the outcome of the sketch.If I grab a sheet of real watercolour paper, not a sketchbook watercolour paper which is not 100% cotton, I know the washes will be much nicer and I will be able to do more (scrubbing out, adding layers of washes, etc.) but I also know that I can’t use a fine marker on that paper because it’s too rough. So if I want to draw and add a quick wash I use a sketchbook paper but if I want to really paint I use good rag paper.
How do you paint the paintings that ‘haven’t been painted?’ Do you work from a sketch or do you also use photos?
For those paintings, I use my own sketches and photos. I am not a big fan of painting from photos, I really prefer the pleasant and unpleasant challenges of the plein air experience such as changing light, wind, bugs, humidity and too much sun, but will use them if I have to. The challenge of translating the 3D world into 2D is more exciting than from 2D to 2D.
Love those trees!
Ah yes, The Black Cat. Living in Pointe-Claire in the 70’s, I remember cycling to the store on weekends, spending a dollar on hockey cards and candy.