We had a great discussion and sketching session today in which we covered a wide range of topics including Dippers, drawing ambitions, art supplies, and hand lettering. Thanks so much to everyone who joined in live. I hope to see y’all next month!
Structured Page Layout: Planning a page composition with light pencil marks for a silhouette, full-body sketch, and portrait helps guide the eye, creates a visual narrative, and leaves space for notes. The flow typically moves from smaller, more general elements to larger, more detailed ones.
Watercolor Mixing: Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna can be mixed to create a versatile gray palette. The ratio can be adjusted for a neutral gray, a warmer tone (more Sienna, ideal for the adult head), or a cooler tone (more Blue, suitable for the adult body and wings).
Layering Technique: Start with a watercolor base for broad color washes, then enhance details and shadows with colored pencil or ink after the watercolor dries. This hybrid method combines bold color with precise lines and contrast.
Lettering Tip: For neat and evenly spaced titles, sketch letter outlines in pencil first. Use a center-out method to ensure uniform spacing, drawing three letters to the left and three to the right of the center for a six-letter word.
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A blind contour drawing of a fledgling Dipper was used as a warm-up. This exercise involves keeping the drawing implement on the paper and looking only at the subject, without looking at the paper, to train eye-hand coordination and loosen up.
1. Page Layout:
Plan the page composition with light pencil marks, preferably using a non-photo blue pencil, to guide the eye and reserve space for notes.
Plan: Silhouette (top-left) → Full-body sketch (bottom-right) → Portrait (middle-left). The adult portrait bird faces right, balancing the composition.
2. Silhouette Sketch:
Capture the bird’s essential form from a distant reference photo, focusing on its round body, short legs, short bill, sharp forehead angle, and short tail often sticking straight up.
3. Full-Body Sketch:
Establish posture and proportions by first sketching the line on the back of the head and down the back, then adding a circle for the head and an ellipse for the body. The head typically fits at least three times into the body length for this species.
Use negative space, such as the area between the legs, to accurately determine angles and placement.
Place the eye just above the bill line, in the center of the head, ensuring it is an ellipse rather than a perfect circle. Add context like the rock line and simple lines for wing coverts. Block in areas for shadows.
4. Portrait Sketch:
Focus on the head and bill proportions, starting with a head circle and neck line. The beak line is generally in the middle of the head.
Key Feature: Outline the distinctive white eyelid to preserve it during painting or coloring, as it is a notable field mark. Adjust bill length and forehead angle as needed.
5. Watercolor Base Layer:
Mix Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna to create a versatile gray palette.
Ratio Adjustment: For the fledgling’s legs, use a very diluted burnt sienna for a pinkish-brown color. For the adult, add more burnt sienna to the mix for a warmer gray on the head, and more ultramarine blue for a cooler gray on the body and wings.
Apply a bold base layer, adding more paint where shadows are darkest and allowing the brush to naturally run out of paint for lighter areas like the chest.
After the watercolor dries, add details and enhance shadows using colored pencils (e.g., dark indigo for wings) or ink. Focus on textures where the back meets the wings.
Focal Point: Use a fine black pen for the eye to achieve high contrast and precision, as the eye is typically the focal point. Add a white gel pen or colored pencil for highlights in the nostril and bill tip.
Apply additional watercolor layers or lift color with a clean brush to refine tones and address flatness.
7. Lettering:
Employ a center-out method for even letter spacing (e.g., for an eight-letter word in a four-inch space, place four letters to the left and four to the right of the center mark).
Draw letters as outlines in pencil, then trace with pen or watercolor, and erase the pencil lines once dry for a clean look.
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