Hey Artists... the coming of winter, the fall of the year... (originally published September 2025)

Mid-September to early May, my favorite time of the year.  Changing colors, amazing sunsets and sunrises, empty beaches, Payne's Grey skies and seas, and quiet... it's a different quiet... an introverted quiet, a peaceful quiet.  When it comes to painting and mixing fall greens its time to add more dark blue in that mix. The vibrant greens of spring and summer are gone.  My green, a mixture of American Journey Yellow Ochre and you guessed it Winsor Newton Payne's Grey. WN's Payne's Grey has a blue tone unlike some other brands.

The quote of the month is from master watercolor artist Joseph Zbukvic. "Drawing is the skeleton of your work, paint is the flesh." 

How good are your drawings, your thumb nail sketches, those quick doodles to capture an idea and the detailed studies for that next masterpiece? Sometimes all you need are a few lines as the foundation of your painting and other times its details. Drawing helps you work out the composition, what to keep in and what to edit out, where to make value changes and where to leave that all important negative space.  Remember, Negative Space is a positive part of your painting.  Your drawing is also where you work out the linear perspective elements of the scene.  A landscape, a still life, an urban scene and even a portrait have perspective lines and vanishing points.  Think back to my May Ramble for tips on linear perspective.

I'm working with some talented artists and have been helping them with composition, perspective and having fun.  Here's two sketches (attached) with different takes on composition that I'm preparing.  Sketch Big... it’s an eye-opener.  These are 14" x 17".  It makes the transition to a half sheet (15 x 22) or a full sheet (22 x 30) painting easier.  It also allows me to see where changes are needed which I may not see in a thumbnail sketch.  Give big a try.

And now a Public Service Announcement...

October 11th and 12th is the Artists Guild of the Cape Studio Tour.  Twenty three artists and artisans at 20 locations. (https://www.theartistsguildofthecape.com).  A great way to meet other artists, see the Cape and pick up some art or gifts.  Our house is the perfect starting point... Laurie a potter, Hali a jewelry artist and me a painter.  Hope you can make it. 

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

 Keep Pushing those brushes!

joe