Tonight at Great Ayton Art Club we explored how to simplify a scene and make creative decisions before putting pen to paper.
Rather than trying to copy every detail from the reference image, we spent time mapping out the composition and deciding what to include, what to leave out, and how a little artistic licence can often create a more interesting drawing.
We then worked with fineliners, experimenting with a variety of marks. Some lines were loose, broken, and suggestive, while others were more considered and detailed. This contrast helped to create drawings with much more character and movement.
Finally, we introduced watercolour, adding subtle washes of colour and shadow to bring the sketches to life without overpowering the pen work.
The feedback from the session was fantastic, and it was clear everyone really enjoyed this approach. As it proved to be such a hit, we'll be continuing with the same theme next week, developing these techniques even further.
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