Alright, I may be dragging this out a bit but all of them together is a bit much right? Right?? Anyway, here are some more sketches from my travel sketchbook!
Venice I
Recently, I visited Venice, Italy on holiday. As it was a city that Ive always wanted to go to, so, of course, I planned each day to the minute to try and do as much as possible. To be very honest, it wasn’t enough time in the city. I wish I could have spent a few more days just wandering and exploring. Its a truly wonderful city; you can be walking through the narrowest of streets with only a strip of blue sky above you and suddenly it will open onto a beautiful square, probably with achurch. It inspired me to begin this series of sketches which I will post here in three posts. Now, don’t expect too much, they are just scribbles created standing in the middle of a busy square. Hope you like them!
Shivani
Admitting to Defeat...
This post may have a gloomy title but, I promise it won't be that bad! I'm trying to record my failures here so I can learn from them. So here's the development of my latest piece that really didn't work (but let me know what I could have done better!):
Testing the Pallete
Putting the colors and textures together before you begin your piece is always a good idea. Thats what I did here. I even attempted to add streaks to the blocks of color but I quickly realised that did not fit with the rest of solid colors.
Practice Piece
I then practiced the technique required. I used a palette knife that I cleaned before every stroke. This allowed me to realize that mixing colors would make the palette more interesting. But the lightest yellow would allow the background to show through.
The Unfinished Final
This is the final piece that I eventually gave up on. I genuinely loved the color pallet and therefore background but the original plan included the 'swirls' overlayed. However, as I started to build it up it began to darken the background colors and become more of an eyesore. Perhaps if I had enlarged the design it may have worked together better. All in all, not my best work but I am still genuinely proud. The color pallet is one I will use again and I tried to bring life to my idea! So I thought I would write this post to make sure your failures don't go in the trash or in the back of your closet. Learn from them!
Shivani
Art is a Language is an online portfolio as well as store for Shivani Sarjan’s artwork; focusing on sharing development, processes and final works as well as how an amateur artist may accomplish these.
Using Sketchbooks
Currently, I have three sketchbooks running simultaneously. One is dedicated to my art, one to design (for university) and one travel sketchbook that I take with me everywhere. Here are a few examples of how I use them:
Firstly, my art sketchbook (my favourite one but definitely not the most important one):
Artist Study
I use this sketchbook to explore my favourite artists. In my opinion, looking at other artists far improves your skills. Look at the composition, the concepts the mediums used and it will definitely help your art (or artist block!). But since Im a little bit of a dork I research their lives and record that as well. I have a reason! It really helps my understand their art - specifically the personal reasons behind their pieces.
Exploring Mediums
This page is pretty self-explanatory. Testing mediums and practicing a little bit before creating your final piece is a good idea and your sketchbook is the best place to do it. You can always refer back to it! Even if you don't do it in your sketchbook, keep those scribbles! Might need them later.
Subject Study
This is one of the most useful types of pages! A subject study of whatever you're painting/drawing will help you be accurate and understand the shapes, textures and colors involved in your subject. This exploration can take the form of sketches or photographs (really, whatever is easiest at the time). This page was for my charcoal trees.
Case Study
Similar to the Artist Study page, this to explore other artists but one or two works specifically. Again, it helps develop your skills, knowledge and ideas. These paintings are by Deborah Cauchi (see the post Unknown!)
Recording Development
This may not be very important in your process or you may do it differently but I like to record the development of many of final pieces.
Now my design sketchbook...
Design Ideas
I use this sketchbook to sketch my ideas for facades, structure, construction etc etc. Its good to record all of your thoughts as its later easier to explain it to your classmate/tutor/client.
Field Notes
I also use it for field notes. Like the site section above.
Finally my travel sketchbook...
Exploration Sketches
To be honest I use this sketchbook for everything but here's an example: I use it to explore buildings. I love sketching my way (does that make sense??) through a building or even a city as it helps me truly enjoy the details. It's also a requirement of the trade (as an architecture student)!
Field Notes (again)
I may have multiple sketchbooks but even I don't have a full-size one on me all the time. This is where the travel sketchbook comes in handy for field notes (for paintings, buildings, design, sites etc etc). Having one of these all the time really helps your quick sketching skills as well!
That became a really long post, I didnt realise how much I record! To be honest I don't do this for every piece. There are definitely those impromptu 2 am paintings that are stuffed in the back. Of course, I would only display the good looking pages!! Anyway, hope it helps you use your sketchbook!
Shivani
Art is a Language is an online portfolio as well as store for Shivani Sarjan’s artwork; focusing on sharing development, processes and final works as well as how an amateur artist may accomplish these.
Inside my "Studio"
Happy New Year, everybody!! Hope you've got your new year's resolutions in order. But to be honest, mine have never lasted past January.
Since I'm not in any way a professional artist, I don't have a dedicated studio space. I have a Pinterest board for one (check it out!), though!! I have so many dreams of a studio space, entirely dedicated to my art but they aren't reality just yet. So for this post, let me take you through the reality of my "studio".
My "studio"
So this is the set of drawers most of my supplies fit into. Ill take you into it but before that, a short disclaimer: most of this revolves around acrylic paint as thats my primary medium and some of my supplies are not currently in this (they're in a different city which doesnt help when you need them).
My pencils and drawing tablet sit on top of it. I dont own too many pencils; the top box are my faber-castell color pencils and the bottom box is a mixture of sketching pencils (8H - 8B) and charcoal pencils.
The first drawer
This drawer contains my brushes, paint pens, ink pads and my metal palette knives. It's essentially my primary tool drawer. I got the dividers at a kitchen/houshold supplies store.
The second drawer
Ok, this drawer is a little bit of a mess. It contains my plastic palette knives (they're bigger), smaller pots of paints (lots of strange colors), ink, tiny trial canvases, stands (to hold up wet work), a pot of Gouache (bottom left) and my business card making supplies. Yeah, its definitely a huge mess.
The third drawer
Finally, the last drawer which is meant to be a filing drawer but it really is perfect to store paint bottles and tubes. It also holds my flow aid and pouring mediums.
So, this a very incomplete post as it does not include the rest of my dry mediums, fixative sprays tc etc. But I hope you enjoyed this peek into my "organization".
Shivani
Art is a Language is an online portfolio as well as store for Shivani Sarjan’s artwork; focusing on sharing development, processes and final works as well as how an amateur artist may accomplish these.