This week I finally completed the HNC in Photography and handed in my portfolio. I’ve been studying part time for the last two years or so. Overall, it’s been an enjoyable course and I’ve learned a lot. It always feels a little strange when you complete something you’ve been immersed in for a couple of years. On the one hand, I felt relieved to finally finish it, but on the other I felt a little sad that it’s over too.
Continue readingIt’s been one of those weeks for bird photography. When I say “those weeks” I mean that sometimes you can head out with your camera and not capture anything. But occasionally, you get a week when you’re incredibly lucky.
That was this week 🙂
It pays to be observant and patient when trying to photograph birds.
Every now and then, I noticed that birds kept coming to a large puddle in the path for a drink. So I waited patiently, camera at the ready.
Nothing happened. No birds came.
So I waited some more. Still nothing.
Even more waiting.
Then a Goldfinch appeared!
Taking photographs of wild birds can be incredibly frustrating. No sooner have you raised your camera and the moment is lost.
Not so today, though. This little Nuthatch was joyfully pecking away at the dead branch in shot and was more than happy to be photographed.
If only every day out with the camera was like this one!
How do you make your art pay?
Maybe you’re not bothered about money – you’re happy enough just sketching for fun, and that’s fine. Most creatives struggle to make a living from their art and do other stuff too. Unless you’re one of the lucky few.
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I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
An artist’s grid is invaluable for getting your proportions right, especially if you want to draw something like the sketch above.
For this sketch I drew a 10 by 12 grid in light pencil first. That not only gave me the parallels I needed for the brickwork, it also allowed me to accurately place the candles to flank the crystal ball, as well as get the proportions right for the central character.
Let’s hear it for grids! I never thought I’d have to use Maths to do drawing, but it really helps!
Using the right tools for the job is essential.
Sure, when you’re starting out, sketching with anything can be fun. You certainly don’t need to spend a fortune on pens. However, if you want to get a bit more serious and look at refining your art further you could do a lot worse than invest in some Rotring pens.
Continue reading“Oscar.”
“Oscar!”
“OSCAR! Come on!”
I had to hand it to Oscar the dog – he played every delaying tactic in the book to prolong his walk as long as caninely possible.
He was having none of his owner’s cries, as evidenced by this image!
A bit of a ‘non-post’ really.
Sometimes it’s just nice to share something that made you smile, like a little Robin posing for the camera 🙂
Hatching.
It’s a familiar technique to most sketchers, but if you haven’t come across it here’s a useful overview by Koosje Koene.
Continue readingMy second tip isn’t really about how to hone your sketching skills, it’s more about finding the time to practice. We all lead busy lives and it’s easy to get caught up in life’s everyday challenges. Finding the time to sketch isn’t easy.
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