Month: September 2020

Some good news, and a blatant marketing post

| John

I’ve just updated the workshops page ( well, mainly deleting stuff) with details of a fabulous new venue: Quirky Workshops, near Penrith-

Here’s their home page, and details of the first event can be found either on my own workshops page, or under the paint & paper page on their website. Feels great to be writing something positive after over 6 months of gloom and doom.

https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk

So, now the shameless marketing/selling bit: in common with every other artist, the spring and summer has been completely barren of any opportunities to make any income from demonstrations, workshops and art festivals, so I’ve been relying on commissions ( mainly house portraits for gifts…ooooh…Christmas is not too far away, so plenty of time to organise a really special gift-just drop me an email ), and selling my 2021 calendars and new sketchbooks…still available in my Etsy shop…just click the link to the right of this post.

An actual workshop-live and in person!!!!

| John

After over 6 months of gloom and doom, with cancelled demos and workshops, I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce an actual, live workshop-the first in a series-in a new (to me) venue!!!

This well established place looks amazing, the reviews are excellent, and I cannot tell how much I’m looking forward to this( especially the home cooked lunch, which is included in the cost). The first date is in November, with a second in December, and three more pencilled in for next year.

Here’s the link to book:

https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/paint-paper-print-workshops/buildings-in-the-landscape

and here’s a photo of the venue itself-looks idyllic, doesn’t it?…I can’t wait….

A top tip

| John

I was delighted to be asked by The SAA ( Society for All Artists) to write a blog for their website: I’m still polishing my words of wisdom, and will post when it’s ready.

As a taster, they also asked me for a ‘Top Tip’ which was published today on their social media channels: here it is, with the two demonstration drawings.

John Harrison, artist: purveyor of line drawings with watercolour is a pen and wash artist and has the answer to this often asked question: “How can I make my drawings look less flat?”

One way to achieve this is to vary the line weights that you use in the initial drawing, staring with a really fine nib.
The initial linework on the drawing was done with a 0.05 size, and the emphasis lines with a 0.3 nib.

The fine nib can also be used for any hatching, and the heavier one for deep shadow areas, which can help suggest strong sunlight.

Confining the emphasis lines to those areas closest to the viewer, and leaving those areas furthest away in the lightest lines will also help with aerial perspective to convey a sense of depth and distance.

Share your work with us if you find John’s tip helpful!

Here are the two stages of a quick demo drawing which accompanied the post: