Julie Douglas Drawing, Painting,Learning..

Portrait drawing workshop

2012-02-27T22:52:00.000Z

Here are some of my demonstration drawings from portrait workshops. I love drawing faces. They're all so different, and yet...the same!

My next Portrait Workshop runs this weekend in Belfast. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info.

Coconut Square, Oils, 8in x 8in on Board. And a portrait workshop.

2012-02-24T11:55:00.000Z

Oh yes, another sweet treat.

The thing is, I don't even eat these. I am purely attracted to them on a visual level - does that make me shallow?!! I can't help it. And still to come, is the jam-filled cream-topped scone, the strawberry-and-shortbread creamy stack, and the coffee slice. Oh joy.
This particualr painting has been on and off for a while, and is waiting for a final layer to make me satisfied. In the meantime I have started another painting of trees, which is infinitely more difficult - from treat to tree. Delicious.

Next up - BYOB class (Yes, this is the best fun!), weekly drawing and painting classes in Belfast and PORTRAIT WORKSHOP. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for details.

Tied up in knots - cloth drawings, pencil on toned paper.

2012-02-21T09:10:00.003Z

One of the most difficult things about photographing any of my students working, I notice, is that the table is so covered in coffee cups..

Recently I asked them to draw cloth - this is a difficult subject, but so important for when drawing the clothed figure. Drawing the cloth without the figure is a kinder place to start. It is also, once you get used to the initial horror-feelings, almost meditative to do. This is a landmark subject matter - once you tackle this, you know you can do Anything...

(It is really difficult to photograph pencil work, and some of these were at night, so sorry about the quality). Graphite and white pencil on toned paper.

These are stunning drawings (above is by Phillippa, below is by Brian, both of whom have only attended 4 lessons!). The end result doesn't show their total fear of the subject, or the determination to see it through, but it was there. Great work.

Above, by student John McI. Below Jayne McC. (Jayne's photo was taken in the daytime, which is why it is clearer!)

And finally, below, my own drawing. I don't always get to participate in the class, but this time I couldn't resist, and sat up long after everyone had gone to finish it. The upside of joining in is that I remember how difficult it is, and occassionally feel a little bit guilty... but then, I get over it!

Next up, portrait workshop. Email for info julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portfolio Panic

2012-02-16T22:49:00.000Z

This time of year is tough for students applying for Art College - it's portfolio sumission time, or nearly, and so so many students contact me to help with that last minute tidy-up (or rescue job, whichever applies!) It's stressful for students and parents alike. However, there is nothing quite like a deadline to concentrate the mind.

Roisin, who crossed the length of Ireland on a BUS, to stay with me for a week, to cram-finish her portfolio. She impressed me and my other students with her dedication and long hours. Here she is being bribed to carry on for a bit longer...! (as well as a deadline, bribery is also good...!)

You know it's been a hard day when the students fall asleep on top of the props...!

Drawing - colour pencil, crisps. (student work)

2012-02-10T10:42:00.001Z

It's always a challenge to stretch students so that they are both engaged as well as challenged. And when I'm undecided on subject matter, the wisest thing is not to think about it, but to go out and LOOK.
This week, I saw...CRISPS!! It's a few years since I gave this as a subject, and it was great to revisit.

Here are two wonderful studies by students in Belfast. Neither is finished as they only had two hours. They used colour pencils. Delicious.

By Jean Reid (above and below)

By Pat Finlay(above and below)

New Book on Color Pencil Art!

2012-02-08T23:28:00.003Z

Front cover..

I was honoured to be asked if I would contribute to a new book of Colour Pencil artists, designed to reflect contemporary artists, which is now about to be published! Each contributor was asked about the artwork submitted - the inspiration, the challenges, what drives us, and also what technique tips we would share if we only have 5 mintues to explain to someone! I'm not sure if the 'Click here to Preview' will work on the blog, but here is the link (just click on it) if you'd like to see more or are interested in ordering a copy.

http://www.annkullberg.com/cptreasures_2.php

I have ordered my copy, and I can't wait to see it, it looks AMAZING (and I don't use that word lightly). It inculdes a wide variety of subject matter and techniques, as well as a little bit of info on how each artist works - I think it's wonderful and worth the preview at least!! So click on the link for your viewing.

A big Thank You to Ann Kullberg in America for taking the initiative to put this work together.

Next Up - Water Colour Weekend, 11th & 12th Feb, Galway
Art for Teenagers, Monday 13th Feb, Belfast
Water Colour Day, Wed 15th Feb, Belfast

Weekly drawing and painting classes in Belfast, Monthly Mondays in Killaloe, Co Clare, and weekend workshops all year round as well as Distance Learning courses.
Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for details.

Going Dotty.. Chalk pastels, drawing workshop, Belfast

2012-01-30T12:24:00.000Z

A friend gave me a wonderful scarf for Christmas, red with white spots on it. As soon as I saw it, I knew it wouldn't make it as a scarf, because it had a higher destiny, to be immortalised in paint.. How I LOVE a new prop!

However, only the really Tough students took the challenge, and produced lovely pastel drawings. Well done girls! (these are some of my Thursday-Girls) Chalk pastels on water colour paper - which has a chunky groove on it and takes a lot of layering. (On the right you can see two lovey mushroom drawings by G.M. - just her second class!)

We decided that the spotty drawings, overall, had a snowy look to them - Delicious!!

Distance Learning

2012-01-28T17:06:00.000Z

Teaching students through Distance Learning is a really rewarding experience for me. People from all over the globe send me artwork to crit, following exercises I have written, and it's wonderful to share their learning experience. I get such amusing letters too - I have a few students in Australia, and one in particular, Yvonne (you knew it was you!) has me in stitches with her dry self criticism, including suggesting her egg-plant was hairy (which I hadn't noticed until she mentioned it) and hitting the bottle after a particularly tough assignment..! A common thread is that students are very hard on themselves - and while this is better than being over confident, I think its always worth remembering that while the goal may be self-improvement, the point has to be the pleasure in the production. So no matter how many aches and pains, we are all happy to be learning.
Here are some fabulous pieces from some Distance Learning students of mine.

Charcoal Mushroom, by A.W in Holland, a multi-talented lady.

Peony, water colour by Y.K, Australia. This painting was done while Yvonne attended a painting workshop in Ireland. On this day, she was joined by my regular Monthly Monday students, who moan accusatorily every month that its all my fault they're 'rusty', grumble mutter moan groan.. Yvonne, who was using her trip to get to know the locals, was most dismayed at this, until after lunch, because by then, they had all settled down, ceased their worrying, and began (quietly!) producing wonderful paintings. Just like always. A double learning experience for Yvonne!

I am always so impressed at students dedication - it is much harder to work alone at home than in a group at a class or workshop. But some people live in far away inaccessible places making distant learning a great option. Most send work on line, but one Australian student lives remotely without internet access (something which we take for granted!) so posts me her artwork. I feel so honoured that her wonderful drawings come all the way around the world for me to appreciate them.

Fantastic Colour Pencil drawing, all the way from Australia.. By Distance Learning student N.B

And today I had an email from one student in Wales, on receipt of her crit - she said 'Hi Julie, I just quickly read through your crits and now want to leave the office and go home and paint! I can almost smell it and touch it. Can't wait for the weekend.'

Charcoal drawing, SB, student, Wales.

Water colour pencil (above) and Pepper in Oils (below), both by G.G, County Kerry, Ireland.

I had an email enquiry recently asking about my distance learning, from a lady in Dublin called Ciara. Unfortunately, you didn't give your email address, so I can't reply - please do email me directly so I can send you information, thank you.

For information on all my courses email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

What do we think of Ink?

2012-01-20T10:08:00.001Z

We like it! This week my classes worked in pen, looking once more at tonal values in black and white as a vital way to understanding Colour.

Small demo from my sketch book.

The amazing thing about Inks are their sheen. The colour, even when laid on top of diluted black ink as it is here, is vibrant and alive. It SINGS.

Another small demo

And when you lay colour on top of neat black ink, it transforms the black into the most delicious, rich velvety dark, ever.

Below are some lovely student pieces.

A lovely page by A. Walker

W. Bukowska

K. Feeney

Teenagers and art...

2012-01-14T20:50:00.001Z

I don't often hold classes for teenagers, but when I do I LOVE them. I have such faith in this age group - they are receptive and attentive, and it's a joy to introduce them to new ways of looking, new ways of thinking and using materials they may not have tried before.

Teenagers are open to learning, and less cautious about trying something for the first time. Small classes encourage a warm atmosphere where enthusiasm reigns supreme, and the emphasis is on moving forward, and succeeding. In a class like that, they become totally absorbed in their drawings and no one wants it to end! Including me.

Gourd in Charcoal

Boys absorbed in their drawing...

Fabulous chalk pastel

HAPPY!

This class took place between Christmas and New Year, and the students relished the time, and so, I gather, did their parents. One mum had traveled quite a distance to drop her child off, and I suggested she sit in the other room to relax with a coffee, but she stared at me, wide eyed with excitement,

and said Aw, no thanks, I'm.... off to IKEA!!!

Upcoming workshops - mini portfolio weekend, Belfast
Water Colour Workshop, Life Drawing.
Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info on dates.

(Permission was given by all parents before these photos were used)

Press!

2012-01-05T12:31:00.001Z

Last week I was delighted to be asked if I would contribute to an article in The Irish Times, by Roisin Ingle, who is, in my opinion, an angel. The main theme was on ways to improve on the year ahead and my subject was creativity - what does it mean and how might everyone get started.

We talked for an hour and a half, and had only begun to get going... then Roisin had to get just 400 words out of it!! My gist was - everyone is creative, no matter what you've been told. So lets.... DO IT!! The article is below if you are interested. Ken Robinson is an Education genius, whose book The Element is well worth reading, and for giving to your teenage children.

A little bit of active creativity will put a spark in your step

FIVE YEARS AGO Sir Ken Robinson delivered an 18-minute TED talk on how schools are responsible for killing creativity. To date it has been downloaded almost eight million times.

His argument that we are all born with vast natural creativity and talent which our educational institutions tend to stifle resonated deeply with people. Friends tipped each other off about the talk, parents showed it to their children, and companies screened it.

The notion that nurturing your creative side in 2012 should be limited to so-called arty types is nonsense. According to experts in the field, not tapping into this part of ourselves is tantamount to self-neglect.

For those who already regularly flex their creative muscles, this is obvious. But for people who don’t, suddenly attempting to be creative can feel awkward. If you are stuck for ideas, ask yourself this question: “What can I do that is just for me, that is enjoyable, that will take all my attention and keep me focused for five minutes or five hours?” Nurturing your creative side could mean anything from making pastry to cutting the grass. Whatever the answer turns out to be, enjoy.

THE EXPERT

Belfast-based art teacher Julie Douglas meets a lot people through her work and says the biggest block to creativity is “negative self-perception”. In her classes, especially among beginners, she hears a lot of stories around how people view themselves creatively: my sister was the arty one; I was told I couldn’t draw; my drawings were the ones the teacher held up in class to show everyone how not to do it. According to Douglas, negative past experiences colour our own perception of our ability and “they are always wrong”.

“Once students treat themselves more kindly and give up thinking they should somehow be able to do it automatically then they begin to amaze themselves by how much they can do. That’s how creativity works.”

Douglas believes anybody can paint well. “I believe less in natural talent than in skill and the art of learning. The best artists and teachers describe themselves as still learning. We are always wanting to try something new and learn from it.”

“[Creativity] works best when you have no expectations, when there is no end product in mind. Watch a small child who has been given a crayon and a piece of paper. They have no idea where the next line is going to go, they are just engrossed in the act of connecting hand to crayon, crayon to paper. That’s creativity.”

In a supermarket or in a queue for the train, Douglas says she can pick out people who are not nurturing their creative side. “It’s as though their light has gone out or they are missing their sparkle. We are a creative species. If we stick to a treadmill of work or duty, ignoring the natural want in us to be creative we can become unfulfilled and depressed . . . being engrossed in something you enjoy brings meaning to our lives and answers a need within us all.”

Recently, Douglas has been painting a lot of cakes and tarts, simply because of how attractive they look. When she emailed the images to students the response was immediate and warm.

“Why am I painting tarts?” she asks, before answering her own question. “Because they make people feel good. No better reason.” RI

Portfolio Course

2012-01-03T22:08:00.001Z

Size MATTERS. Some drawings work better small, others insist on being huge. Chalks and oil pastels work so well when you go Big.

B. Houlihan, student - this wonderful drawing is of a tiny beech nut, which is sitting on the top of her page! Delicious!!

Long days, and working late into the evening mean students really bond with each other and reach new levels in their drawing ability.

But of course, it's dirty work... Amazingly, the artwork was spotlessly clean!

Honestly, some students let their teacher walk all OVER them. But not me. I just have to have a little lie down now and again..!!

Seasonal water colours in Killaloe, student work.

2012-01-02T18:16:00.000Z

As much as possible I keep my class subjects Seasonal, which gives the year a lovely flow, in colour as well as form.

Work in progress by D. Rowsome and W. Stark, students, in Killaloe on the Monthly Monday drawing and painting class.

M. Conran, student, work in progress.

Red is a challenging colour to use in water colour, so I bought some Pointsettias and went to Ikea specially to get some lanterns, for lovely muted relfections. Deirdre took one look at them and said, I'm not doing THOSE...' Sigh. However, Matt took a deep breath, raised his eyebrows and said, Whatever you say Julie... There now, how lovely!!

O. Flanagan tackling ribbon in colour pencil. (Never too many pencils...)

I have also been trying out new venues, so its a bit of an art mystery trail for my regular students, but it keeps things fresh! Last month we met in an Italian deli, in their reading room, which was cozy. And very...Italian!!

Geese in the Snow, colour pencil on Bristol Board

2011-12-22T10:03:00.002Z

Geese - colour pencil on Bristol Board by Julie Douglas

I want to wish you all a Happy Christmas.
Thank you for your custom and support through 2011 and I look forward to seeing you in 2012. You have made every class fun and inspirational and I find it amazing and rewarding that so many students are life long, becoming friends with me and with their group - there is a strong bond through creativity and I appreciate you very much. Thank you. And while everyone feels the benefits of taking up the pencil or brush, in ways far beyond artwork (because it impacts everything in your experience!), I think perhaps the one who learns the most may well be me. So keep asking those questions, for they make me THINK!

And remember, if you don't have time to paint, make the decision to enjoy noticing beautiful (and ordinary) things that you might like to paint, seeing the way light filters across things, noticing wonderful shapes or colours. Just observe them, and know you will come to it soon. A big part of the joy in painting is noticing the things you like.

Art - it's not just for Christmas, its for Life!

Tonal Study, Charcoal Drawing.

2011-12-08T18:11:00.000Z

If everyone did more black and white work, their colour work would be so much better... I set this up for my students this week and was able to join in with them today. Charcoal is so flexible, I love it.

White bottles, white hoops and red ribbon, Charcoal on thick, toothy cartridge paper, Julie Douglas.

Water colour leaves, student work, Belfast

2011-12-03T17:50:00.001Z

G. Bunting, student.

J. Minty, Student

D. Morgan, student

K. Feeney, student

More inspiring water colours from my weekly students. This is just their third time using this medium, wow!

Autumn, the colour is BLUE.

2011-11-24T22:44:00.000Z

Have I mentioned that I love trees..?? I know, I know.. My weekly classes have been painting leaves, and when I innocently shared my enthusiastic (if obvious) discovery that, 'isn't it AMAZING that no two leaves are the same...?', one of my students suggested that perhaps I needed to get out more..! Well!!

I do resist collecting leaves for as long as possible, for once I start, I can't stop. I left it till this week, and it's now or never for they are nearly gone. But a couple of bright days and the dominant colour isn't gold, it's blue. Joy.

You can't get more Out than this.

Another Big Red Tart! Oils on Art panel 8 x 10inches

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000Z

I was asked recently why I was painting Strawberry Tarts. I couldn't think of an appropriate reply. Especially as I don't have a sweet tooth. There's just something good-looking about them, like a big traffic light. The demand my attention. I went to the bakery looking for another cake to paint, but was attracted right back to the same red ones as before. So, what could I do??

Not quite finished, but near enough.

I got a really great response from folks on the first tart. Brian, a student in Dublin, emailed and said Fab tart, you made me feel good! Well, that sounds like a good reason to paint them doesn't it?! Right now, my fridge is home to 8 more little cakes, all hoping to be next.. Unfortunately I tried a bit of the coffee one, expecting to not like it, but uh-oh, it was YUMMY...

Next Up - Oil Pinting workshop, Dublin
Water Colour and Big Drawing Days, Belfast
Bookings being taken for Intensive Portfolio Course in January 2012.
Email: julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

The heart of the matter.

2011-11-16T14:18:00.001Z

I am an Attractor of hearts. I have always been one to walk with my eyes on Search mode, looking up, around, all about me, as well as what's at my feet. And so often, the shape that jumps out at me is a heart-shape. I see it in reflections, clouds, all over the place. I was at a concert in the summer, and was delighted, when I saw the photo, to find one in the lighting..!

When I lived in Sussex, the beaches were full of beautiful stones with natural, sea-eroded holes in the middle, perfect for threading on rope. Nature is full of such amazing things. When I moved to County Clare, my children were still small, and had grown sharing an awareness of their surroundings. They began discovering a new shape of stone - heart shaped. It amazed me, they would come in from the fields announcing MUM, I got you another heart! Wow!

Some of my childrens gifts - but the white one on the left was from a friends son. I picked them up from the airport and Samuel rummaged in his pocket saying he'd brought something for me from Spain, and produced the white heart. Aw.

I have only found one for myself, quite by accident, this black one, on the shores of Belfast Lough. Pocket sized.

Earlier this year, I was on the beautiful beach at Newcastle, County Down, and my (now taller-than-me son) decided he'd hunt for a heart. The stones and rocks there were blue, with fabulous stripes on them, but they were smooth and rounded and I reckoned he'd not succeed.

But he certainly did. Not only did he find THREE (a bumper crop!) heart shaped stones.

but he also noticed a really big heart. He was walking ahead of me and stopped in his tracks, and everything about his body language said - I don't believe it. He pointed and said - its there. LOOK!

The moral of this story? Be aware. Look. And laugh when everything works perfectly!

Big red strawberry tart, oils on board

2011-11-14T13:16:00.001Z

Although I've painted it so big that really its a Big Red Strawberry PIE. This painting was done over a couple of days. I did the whole first layer in one sitting and finished it a couple of weeks later. And while there may be nothing too deep and meaningful about a strawberry tart, working on the painting was just pure pleasure, both visually, and in the experience of messing about with the paint. It was an oozy paint job, and a totally delicious way to take the mind off other things.

I am an attractor of heart shapes and noticed while painting that the strawberry is heart shaped. I will show you a few more hearts in the next post. It's very difficult to photograph reds, the original is much sharper and even more In Your Face than this shows!

Next up - Workshops in Oils, Water Colour and Big Drawing Day. (delicious)
Bookings being taken for the next Portfolio Course in January too.
Weekly classes run mornings and evenings in Belfast.
For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

distance learning, Drawing - a gift

2011-11-10T21:34:00.001Z

If you want to know how to make me happy, send me a drawing, unexpectedly, of a delicious subject. Tonight, I got these drawings from a distance learning student in Holland - an extremely talented lady who could teach me as much as I can teach her. But one of the joys of creativity is sharing - not only sharing our knowledge but sharing our experiences and sharing our Time.

HB and 2B on cartridge paper by A.W.

It wasn't a set project, she just did it because she knew I love gourds. These are WARTY gourds, the best of all! Thank you Ans, I really appreciate it.

colour pencil, Glass and distortion, student work.

2011-11-10T09:36:00.001Z

I love glass, and more particularly, the distortions that happen when you look through glass and the even more distortions when you half fill it with water - the results are always surprising, and never predictable, which means you have to really Observe, and let go of what you think you're going to see. If you can manage those things, the subject becomes far easier than you think, and is good fun. A playful drawing, not painful!

By J. Minty (who has only attended for 6 lessons so far, and this was the first colour pencil drawing. She has discovered her inner Art Goddess, hooray!)

Colour pencil is a slow medium, but excellent for understanding about colour and shape. These students had a couple of hours on the drawings, so none are finished, but all are wonderful.

By P. Finlay

Next Up - Big Drawing weekend, oils workshop, water colour workshop, weekly drawing an painting classes. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portfolio Course, Ireland

2011-11-05T19:46:00.000Z

Five days of intensive drawing study and project developing is enough to tire out even this girl. A great deal of ground was covered, and all students surprised themselves and produced the best work they'd ever done. Which is of course the Beginning, not the end...! And I agreed to do it all again in January..

(see what I mean about making a big mess..?)

Students taking it in turns to present their work to the group.

Here are some of the students, who traveled from Dublin, Naas, Galway, Loughrea and Nenagh to do the course in Killaloe. And me, from Belfast. Well done, folks, I hope you have the weekend off!

Next up - Big Drawing Day, Water Colour workshop, Oils workshop, Portrait Drawing. Also, weekly classes in Belfast and Monthly Mondays in Killaloe.
For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portfolio Course, Ireland

2011-11-02T15:07:00.000Z

In spite of the recent downpours, its mostly sunny here in Killaloe, East Clare, for my portfolio course.

Students are busy drawing and tackling the brief for NCAD, and making a lovely big mess - well, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs...

Unfortunately, I've been given TONS of extra tables, so of course, I've spread the mess out over every one...eek! All for a good cause!

Next up - monthly Mondays, Portrait Drawing, Big Drawing weekend, Oils and water colour wokshops...

Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info.

Drawing - chalk pastel gourds, student work, Belfast.

2011-10-25T10:26:00.000+01:00

This week was fantastic gourdy fun, looking at colour and mixing, using chalk pastels. Many had never seen a gourd before (what???!!!) but all enjoyed their gaudy bright colours, warts and all (literally!). I think gourds are nature's little joke, a sarcastic splash of vibrant enthusiasm before the Winter Shut-Down. And they are wonderful to paint.

K. Feeney, Student.

N. Thompson, Student

G. Bunting, Student

All of these students have only attended 3 or 4 sessions and had not used chalk pastels before. I think they are amazing!! (I think they're rather amazed at themsleves too!) And they're SO well behaved, they hardly moan at all, so long as I make them coffee...

K. Greene, Student

G. Evans, Student

And while chalk pastel is very messy, its good fun, so long as you work large enough.

K. Feeney.

W. Bukowska, student.

Deirdre, demonstrating the Hands On approach to green!

Fortunately, I have a mirror by the front door, so folks can check themselves for chalk dust on their way out - some students definitely had a green look about them!
Thank you to The Floral Boutique in Holywood who allowed me to strip them of their entire supply of gourds. The crop was poor this year, and I got the best of them (mostly from ther window display!), thank you so much.

Next up - In Ireland and Belfast, Water colour workshop, Oils Workshop, Big Drawing Days, Portrait Drawing days and Intensive Portfolio Prep course. As well as this, weekly classes in Belfast. All good fun, and very good for your health!
Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info

Trees - oils on board

2011-10-24T22:26:00.000+01:00

After a small number of special people, I think trees are my favourite thing. And I've said before that my office is The Woods. Great place to think, to watch and to recharge.
Here's my second attempt at capturing something of the woods. Its extremely hard to photograph, there is a bit of glare on the last shot, the top left is darker than it looks here.
I'm not at all sure that I achieved what I set out to achieve, in fact, I am inclined to think not, but moving on anyway...

oil on board, 13in x 10in.

Next up - water colour workshop, Oils workshop, Big Drawing weekend, and Intensive Portfolio Course (full).

For information on courses email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Gourd-eous gourds, pencil and colour pencil, sketchbook

2011-10-14T13:32:00.000+01:00

It's been a poor year for pumpkins and gourds, apparently, but I kept popping into the florists, full of hope, and eventually he had a few choice warty specimens waiting for me.

I don't know why I love them, I only know that I do. I think they are so weird that they're wonderful. And they're great to draw and paint, warts and all.

Next up, Monthly Monday Killaloe, Art for Teenagers, Belfast, and Intensive Portfolio Course. Email for info on these as wel as Big Drawing Days, Portrait days, Oils and Water Colour workshops.

julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Oil Painting workshop Belfast - the colour in White

2011-10-09T21:12:00.002+01:00

This weekend I had a lovely workshop in Belfast, which included an American lady who flew over from Holland, and an Austrian lady who drove up from Carlow. None were new to oils, but some had little experience of drawing, so we spent the first morning on drawing exercises. Many painting students resign themselves to this, with reticence - but ALL experienced a few Lightbulb moments, which is a joy to watch, when they realized that not only is drawing a vital part of the painting process, but its fun, and yes, we can all do it.

In fact, the Lighbulb moments continued all weekend, and on Sunday I decided to move on to a more difficult exercise, a white ball surrounded by coloured papers. We used a piece of grey paper with holes cut in it to isolate colour - and all were amazed at how colourful white is...

Colour study by B.Engl, student

One student surpassed herself - when she looked through the hole and saw bright yellow on the white ball, she couldn't wait to start painting and said, I'm so EXCITED..! Well, me too!! In fact, once they got started, I began to feel a bit left out. tsk!

Studies by J.Simms, student

Study in progress by M. Forshee, student

This exercise is much harder than it looks, and illustrates very quickly to the student that it appears that we can't believe our EYES,who'd have thought there'd be so much COLOUR? If we only looked more frequently with our eyes wider open, we'd know that there's so much MORE to SEE. And that truly, it IS exciting. Be Alert, be Open, be Aware and you'll See everything. It's there all the time, you just have to Look.

Colour study by M.Forshee, student

After this we moved on to cloth, and the enthusiam progressed into concentrated silence, a mixture of Horror, Huffing, and, well.. Hoping, I think! Fabulous work, a lovely weekend. Thanks.

Next Up - weekly Drawing and Painting classes, Belfast, Monthly Monday Killaloe, BYOB Mondays, Belfast, Art for Teenagers and Portfolio Course, Co Clare.

For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

iGreatness

2011-10-07T11:17:00.001+01:00

Thank you to a man who trusted his vision, believed in his vision and lived his vision. Steve Jobs made the most amazing impact on the lives of millions across the planet. He made our lives more fun, more immediate and more dream filled, he proved that if you can imagine it, you can have it. It doesn't get better than that.

He said - There is no reason to not follow your heart. Stay Hungry, Stay foolish.
So today, remember your vision, trust it, and follow your heart.

Tonal value studies, charcoal and pastel

2011-10-02T22:08:00.001+01:00

Charcoal study, H.J, Student

Grey Chalk study, H.J, Student

Whether you are an artist or a student (and show me the true artist who doesn't regard themselves as student) there is so much to learn form working in black and white (though I really mean drawing in a multitude of greys, with White as a special treat and Black only to be used if you've brought a letter from your great great Grandmother). In fact, it is very difficult, and while many students begin working in black and white with wistful mutterings on how much they love Colour, it doesn't take long for the problems and challenges of tonal balance to crop up. Using charcoal on its own first restricts you to black only, and moving on to a second study using grey and white chalks then gives you the luxury of Applying highlights and allows a fuller range of tone.

Grey Chalk study, J.McC, Student

These student drawings are lovely and have a very painterly feel about them. There is no black at all in the middle drawing (only dark greys instead of actual black) and in the third drawing, the only black is just behind the area where the onions meet. ALL the infomation and tonal variation required in a black and white study is equal to the tonal range needed in a successful colour piece. But if you go straight to colour every time, you are open to being intoxicated with the notion of COLOUR and colourS, instead of the tonality of the subject. A colour study is everything that a tonal study is, but with colour as WELL.

Next up - Oil painting workshop, Belfast, Portfolio Course for college entry, Killaloe.
email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info.

Forty Shades of Green

2011-09-25T16:51:00.004+01:00

Continuing my Woody theme obliges me to tackle some Colour myths, once again. And this time it's my favourite, Green.

It's not that green is my favourite colour, for it isn't. But I love the variety of greens. On my frequent walks in the woods I am always, always surprised and overwhelmed by the number of greens on display, which of course alters and multiplies with sunlight, the time of day and the time of year. From leafy arbours to the open fields at the side, the different array of greens is infinite. As I said in my post, Seeing Red, one word for a range of colours is ridiculously mean, representing a lowest common denominator word to over generalise a complex area. The naming of a colour (or Hue - I think the word Hue is better than the word Colour as it is less commonly used) influences how much (or rather, how LITTLE) we actually observe. Being lazy in language encourages us to be lazy in Seeing. Which impacts on our painting.
Here are a few greens for you to visualise - Moss-Green, Grass-Green (long wavy grass-green, then short newly-cut spring grass-green), Savoy Cabbage-Green, Spring Cabbage-Green, lime green.. I won't even START on leaves, apart from the obvious extremes of Silver Birch leaves and holly.

See what I mean? But considering our limitation of language, sometimes looking directly at the woods may restrict what we See. Look at the photos above - both LOADED with different greens. But I decided to shake the camera so everything became merged, and wow, a rather different array (albeit compromised) of greens, and Seeing, appears. I've put them on here sideways to help you to see not Trees, but GREENS. Please double-click on them to get the full benefit of this amazing palette... Delicious....

I think these look a bit like paintings, but they are photographs.

This week, guess what? I am mostly painting... trees!

Next Up - weekly classes in Drawing and painting, Belfast

Oil painting workshop

Bookings being taken for my next Portfolio Course.

For info on everything, email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Prickley things, nuts & seeds, water colour in Moleskine Sketchbook

2011-09-22T18:03:00.001+01:00

What's not to Love about Autumn...? It's full of gifts.

I was worrying last week that the conkers are too high to reach, and the very next day, I happened upon another tree which was abundant, at eye level! And once you start collecting them, its hard to stop. Delicious. They are lovely to paint, even the prickly sweet chestnuts, though they don't last so long and go brown very quickly. All the more reason to keep painting them NOW...!

This photo is to give you an idea of scale - the paintings are a little bigger than the actual chestnuts.

Next up - weekly classes in Belfast, Weekend Oils workshop and Water Colours AND Monthly Teenagers Class. For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

The Distance Learning Course is also running, and you can start that at any time.

Dappled light, Tree Number 1, Oil on Board 8in x 10in

2011-09-17T08:28:00.001+01:00

I have a huge affinity with woods and feel comfortable and right when surrounded by trees, particularly when they are beside water. Trees are awesome and magnificent. Walking through leafy tunnels with sunlight streaming through the branches casting ever changing rays and shadows and pools of light sliding over the bark and the paths can be a moving experience. It is a feast, and one that should be indulged in daily. (There's a big hill going into my nearest wood, and sometimes I go on my bike, just for the thrill of the hill. ahem. Then have to go back later with the dog for a walk...)

So I have always known that I would have to paint trees. Here goes. Daunting when its a subject you respect so much. Here is my first attempt at portraying light in the wood. What I am interested in acheiving is not a highly finished image, so I consider this, and the next few that I try, to be Drawings. I'm working something out...

...I want to Explain the shapes of the trees by using the dappled light. But at the same time, I want the visual complicatedness, the confusion caused in the way the light licks over the tree, to remain. Those two aims are a contradiction - explain and confuse. As an illustrator, it is my instinct to visually unravel confusion and present an image in a clearer form. I am trying not to do that.

I wanted to leave the foliage in the background loose. But couldn't bring myself to leave it alone, I had to keep fiddling. TSK. We'll see how I go with the next drawing...

Sometimes I stand watching the dapples move, like a private movie being screened just for me, a light performance. It's an amazing sight, sometimes it moves gently and carefully, other times quickly, like the light is liquid, running around the branches and trunk in a caress. It might last only seconds before diffusing and disappearing, so well worth stopping, or glancing up from your Teddy Bear Picnic.

Next up Portrait Drawing Workshop, Monthly Monday and weekly classes kicks off. The next Portfolio Course is at Half Term.

For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

NOTE: Please do not copy this work. (don't even assume this is the Way To Do It - this is just the way I did it, this time) There are loads of wonderful trees out there, this one is mine. Part of your creative process is... finding your own tree.

Drawing, a contented heart.

2011-09-13T16:47:00.002+01:00

Colour pencil is a much under rated medium. There are a few points to remember when using it. One is size - the larger you work, the longer it will take. Another is paper surface. The smoother the surface the more layers of pencil it will accept. Bristol Board is extremely smooth, and unforgiving. Unforgiving means that its not easy to remove marks you've drawn, but the slippery surface encourages cautious mark-making in the first place... Another element is the brand of pencils, and they're all different. The only way to know which brands suit you is trial and error. Some brands are waxy, some scratchy (like chalk scraping on board, aaaaaargh), some hard, some soft. Some are delicious. Some are yucky. Some are light fast, many are not. A useful rule of thumb is that the larger the range in a brand, the less the colours will blend together. Personally, I prefer a smaller palette that I can layer to my hearts content. What a lovely thing - a contented heart.

This drawing took 60 hours in total. The line drawing stage alone took 19 hours. I used an F pencil to do the line, which I rubbed out as I went along putting the colour in. I am showing it to you as you might find it interesting. It is NOT so you can copy it. I drew it freehand - its the only way forward. Trust me, I know these things.

Caran d'Ache Prismalo 1 and Van Gogh pencils. The entire Van Goch range is light fast, but doesn't layer well at all. (grrrrrr....)

Drawing is very good for your health. If you use a daylight bulb all the time (day as well as night) it will stop you straining your eyes (personally, my eyes are supersonic, and I'm sure the drawing has helped). And when you get really engrossed in what you're doing, you can't think of anything else. So when all else fails:

Next up - Big Drawing Day, Portrait Day, Monthly Mondays, and Weekly Classes.

For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Drawing - Portfolio Course, an open letter to my college students

2011-09-08T19:33:00.002+01:00

There are so many of you heading off to First Year at art college, in Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Northern Ireland and England, and one or two have started this week already. I am thinking of you all and know there are lots of butterflies in your tummies. (I'll just make you a nice cuppa tea.). Lisa emailed asking for some tips, so I reckoned maybe you guys would like them too. Thanks for the work, thanks for sharing your fabulous journey, thanks for the laughs, thanks for the singing (oh yes, one group of you turned into a choir..!), now GET ON WITH IT..!!

TIPS -

1. Remember, they want you on the course, they

weren't doing you a favour by accepting you...

2. Deep Breathing. This will help to anchor you at all times. If you feel panicky just reach out for something (a stool or a chair or even the wall) and touch it, and feel rooted. Focus your attention on the object as if you were part of it and breathe in deeply and slowly, three times. There. Anchored.
3. SMILE. Head UP.

4. Remember you do know how to Draw. Most of your fellow students aren't so well equipped.

5. If you don't understand anything, ASK THEM TO REPEAT IT. If you are given a brief, READ IT. Then read it again. And again and again. And one more time. And...

6. Work your butt off. Because it doesn't matter about anyone else, the only one who matters to you is..YOU.

7. If you need me for anything, I am here. Aw.

8. You are CHARMING AND ENCHANTING. And delicious.

9. Now, off you go and have the time of your LIFE!! You are the future, and the future is NOW!

I got this reply from Ellen...

thanks for that booster and advice Julie, it was only DELICIOUS! maybe you shouldnt have made your self so available to us... i'll probably have you on speed dial once im in dublin
all i can say is a owe you a big thanks for all your help, you definately opened my mind !(my dictionary is always close hand) god help ya i definately didnt help with your stress levels!
hopefully things will go smooth enough. the lovely people at ncad have given us HOMEWORK. .ie. READING and its not just one but two BOOKS??. . whats this story? no likey .. but another assignment arrived today in the post which is alot more down my street. this shall be interesting!

St George's Farmers Market, Belfast.

2011-09-06T13:32:00.003+01:00

I wasn't teaching on Saturday so decided to go back to the market to give myself an airing. It was so full I wasn't sure I'd get a table. I arrived at five to eight, moments before the cut-off time, feeling slightly guilty as the other Casuals had been queueing since 7 (though apparently someone gets there at 4am...) I'm lucky, all I have to do is pop a couple of boxes in the car, a sheet and some paintings and I'm off, but others are up all night preparing. Here's my catch of the day...!

I know not everyone likes fish, but I am irrestistably attracted to it.. Wonderful colours.

My stand was next to Sweetie Sweets, which belongs to Amba. She's there every weekend, Saturday and Sunday and it was er, delicious being next to her, as she Hello!-ed to everyone passing by and encouraged them to sample her nutty biscuits (mmm) and cakes. The thing is, they didn't even taste overly sweet, just...fantastic. She made a chocolate cake with chilli in it.. She had been up all night cooking.

Amba.. ...and some of her goody bags...

My stuff...

It was lovely to be there and meet so many people (from all over Ireland and America too) who are interested in drawing and painting. Next time, I think I'll DO some drawing.

Contact info for upcoming courses - julie@juliedouglas.co.uk or tel 07730 560517 in Uk or from Ireland 0871330040

Know your onions. Oils on board, 8in x 8in

2011-09-04T23:06:00.001+01:00

Vegetables. I love looking at them, cooking them, eating them, and painting them. And onions - what a lot for the money. I mean, white, red, golden, silvery, green, Spring, scallion, sweet little shallots. Single, grouped in a box, in a bunch - ooh, a plait.. Skin on, or naked, whole or halved. Rings. Battered. Pickled. Eye watering, or sweet. This painting was only the second I did on board (after doing a few paintings on canvas). They caught my eye outside the butcher's shop round the corner - one of those lovely shops with a wide range of colourful fruit and veg on display outside. He does great rhubarb too.. (and sausages)

The thing I liked in this grouping is the little bit of red that had dropped in from the next box. As well as the papery quality of the onions. There is great value in painting a group of objects of the same colours. For me, learning to use oils has been about understanding the way that every colour has a different consistency, some are chalky and Dry, others are oily and transparent. Tsk. Painting a group of the same object allows you to become familiar (ish) with the traits and qualities of a limited number of colours, how they mix with others and, well, how to mix at all, actually.... Practice makes perfect. Hopefully. Or maybe, repetition rams it home?

I was nervous about putting on the hairy end bits, which I added after everything else was done. But then I remembered, I'm only messing about, it doesn't matter if it doesn't work out, so took a very deep breath and put them in. Phew... Hardly at all eye-watering...! I'll be painting this subject again. Soon.

Procrastination...

2011-09-02T13:10:00.002+01:00

This is an under rated quality in the creative personality. Ahem. All honest artists will admit to being highly proficient. And its a night mare. Until we learn to turn it into a dream.

The first step is acknowledging you're doing it, rather than Pretending you're Just Too Busy. It begins, often, at the desk. Sigh. Its a bit untidy. (= I can't see the desk at all. I only know its there because the mess doesn't reach the floor, its suspended on legs) Oh Yes, I must put the washing in the machine. Where was I..? Maybe now's the time to put my entire book collection in Alphabetical Order... Tsk, now I've done that, I think it'd be better if it was colour-coded. Oh, now I've tried that its so obvious that arranging the books from largest to smallest is definitely The Thing. My own personal best was when I set up my son to power wash the yard (I hypnotized him, the only way), then had to join in as it looked like so much fun...

So, even though its annoying, it's normal. The real truth, The Cure, is in the D's. Discipline. Determination. And a Deadline. Yup. If need be, make one up. (I want that done by 5 or you're not having any DINNER..)

Meanwhile, I'm not speaking to my painting, so instead of struggling, I'm putting it off by priming some nice new boards. Which is Delicious. But also Denial..! Sometimes, the way forward is to make a bigger mess..

Course programme for Autumn now available. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Water Colour Workshop Belfast, UK and Ireland

2011-08-30T19:32:00.003+01:00

My recent water colour course was in Landscape, Trees and Skies, an introduction for students who had some water colour experience, but not of painting outdoor subjects. The students produced an amazing amount of work in just two days - the days are intensive, and very tiring. (in a good way!) Here's just some of their pieces.

Student work.

Loose tree painting, water colour, by G. Hickie, student

Student work.

In fact, these students were so enthusiastic that I had to force them from the table to have a lunch break, and even then, they took just 20 minutes then back to the drawing board - most impressive..!

Lunch was, as usual, Hearty!

Up and coming - weekly and fortnightly classes in drawing and painting,

weekly oils, weekend worskhops in Portrait drawing, Oils Drawing and Water Colour.

For programme info etc contact julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Water Colour Landscape, Skies and Trees, Belfast. And Tea.

2011-08-28T18:29:00.002+01:00

At the end of a workshop, I'm often pooped. And the very best thing to do, after a nice cuppa tea, is to go out in the fresh air, either with the dog, or on my lovely bike. There's nothing quite like getting out into the elements to regain your energy. And after helping students to learn to really Observe, getting outside gives me time and space to do some new observing too. One of the best things about living in this city are the wonderful green spaces, the parks and walkways, filled with fabulous trees and birds and great cycle paths.

This weekend was a Water Colour Workshop in Belfast, doing landscape, trees and skies. The amount of work the students produced was simply amazing. (what a task master..) I'll show you some in the next post. (right now, I'm off out on my bike..!)

And for me, there's nothing more inspiring than nature, being In it, being a part of it. It confirms that sense of well being. Just looking, breathing it in, absorbing it, and looking again, helps decide what to paint next. Seeing how light plays, how shadows move, the magic of balance everywhere, the height of the sun, the impact of cloud, shafts of light through the branches and the warm softness in the colours right now in the weak late summer sun, is like the best painting ever. And its what we all strive for, to capture something of what is effortlessly happening naturally all around us, the most amazing beauty - if we remember to Look.

The more we Look, the more we understand. The more we Understand, the more we Love it. The more we Love, the better we can paint - whatever the subject. Learn to look and to love, to let go and trust, and everything else will fall into place. I saw this sign in a shop window recently:-

Next up - Weekly and fortnightly courses starting soon, and my Autumn Programme of weekend workshops is now ready. Portrait classes, Oils, Drawing, Teenagers classes and Water Colour.

Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for deails.

Portfolio Course, Sketch book drawings, chickens and a message to students.

2011-08-25T10:00:00.003+01:00

On the last morning of my recent portfolio course, the students gathered around a large cage which housed a rather splendid...hen, which had been Volunteered into doing some modeling. She was placed on the table tennis table and pecked and clucked happily while students.. well, while they STARED. So charming - their exclamations of.. She MOVED. Well, yes! I was very sympathetic, and demonstrated this by leaving them to it while I made them a nice cup of tea...! By day 5 they all know that I don't mind if they Huff, so long as they draw anyway... Their drawings were fabulous, just like I told them they would be.

(Rebecca, left, BEING a chicken)

However, the best thing I saw all week, really, was when they had all just left. I went back into the cottage and there was a large note, lying on the table. It was from one student, about to go to college in London. These last few days before they head off are stressful in so many ways, for parents and students. Its the slow end of one part of their lives and the exciting but scary Beginning of something new. Loaded with fear and anticipation. I am thinking warmly of ALL my students heading to college. I know you will do SO well, for your foundations are secure. Please REMEMBER THAT. Your foundations are secure.

Here is the note that was waiting for me.

Well, as anyone who has ever been to one of my classes knows, I believe in all of you.

Thank you, for all YOU have taught me, in every class, every day.

Julie xxx

Light, red and green. Red stops you, green lets you Go.

2011-08-22T12:09:00.003+01:00

Well, I was going to write about Green. Green is my favourite. But...

The other day I got lost in my local wood, an astonishing acheivement as I knew I was near the car park, but er, where is it..? So next day I deliberately followed the same route to become more familiar with the place that I thought I knew already. They do say that getting lost is the best way to learn... (but maybe not half an hour before your class starts...?! I made it on time, phew!)

The air has changed a little, the sun is a bit lower in the sky and has taken on the suggestion of Autumn. (don't panic, it's just the Suggestion..) I know that some people don't like Autumn, and I can understand that to a degree. But its a long slow season, a foot in both camps, with so much going for it, so much colour, that I've begun to view it more like natures big Flush, fully bountiful, the climax of giving the fruits of its labour, rather than the beginning of an end. Look what I'm GIVING you before I have a winter-rest so that I can start again... So I was relishing the greenness, the not-autumn look of the wood, when oops, there's some fabulous RED.

There was no Light, too early in the morning, it was overcast and the camera (which lies) wasn't picking up the vibrancy of the colour in the way that my eye did - after all, there were just a few red leaves on the grass, but it was enough to shine out like a beacon to me).

I had a closer inspection of the shocking redness, totally FABulous, and was relieved that the colour which allowed the red to sing out the best was my favourite after all - GREEN!

So don't get blue over the autumn, not yet. Not ever.

Next up - Water Colour workshop (Landscape, Skies and trees) Belfast.

Potrait Drawing, Portfolio Prep, Big Drawing and Oils.

Contact - email, julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Water Colour Painting and life drawing, Dublin

2011-08-16T23:03:00.001+01:00

There are so many myths about Water Colour painting that I couldn't begin to start... Mainly, the impression that students have is that it is more difficult than other mediums. This is simply Not True. (Trust me, I know these things..) Water Colour is a lovely medium, and its a great way to learn about colour, as it uses pure pigment, and no White. I did a long Crammer-Day in Dublin recently and none of the students had used water colours before, but their work was stunning. We used a variety of techniques and subjects.

Selection of paintings by students who had never used Water Colour before, Dublin.

In the next room to mine during this course, a Sports Shop was having a sale, and I spied some wonderful plastic Torso which were displaying the sports shirts. I tried to buy one, without success, but one of my students sneaked off and did a better job of persuading them to sell one, and presented me with my very own Plastic Model for drawing. I've never been given such a wonderful gift in my life, THANK YOU Mary! My students on the next course also loved it.. (the next thing I'm after is a Bust, maybe Beethoven, or Mozart..!)

Being silly (wearing my drawing...! But it shows you the scale)

Compressed charcoal, demonstration drawing, by Julie Douglas

Next Up - Big Drawing Workshop.

Contact details - From UK call 07730560517, from Ireland, call 087 1330040

email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portraits in Oils 8in x 10in on board (skin tones, hair)

2011-08-14T20:54:00.000+01:00

I recently had the pleasure of painting portraits of two fine and delightful young men, Rory and his younger brother Aidan, both of whom I have known since they were Bumps. I painted Aidan first and it was the first real attempt at hair in oils. After some considerable trial and error (more error..) and multi-layering, something hair-like began to emerge.. I think I even Enjoyed some of it...

Aidan

Painting Rory was different again. With Aidan, I had painted dark-light, but I tried it the other way round with Rory, and painted light-dark. It's too soon to say which way I preferred to work, I'l try a few more times. Needless to say boys, you are Delicious!

Rory

Skin tones are a really big challenge to paint, I think its a lifetime's work in the understanding. (Just as well I'm so young then..!) But the best part of painting, I think, is the Learning factor, the frequent new discoveries and the constant challenges every time.

Many students come through my house every week and get a good look at my work in progress. Often, they really like something when its at the Bad stage, which sometimes bewilders me. Though I try to remember to say Thanks. Frequently, when I comment on the current Problem or Frustration, students tell me that if they'd painted what I'd just painted, they'd be Happy. And my less-than-gracious reply is often, Do I look happy???? (well, usually, I DO!) But the point is that one is rarely Happy with the painting in progress - its more the striving, the mixing, the layering, the not-quite-there-yet, as well as optimism that all will turn out well.. I think its important to remember that often I stop a painting when I really can't do any more - as opposed to stopping when its Finished. Or when I'm Happy with it.. (Sheesh!) Besides, I think if we were Happy with everything, we'd be less likely to start the next one. Its always the next one that keeps you interested. Its the PROCESS of the painting, the hours of being engrossed in, and absorbed by what you are doing that count, not the End. The End is just when its over. No one paints a painting for the end. They paint for the Now, of Doing it. Just like a surfer rides the wave for the thrill of doing it, not for getting dry afterwards.

So with a portrait commission, the Now is harder, for the task is to capture something of the sitter, including what that person believes is the essence of themselves. A tall order. And such an honour to be asked to do it. Rory and Aidan were lovely to paint, and were the perfect commission, for the parents simply trusted me to do whatever I thought was right. That trust is every artists dream. I am painting them again, and am really looking forward to it! Thanks!

Up coming courses - Big Drawing Weekend, Belfast,
Portrait Workshop, Dublin
Oils workshop
I am taking bookings for my Autumn term of weekly classes too.
For info call (from UK) 07730 560517 or (from Ireland) 087 1330040
or email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portfolio Course and Art in Heaven.

2011-08-09T12:27:00.001+01:00

Instead of having my office in the woods, this week my office is by the banks of Lough Derg. How delicious. My day starts with a walk with the dogs and the air is so calm and fresh it's impossible not to feel more alive by simply being outside. A very special place.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my portfolio students are scribbling away, with new-found determination and a patience they didn't know they had. I love the sound of pastels, pasteling... its a bit like the sound of Jack Russells, russelling. In fact, the only other sounds are of cows, and the cockerel. We're a little way out of the town, but it feels like heaven. Art, in Heaven. The venue is a lightfilled, well equipped cottage in Ardcloony, Killaloe, surrounded by trees, cows, two Jack Russells and wandering chickens. The room is filled with visual nuggets in the form of beautiful bowls, hand made ceramics and - well, CALM.

Ceramic fruits.

We were treated by a visit from Andrew, a past student who is about to start his first year at Camberwell School of Art. It was a privilege to watch him explain his work with the students, to see his enthusiasm and energy for the subject and help them appreciate some of the journey involved in producing a great portfolio.

Next up - Big Drawing Weekend, Belfast.

For information on all courses email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Phone - from the UK, call 07730 560 517 , from Ireland call 087 1330040

The cottage, in Killaloe, County Clare, is available to rent. It is delightful, cozy and fresh. Perfect to paint, make ceramics or just Be. Get in touch for details.

Drawing - Plums in my sketch book, pen.

2011-08-05T00:03:00.003+01:00

Plums on the branch, 8in x 5in. Julie Douglas.

Its been another bumper year for fruit and my plum trees were bent from the weight. So instead of removing just the plums, I took a few over-laden branches off so that the tree wouldn't collapse. The upside being a lovely subject for a quick draw. (quick? This took about 3 hours. But I was stringing it out..) There is something wonderful about planting something, watching it grow then picking some of it to paint it. A real joy. As so often happens, I had a lesson prepared for my class but at the last minute, swapped it for this seasonal offering. Too voluptuous to resist. The students, wisely, used colour, making mine feel very black. But there's no going back now, the plums are in the pan, becoming jammmm.

Next up - watercolour workshop Dublin, Portfolio Course and Monthly Monday. For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

or call from UK - 07730 560 517 or from Ireland 087 1330040

Drawing, concentration, compliments and working outside.

2011-08-02T08:59:00.002+01:00

Summer is full of Festivals in Ireland and while the emphasis of many of them is music, there are plenty that include other arts and fun for all. For the past few years my ceramicist friend Kieran Whitelaw and I have occupied the Arty Corner of a lovely weekend of laid-back activities in Scariff, East Clare. With a gazebo pretending to keep the rain off we were surrounded by a swarm of happy children, making clay figures with him and drawing portraits with me. Full-on, funny, delicious.

One of the lovely things about working in a busy environment like this, where there is LOTS going on to attract attention (from the men on ridiculously high stilts, knocking on upstairs windows to give the occupants a fright, to sky diving, to live music, magicians, fire-eaters, boat trips busy busy busy) is how engrossed the children become when engaging with clay or pencils. They simply shut out everything else, focus on their hands and settle in to their own world. We can learn much, from children. The capacity to close off outside distraction, the stepping out of time, even for only a few minutes to focus, is the secret to letting go of stress. Trust me - a child showed me. Some children at this festival sat for 30 minutes, totally engrossed in their drawing, blissfully unaware of the noise and bustle while their parents shuffled their feet, anxious to move on... And when they finally finished, watching them come back to the Now was like seeing them come up from the basement in a Lift, slowly slowly reintroducing the sensory elements around them, through sound, then sight, like they're waking from a dream. How marvelous - they had a stress-free magical private dream, right there.

But here's what I noticed, regarding Praise. The thing the smaller children loved the best, was having their faces painted at the table next door, then being admired themselves, for the piece of art that they had become. It didn't matter if they were a pirate or a fairy princess, the look on their faces when I praised their drawings, and told them that THEY looked great was worth a million dollars. Whereas, they'd all looked fabulous already. We adults need to try harder to make the children feel Great. For they are.

Very thirsty work!

The clay figures are being exhibited in a gallery in Limerick later this year.

Next Up - Water Colour workshop, Dublin

Intensive Portfolio Course and Monthly Monday.

Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info.

Portrait Drawing workshop, Belfast UK (also in Dublin, Ireland)

2011-07-24T16:26:00.003+01:00

Student portrait drawings, using Compressed Charcoal. (Click on images to enlarge)

in progress... H. Johnston, student

Surprise surprise...! Excellent, LARGE work! (5 hours) H. Johnston, student.

Three days of hard labour, and the students had stopped begging for mercy and resigned themselves to the Graft. It probably didn't help much that I was chirping about the journey towards creative excellence being always slightly uphill, so that by the time you reach the top, you're just getting the idea that the journey goes on for...ever. How delicious..

In Progress, M. Hickie, student (including charcoal on her own forehead...)

Finished!

These students had never done portrait drawing before. The pieces shown here were done on the third day of the course. Leading up to this, on the first two days they had done many studies of eyes, noses, lips, and all the Bits In Between. (thanks, Alexander, for being a great model) They left feeling amazed, delighted they'd worked so large (because the scale of every artwork is important) and...Exhausted. Perfect!

Next Workshops - Water Colour, Weekly Thursdays, and an extra Portfolio Course in August. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for full details.

Phone - from UK 07730 560 517 from Ireland 087 1330040

Portrait, Oil on board 8in x 10in

2011-07-20T09:47:00.003+01:00

This is a painting of Christopher Bell, who until May was the Chorus Master for Belfast Philharmonic Choir. He is a very vital and important figure in music making and, more to the point, has a GREAT HEAD!

It was a delight to paint him. Those of you who follow this blog may notice that the only other Oils portrait I've posted was another man, Rodney, with glasses and er, not a lot of hair. Though he has a splendid moustache.. I did wonder myself if I had a thing going on, but no - I've painted folks with hair too, and I will post those at some point!

   Next up, 3-day portrait workshop, Belfast.
   Up coming - Water Colour workshop, Dublin.
   Intensive Portfolio Course
   For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk
   Phone - from UK 07730 560 517 from Ireland 087 1330040
Please remember - copyright on portraits belongs to the sitter. Do not copy this in any way, thanks.

Twigs, Apple for the teacher, and Beauty in All Things...

2011-07-16T15:45:00.002+01:00

This week I am doing a Portfolio Course for students wanting to go to Art College. I often ask them to bring along an object for study, but this time a student Surprised me. Y'know when you think you've seen it All? Well, Fiona brought a big smile to my face when out of her bag she produced a...Twig! WONderful!!! Now, you have to love your Twig if you're going to do drawing studies of it - its not the sort of thing you can force someone to draw, the desire has to come from Within.

Fiona's Twig.

The variety of colours (double-click the photo to see them) , textures and shape in this should not be underestimated, as well as the strong composition it makes when it splits the image area. The negative shapes are clearly as important as the positive shapes, though they are not Dominant. So I was walking the dog and saw some lichen-covered sticks and fabulous knarled stumps and brought some back, and presented them to Fiona for further study, knowing she's That Kind Of Girl.

She was delighted - but not as much as me, because she put her hand in her pocket saying, And I found this for you... And gave me an....Apple! (A manky, mis-shapen, bruised, fabulous crab apple) I have been given a few gifts, as a teacher, ranging from flowers to even a beautifully framed painting, but never an apple. Thanks!

   Next up, Colour and Composition Workshop, Killaloe
   Monthly Mondays, Killaloe
   Portrait Workshop, Belfast.

I love Pears - oils.

2011-07-08T13:15:00.000+01:00

Well, its no news to you that I love pears. Maybe its as basic as their resemblance to the human figure. I don't even mind Why I love pears, its enough for me to know that I do...

Three Stooges, Oil on artist panel, 8in x10in. Julie Douglas

I've had that wooden block for years, lovely to finally paint it. I'll do it again...

These two paintings are two years apart, nearly. The first (above) is the most recent painting I've completed, and is the FIRST oil painting I've done in Oils that I would describe as Still Life. I mentioned this to my students and had a couple of enquires back as to what constitues a Still Life. Interesting. The Tate said - Essentially the subject matter of a Still Life painting or sculpture is anything that does not move or is dead... Charming. Hardly. But I wasn't referring to the Subject so much as the genre. And so, this is the first Still Life.

Pear on cloth, Oil on canvas, 6in x 6in. Julie Douglas
This second painting is one of my very first oil paintings. Working on canvas is very different to smooth board, not better or worse, just...different.

Copyright for these images belong to Julie Douglas. Please do not print or copy these in any way, or you will be visted by plagues and unable to sleep properly. Aw. Instead, go to the shop and buy a wee bag of...PEARS, and look how lovely they are, in the flesh.

For course programme and information, email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Water colour Lillies - students, painting without drawing.

2011-07-05T23:10:00.003+01:00

There are many ways of using water colour, and occasionally I ask my students to go straight to paint, without a pencil drawing underneath. This rarely goes down well, till they've got started, then the advantages of not being able to rub out begin to kick in.

by Pat Finlay, student, Belfast.

Certainly, with a complicated subject like this, it would have been difficult to draw AND paint it in one two hour session, and while none of these paintings were completed, the aims were achieved. All are A3 size.

By Hilary Johnston, student, Belfast

The aim was to Look more carefully, to understand the Whole as well as the smaller sections, to paint in tonal groupings rather than draw in a linear fashion and to make visual connections instantly, one section to another. The other aim was to get the information down and make it work.

By Jean Reid, student, Belfast

All these students have been having lessons for only a short time. This is a VERY challenging exercise. They did brilliantly, with hardly any moaning (I think they were in shock...).

By Brendan McKinley, student, Belfast

This ingenius piece of kit was made by Hilary and I've put my order in early for Christmas... She took a box of Ferrero Rocher, DUTIFULLY munched her way through the contents (how we suffer for our art), made little dividers out of mounting card, and hey presto, the perfect storage for her water colours.

If you would like programme information on my courses, please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for all the dates. Upcoming courses include Water Colour, Oil painting, Drawing, Portrait drawing and Portfolio preparation. I also run a Distance Learning programme which covers Drawing, Water colour, oils and Colour & composition. I hold weekly classes in Belfast and weekend courses all over Ireland.

Moleskine Sketch Book - and the art of visual note taking. Part 1.

2011-07-02T00:14:00.004+01:00

I love my Moleskine Sketch Book.
I love the weight of it in my hand. I love the hard back. I love the rounded edges to the pages. I love the thickness of the paper. I love the shape of the pages, and the wide format when using the double spread. I REALLY love the long format when I turn it round. I love the elastic strap that holds it closed. I love the little flap at the back - like a miniature filing system, just in case you pick up a post card you like at a gallery.. Or maybe to put your train ticket in when you're drawing on location..? The Moleskine book has a sense of history, of romance and nostalgia, and demands a loyalty from the owner which it is impossible not to supply.

My book was given to me by my friend Ger, with the terrible words, I want to see that filled. Uh-oh. There's nothing worse than a Blank Page, and a whole book of them? Oh yikes. Add an INSTRUCTION to that mix and the gloom descends... Nevertheless, my instruction was clear. I naively thought (to myself) I'd fill it by Christmas. Luckily, I didn't specify which Christmas that might be. So far, there have been two since she gave it to me, but they come around..

Pages from my Moleskine book, Onion and Garlic, cross-hatching in pen. Julie Douglas

This doesn't mean that filling the book has become a chore - far from it. The Moleskine paper is suitable for pencil, and any dry media, pen, ink and water colour, and it is thick and creamy. Its a luxury to use, so instead of using it for every little drawing or thumb-nail I need to work on, I choose to use it when I want the feel of that lovely paper. The result is a slow progression through the pages so that it has become a diary and a precious place of observation. A series of studies, some time consuming (the pages above took a couple of hours), some very quick. It has become, and is still becoming, a record of time, notations of seasons, a set of individual observations. When I look at a drawing I can remember where I was when I did it, and sometimes even what was on the radio at the time. I recall the room, the people I was with, many many details.

Little Pumpkin, Water Colour, Julie Douglas

By half way into a book, a rhythm is set, a personality has formed and the impression is that subjects or themes were decided from the offset, but they rarely are. By the end of the book it will look like a Complete Thing in itself, as if I achieved what I set out to do. It will look complete, like the sum of a journey. But that's not the way these things are done. They evolve, if things aren't forced. If we go with the flow, relax and follow our own intuition, in retrospect the steps will look like there had been a path. But there was not. Instead, there was an easy Flow. The end of the book doesn't mean its finished. It only means that I ran out of paper. And need a new book.

Heels. Pen, Julie Douglas

Next Up - Portfolio Course, Oils, Water Colour, Drawing, Portrait workshop, EVERYTHING!

Email for info.

Pears -Colour pencil and chalk pastels. Close-up and far-away.

2011-06-27T12:23:00.002+01:00

I've spent the morning doing my Distance Learning crits, and am left feeling very inspired. Its a really lovely thing to receive regular images from students from all over the place, as they follow the exercises I have set, and after a few weeks, the progression in the work is so marked, the improvement is so fast. Its a joy and a privilege to watch. When Susan emailed this pear drawing, it really made my day! Look at the colours, look at the pattern! (The pattern was self-imposed, by the way - I'm Hard, but I'm not that Cruel...)

Pear on patterned cloth, Colour Pencil by S. Baker, distance learning student in Wales.

On Saturday I had Big Drawing Day in Belfast. The students were mostly well-behaved, with hardly any chat back, and no moaning at ALL! In fact, my son said the noise was mostly Laughing, though I tried to explain that that was proably a nervous hysteria...! These two lovely chalk drawings show how much the students, who were beginners, settled in to the day. Delicious!

Pears in Chalk Pastel, by M. Scott, student

Pears in Chalk Pastel, by R. Burnside, student

To see more Pears, go to the search box at the top right of this page and type Praise of Pears.

I called this post Close-up and Far-away because the Drawing day was in Belfast, close up, and Susan is in Wales, far away. Distance is nothing!

Bad Language - seeing Red! Tomatoes on cloth, Oil 8in x 10in

2011-06-23T22:37:00.003+01:00

The way we speak and the limitations of our language, seriously hinders our progression in both our willingness to Observe as well as in our ability to understand or recognise the colours we See. This time, I'm referring to Colour, and the limited number of words we have to describe the endless, ENDLESS, colour we see all around us, everywhere, every day.

Tomatoes on Cloth - my first painting on Board, (as opposed to canvas) a few months ago. Oils 8in x 10 in. Not the best pic, but you get the idea. (note the bits of 'Red' in the 'White' cloth)

Take Red, for example. If you imagine in your mind what Red looks like, everyone will have a different red in mind. If I say maroon, or burgundy or cerise, or crimson or scarlet, that focuses your imagination a bit more - but not much. If I say think of a Red-Head - the variety of different reds goes from deep coppery-red to light bright gold... How about a Red Pepper? Red Onion? Red Tomaoto? Pomegranate? Rose? Which one is red? And which PART of each thing is the reddest red? Our Language, our lack of labels for colours, seriously restricts our ability, or our Desire to really Look, and then See, it blocks our mind to the concept of colours within each colour-label. But really, deep down, we KNOW - its just that language has so over simplified it, that we forget. We do know how many colours are mixed together to produce other colours. For example. if you have ever ordered paint and watched it being mixed up, there is a huge tub of white, and the machine drops in small amounts of other colours - a squirt of yellow, a smigde of red and maybe a droplet of black, then lid on, and the tub goes into the Shaker Machine and is juggled to death (yup, I LOVE that..), and your new peachy-plumy-paint is ready...

This is a photo of a real apple - I LOVE this! I was about to eat it, when I spotted the reflections, and gave it a polish - reflections top AND bottom, how DELICIOUS. But, er, what colour is it....?? Don't say R**..!

Here's your quick-dictionary... Hue: Another word for Colour

Value: how light or dark a colour is

Saturation: NOT light or dark, but pale or weak, and pure or strong.

Confused? That's ok, all you have to do is LOOK!

Next up - Big Drawing Day in Belfast (and I'm making LUNCH!!)
Email for info.
Also - my weekly classes continue through most of summer, and I have had some local teenagers join in. Great time to get some drawing in now that school is done.

Citrus, water colour - not bitter, just a little t'art. Moleskine.

2011-06-18T09:45:00.013+01:00

Water colour in Moleskine sketch book. Julie Douglas.

This week's class painted quartered citrus, which was challenging in both the drawing and colour. The shapes have to be right, and there are so many shades of colour, as well as the light making some of the flesh semi-transparent - perfect subject for the qualities of water colour paint. The students only grumble was about the wonderful lemon smell - the only thing lacking was the G&T... Here are a couple of lovely student examples.

Water colour by A. Walker, student. Wonderful composition. (we decided that it looks like a gin glass! Though she said that was subconscious..)

This one shows the gentle layering process, the best part water colour. If you click to enalarge this, you will see the painting is a fine example of colour-observation (notice that each part of the top lime is a different colour, for example) and even though its not finished, there is enough information for us to understand the tonal values over all. By A-M Ramsay-Baggs, student.

Connecting with art and Love. Cows, Colour Pencil on Bristol Board.

2011-06-15T15:01:00.004+01:00

Cows in colour pencil, first stage - I draw everything in line first, click to enlarge.

I love colour, I love shape, I love texture, I love Looking. Looking becomes a way of appreciating the complexity in simplicity. Looking becomes a vehicle for understanding, and Understanding becomes a vehicle for Communicating. And I believe that drawing (mark-making in all forms) is, above all other things, a vehicle for communication. As important as speaking, touch, feeling or writing. It is Seeing, and then the giving of what you have seen, to others. How is that anything but Love?

a bit more....

In a previous post, I mentioned Love as being an important ingredient in making imagery. In a way, students perhaps need to have experienced some of this to know what I mean. I use lots of little phrases when I'm teaching, all of which are relevant at the time, and one of them is Feel The LOVE. This is usually aimed at my portfolio students, who need to learn quickly about the commitment and effort they have to find, and their experience with me is faster and more intense than on my other courses. Submersive. When I mention love, they know that it means they have to put more of All of themselves into their artwork. It means relax a little bit more, go with it a lot more, focus on it totally and fall in love with it. It means sticking with it when it feels difficult and keeping on when its nearly there, but not quite there yet. It might mean hold your breath more. Concentrate. It means being really careful with it. Gentle with it. Honest. Then time stops and the relationship between artist and artwork REALLY begins. And it shows in the work. So the next time you're in a gallery or museum, when you look at a beautiful painting and really connect in some way with it, when you are drawn in to it and feel some kind of awe or thrill, if you feel humble or even amusement, know that what you have connected to is the love that the artist put there. And what an honour that is. An honour for the artist. And an honour for the viewer who has entered their world.

Killanena Cows out for a Walk. (Or, as they say in Belfast, Ha-ou Na-ou Bra-oon Ca-oo.)

Colour pencil on Bristol Board, 15in x 8in.

I had an email from an old friend recently, a guy I went to college with many years ago, who finally twigged that much of my chat was about my dog in the woods. He asked, Do you ever do any WORK? This really made me smile. Who says that I can't have my office in the woods? Have you seen how many shades of GREEN there are in there?? (I'll talk about Green in another post...) I HAVE to go to the woods, because... I love the woods! (I love colour, I love shape, I love texture...)

I heard a lovely quote from Kahlil Gibran recently (brought to my attention by artist Robert Genn, who is a very wise owl indeed) - 'Work is love made visible.'

You can see it all the time.

Next up - Big Drawing, Belfast

Monthly Monday Killaloe

Water colour workshop, oils workshop and Portfolio Course.

Also, distance learning new module. Email for info

julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

St George's Farmers Market, Belfast

2011-06-11T16:36:00.010+01:00

I've been thinking about it for ages, and when a friend said she was looking after another friends stall, I decided that was the nudge I'd been waiting for, and that I'd try to get a stall at St George's Market in Belfast. In order to do this, I spent the previous day trimming and slicing demonstration paintings and artworks, arranging them in portfolios. Sounds like nothing, but it was er...messy.. Then up at 6am (yes, THAT is why I'd put it off..) to queue and hope for a table. I was 16th in the queue, and wasn't overly hopeful, but oh joy, by 8.15 I was given a space half way between my friend, who was busy by then, arranging hats and scarves on her stall, and my favourite veg stall.

St George's is a covered market, a great structure in itself (I can feel a drawing project coming on....) and its got a wonderful atmosphere. It has a rhythm to it, its alive, and buzzes with energy. But at the same time, it's relaxed, sort of easy with itself. The smells are of spicy food, paella, coffee, the sounds of a band playing blues, the visual feasts of fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, cakes, jams, fish (oh... the FISH) as well as plants and Crafts. And finally, there was moi aussi. The clientelle are relaxed and enjoy mooching from stall to stall, the ambiance is...chill. Fascinating to people-watch from the other side of the stalls..!! And I was next to Melanie (on Facebook as Mk Vintageusa) who introduced my son to the choicest foody delights on the Market, and was a font of knowledge, thanks!

I met so many interesting people, and my throat was sore from the laughing and chat, my cheeks hot from blushing at the compliments (thank you!). And thanks to my students who popped in to say hello.

It was really good to take my paintings out of the studio, give them a little airing - many many people are interested in art but not interested in Galleries...

I have to recommend the Red Eye coffee - when I bought the first one it looked a bit small, but the cheery lady who passed it over to me grinned and said 'That'll keep you lit'. Boy, it did!

Ann-Marie and I, two mad hatters.

Next up, weekly classes resume in Belfast, morning and evening.

Big Drawing Day, Belfast

Portfolio Course, Co Clare.

Big Girls Shoes, Oil Painting 8in x 8in, canvas

2011-06-07T13:59:00.002+01:00

Sexy Shoes, Julie Douglas oils 8in x 10in canvas.

One of the nicest things about being a girl right now, has got to be The Shoes. When I bought the ones above, my children were...well, disgusted. But they're Boys. I wore them once, and I'm not sorry I gave it a Go. But as they made me over 6 ft tall, I felt like a lighthouse surrounded by small ships. And I had to wear different ones to drive, so it was a bit of a palaver. And, ok, Walking was a bit of a challenge too now I think about it. But they seriouly lift my spirits every time I see them. And THAT'S what its all about. Big shoes aren't about Big Shoes. They're about Fun.

Never has such a simple subject matter brought so many smiles to so many faces. Its not an easy subject by any means, so I wait till students are really ready to tackle it. The first time I set the studio up with a crowd of shiny high heels, I'd planned something else but had a Difficult Day and decided last minute that I need cheering up. When students arrived, it was Love at first sight, the joy in the air was tangible. And after some little gasps, their first words were OoooooOOOOOooooh! They loved it so much we kept it for two weeks, and I decided I had to paint some too. Here are a few lovely drawings and paintings, by students in both Killaloe, Co Clare, and Belfast. (and they work from life, by the way, not photographs!)

Water Colour by S. McGinty, student. Killaloe

Water Colour, G. McGuire, Student. Killaloe

Drawing, P. Finlay Student. Belfast

Drawing by A. Walker Student, Belfast.

Drawing by A-M Ramsay-Baggs, student. Belfast

(We do paint boys shoes too by the way...)

Next Up - two day water clour Workshop, Dublin Ireland

Oil painting workshop, Belfast.

Pomegranates for Ann-Marie, Oils 6in x 6in on Canvas.

2011-06-01T07:22:00.001+01:00

Yes, I finally got the canvas out and dared to have another go. Its many months since I painted on canvas, and the memories came flooding back. How to try to deal with the lumps and ridges of the canvas itself, but how gorgeous that the colours are thick and true in just one layer, and I can apply more paint while its wet and its not transparent, and the lovely springyness as the surface bounces under the brush. Much quicker - I did this in about 6 hours. Well, maybe 7, over two days. It gives me a looser finish, and sometimes, that feels good. For the change. A bit of Letting Go never hurt anyone. Not the best photo in the world, as its still wet.

I'd like to say many happy returns to my twin brother Brucie (we're below in the photo, he's the one having the good idea...) (no, we're not identical. Don't be SILLY. I'm 5ft 9 btw, its just that Bruce is even taller), and my lovely friends Toni in Tunbridge Wells and Ann-Marie in Holywood who also share this birthday. I painted the pomegranates for A-M - I was going to paint apples, but when I found the pomegranates and they looked like apples with Crowns, well, that swung it. To all my Gemini friends, and there are so so many of you, epecially Jode in America, Frances in London, Nuala in Belfast and countless more. And Adrian in Santa Barbara - even though you're on the cusp, being on the cusp of Taurus and Gemini has got to be good. Happy birthdays!

New programme of summer courses available now, email for info julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Big Grapes, Oils 8in x 10in on board. The Craic is mighty.

2011-05-28T18:30:00.003+01:00

This painting was one of the first I attempted on board. Having painted on canvas for a few months, a student of mine kept encouraging me to go ON, try BOARD, it's so much easier. Well, harumph... It's not easier, its just different. And for me, its sloooower because the first layer isn't absorbed in the way it is on canvas. With canvas, I painted in one layer, on board its usually about...several. Like all the oil paintings I've put on this blog, they were painted around A4 size - a small painting, but the grapes were larger than life size grapes. This was a labour of love. Every time I finished one grape I thought, yes, I think I've got the hang of it. But when I started the next grape, well, I knew I hadn't. My favourite bits are the white spaces in between the grapes. Sheesh! But I have a favourite grape as well...

It would have been sensible to have been holding the original painting while being photographed, to really show the scale of enlargement, but you'll just have to use your imagination. As you can see, I was enjoying myself too much to be that practical..! This is on the wall at The Wooden Spoon cafe in Killaloe, Co Clare. And next time you are in the vacinity, be sure to call in, for their food is rather heavenly. And, as they say in those parts, The Craic is Mighty. (if you don't know what The Craic is, that's TERRIBLE, for you, you must get some IMMEDIATELY. You've been deprived. Ask an Irish person!)

Glass bottles, colour pencil on Bristol Board. Belfast, UK, Ireland.

2011-05-25T08:27:00.008+01:00

When I ask students what they think is the most difficult subject to draw, the answer is often Glass.
The thing about glass is that you can see through it. That's the BEST thing about it. And yet, thats the thing that freaks folks out the most.

Poison Bottles, Julie Douglas. Colour Pencil.

If you draw what you Think glass looks like, you end up leaving large areas blank. But glass is mostly made up of what you can see through it. This weeks students have had their first go at drawing wine glasses, and they all loved it - really loved it (they weren't drinking, just drawing...). Distortions, reflections, and even a portrait of the person sitting opposite, because they could be seen in the glass. (which caused its own problems as students keep...MOVING, tsk!) To make it easier, the tip is to half fill the glass with water.

Bottle with lemon, Colour Pencil, by P. Finlay, student.

Glasses with lemons, 2B and 2H pencil, by B. McKinley, student.

Students were really enthralled, it was a joy to watch them. When they started to focus on what was really there, all the reflections and patterns and shapes, it was as if they'd never seen anything more beautiful in their whole lives. There is beauty in all things. Drawing glass can be like unraveling a complicated puzzle. and its great when everything Fits.

Next up - Big Drawing weekend, Killaloe, Co Clare

- Intensive Portfolio Course,

- Monthly Mondays.

New course programme available, email me for details.

BIG NOTE.... I really love teaching. Not everyone can say that. If I can help you in any way it would be an honour to do that. Just ask me a question. But I know that you will not learn anything by copying my work. Not a thing. So please do not do it. Don't print out my images, don't try to draw them, for the copyright is mine and you don't have my permission to do it. Thank you. Rest assured I will never, ever try to copy anything that you have created.

Two Colour restricted palette exercise, Water Colour, Belfast

2011-05-19T22:48:00.001+01:00

Helicopters (as we call them...) Water colour demonstration painting, Julie Douglas (seeds at bottom left to show the colours)

Sometimes when I plan my classes I Think about it. Other times I Look about for inspiration. This week I had a lovely lesson planned, then while walking in the woods on the morning of the class, I looked up and was really taken with the seeds and foliage above me. Spring has been incredibly bountious this year, and all the trees are laden with flowers, but these appealed to me because of the restricted colours. So the prepared lesson was put on hold in favour of a two-colour water colour exercise, using only reds and green. Excellent. Of course, when I was taking the photos, I got a bit overwhelmed by the wonderful shadows on the wall...

The student paintings were wonderful, with hardly any huffing at all....!

water colour, by L. Lauder, student.

Step by Step Colour Pencil, Dog. 13cm x 15.5 cm (5in x 6in)

2011-05-16T07:39:00.003+01:00

I drew this as a birthday gift for an angel. Many happy returns, you sweetest lovely thing.

The top photo was taken after it was framed (because I forgot to do it earlier..), so there's a bit of a reflection. The next two images are to show you how many colours I used - pinks, purples, blues, not just white on its own. And blues, purples, turquise, not just black on its own. Hair is always a delicious variety of colour - you've just got to look hard, and they're all in there. Colour pencil is a time consuming medium, and the most important ingredient, as well as patience and observation, is Love. The most wonderful artworks show the love.

I used Caran d'Ache Luminance- a beautiful range of light fast pencils, quite soft, and gorgeous colours, especially the greens, as well as Prismacolor and Derwent, on Bristol Board. I mix the brands and use light fast colours only. Which is a challenge in itself.

The difficult thing with colour pencil is that it is so linear - every mark is a line. But everything we draw needs to be seen as tone and shape, and drawing hair in colour pencil actually DIScourages this. It can make too many lines, and too many lines makes hair look like wire. So, observation is key. Every time.

Sunflowers, oil painting on board 8in x 10 in.

2011-05-15T10:41:00.002+01:00

I did this painting a few months ago - the flowers were in a jug at the bottom of the staircase at The Wooden Spoon Bakery, and the light there is always delicious. Soft, inviting light. Just about everything looks wonderful, on those stairs!

And Laura, who owns the bakery, loved the painting, as well as another of Grapes, which I will post at some point too, and asked for prints for the wall of her new cafe. So I had them enlarged by the Best Printer...In The World... (www.priorypress.net) and they look rather amazing, fantastic colour match. To give you an idea of scale, the original painting is about A4, and here I am next to the print. Huge!

Next up - Big Drawing and Portrait Workshop, Belfast

Water Colour Workshop, Belfast

Cloth, with apples. Oil painting, 8in x 10 in on Board

2011-05-06T14:16:00.003+01:00

This painting has taken much longer than I expected and I have learnt a lot. (including, I never know how long a painting will take...) When I began my Oil Painting Learning Journey (thinking that it was a one-way ticket! How could I EVER have thought that?! But it isn't a return ticket either, its one that you hop on and off and sometimes when you hop off you haven't alighted where you thought and sometimes when you jump back on, hey, y'seem to have gone back a stop or two but at least its slowly moving forward....), this is the subject that I started with. Cloth. Because its challenging. Its been interesting returning to it on board, and I am now plucking up courage to revisit Canvas. All encouragement would be appreciated.

Before starting this painting, I had begun a portrait painting, and once it got to huff-stage (when its wet or when its even more frustrating..), I decided to do the apples as a less-difficult distraction, a side track. A pleasant detour, possibly. So there's another thing I learnt. The distraction wasn't less difficult. Just differently difficult. (though I reserve the right to change my mind once I restart the portrait, and decide that it was, after all, MUCH more difficult...!)

May, Colour Pencil on Bristol Board

2011-05-02T00:10:00.008+01:00

This drawing is from a veeeeeery long time ago, and I'm posting it because its May Day. It was part of a college project I did in 1985 (before I was born...) for a calendar and all the illustrations were self portraits. I had fun doing it, and I have a vague memory of borrowing a fluffy white beard for December...

The link with the month of May is the ribbons, and the tradition of dancing around the Maypole. I have a strong image in my mind of seeing this happening in Holywood, Co Down, when I was small, but whether I really saw it or just visualised it from my Grandmothers description, I don't know. But the drawing launched my Illustration Career almost as soon as it was complete, so it holds a warm place in my heart. Just like the May Pole, and Holywood.

Next Up: One day - Painting trees on Location (yummy)

One day - Portrait Drawing

Weekly Drawing and Water Colour classes resume, Belfast

Monthly Monday, Killaloe Co Clare

New Distance Learning course starting soon.

For info email: julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portfolio course and Oil Painting..

2011-04-27T10:27:00.003+01:00

This week I am in Killaloe, Co Clare, doing a Portfolio Course, and the drawings being produced are deLIGHTful..

(engine part by L. Herlihy, aged 17 - you see, never throw anything away...)

I thought I wasn't bringing so much Stuff (props boxes) but then there was this, that and oooh, the tailors dummy... So the car was as full to the gills as always. Weather is tremendous, I'm teaching above the Wooden Spoon Bakery again, so we're tortured with wafts of onions, garlic, bacon, melting cheese...chocolate... you get the idea. The aroma is strongest near the door, so I try to stay well clear..

Anyway, in spite of bringing more-than-enough Stuff, my initial delight at sorting internet access here was shortlived, when I realized that I had my laptop, but not the...LEAD. You're getting the last bits of battery life right now.. But, not to be flustered, as you can see, I have a new motto for the week, stuck just above my painting..

This is the painting I am working on right now, its not quite finished. Oil on Board, 8in x 10in.

Tanya's Eggs, Colour Pencil on Bristol board

2011-04-21T08:40:00.002+01:00

For the season that's in it, I had to post this drawing of Eggs!
These eggs were given to me by a neighbour who loved chickens, but not eggs.... (Personally, I like chickens and eggs.) At that time I was mostly painting people and animals, which I love, but I was also feeling Visually Envious (is that possible?) of the still life subjects I was giving my students and decided that it was time for me to join in with the still life fun. This artwork took...longer than I expected..!

Your weekend Homework... get out and appreciate the fabulous cherry blossoms and the freshness of spring greens.

Next Up - Intensive Portfolio Course, Killaloe Ireland

Portrait and figure Drawing, Killaloe Ireland

Water Colour, Drawing and oils workshops Belfast Uk and Ireland

contact me on julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

oil painting workshop..

2011-04-18T10:31:00.002+01:00

I did an Oil Painting workshop over the weekend in Dublin.. The prep began on Friday with a visit to St George's Market in Belfast to see what colourful fruits I'd not be able to resist.. I was after artichokes, but they weren't colourful enough this week... And sometimes that's good, as it means I have to spend a bit longer wandering, looking, pondering and rejigging my thoughts. I'd not been on a Friday before and my Usual Veggie stall wasn't there, oh shame. But there was a bigger stall in the middle, and wow, the colours... I was only feeling a little bit disloyal, when who should pop out from behing the parsnips, but My Veg Man, same stall, different spot! And I'm afraid he knows me by now, and before I knew it, he was walking me around by my elbow in case I'd missed something fabulous. Purple and green you want, he says - extolling the purples in the aubergines (not today...) or how's about a cabbage? (nah....). And as I filled up my bag with oranges and plums, I noticed that he looks like... Tom Cruise!! Perhaps I should ask him to model for the next portrait class..?!

My students worked tirelessly, and produced fabulous paintings, seemingly without pain! The table got messier by the moment, the coffees went cold and hardly any paint got on the clothes... Just on the hands and elbows and noses instead. And the glasses - one student confessed that she was worried about her vision after the first day, and everything looked a bit misty - till she realized that she had a fingerprint of white paint on her specs...

Next Up - Water Colour workshop, then Intensive Portfolio Course.

email: julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info

In Praise of Pears (POP), Belfast

2011-04-13T09:49:00.009+01:00

This week my classes are mostly drawing...pears.

(Colour pencil in moleskine sketch book, 4in x 3in, Julie Douglas)

Every now and then I get slightly self-conscious that so many of my subjects are food, and make rash promises to students that we won't do any foody painting for a bit. But after a couple of sessions, I get over it, and back we go.. Yum. No apology. I have a secret passion for pears - not so much eating them, but I love their plump, dumpy shape. They're a bit cheeky. Quirky. They're having a bit of a laugh, like they're leaning on a lamp-post, all casual... There's something comforting about their broad bottom, whether they're standing up, leaning over or totally collapsed. You can't lose, with a pear... And then there is Colour.

Look at these photographs from my evening class - the first thing I see are the colours. That doesn't mean green - it means mossy-greens, blue-greens, gray-greens, muddy-greens, yellow-greens, pink-greens, pink, pinkey-orange, orangey-pink, peachy, blue, khaki, purple - PURPLE, my favourite, and on and on. We don't have enough words for the colours around us, so the less we try to label them, the more open we are to seeing the array of colour-treats in everything. This is one of the things students are most amazed about in their own learning - the way they can suddenly See colour. SO many students tell me, after a couple of weeks, that they can't believe how much colour there is in everything.

So, lets get looking...

(drawing 4in x 4in, colour pencil, by Aisling Allum, student)

Occasionally I've thought about buying really good quality fake fruit (did I just SAY that?!) so that I'd always have them to hand. But I can't, because one of the other secret pleasures is going out and rummaging in the fruit boxes for The Right One... Its got to look lazy, it has to have a stalk, ooh that one's Blushing, and look at the size of THAT...

(drawing 4in x 4in, colour pencil, by Alison Walker, student)

Next up - Oil Painting workshop, Dublin Ireland.

Distance Learning Courses available too.

Distance Learning, Drawing block.

2011-04-10T22:09:00.000+01:00

This fabulous drawing was done by an advanced distance learning student of mine from Norwich, K Galliford. Truly magnificent! An iris from his own garden, drawn in coloured Pencil. the value of distance learning should not be underestimated, for while it hasn't got the advantage of a weekly class, it certainly gives students the discipline required to commit to producing work regularly enough to improve. This drawing is approximately A4 in size.

Remember what I was saying before about feeling inspired, visually, about everything around you, rather than relying on other peoples artwork to Do It for you? I took the snap below the other evening while out walking the dog on Belfast Lough. So I had the double creative blast - its a fact that being outside, in the elements, is good for us, creatively. It clears the head (or at least shuffles everything around a bit into some semblance of order...), opens the lungs and allows the over-busy dust particles in our head to settle... As well as possibly putting off getting on with some artwork, in the time-honoured art of procrastinating. And not only this, but if you're lucky, there'll be a visual feast too, and you are reconnected to the beauty all around you. I admit that a sunset is nearly cheating - but at least I was OUT THERE, and SAW it... And if you think you have no time to stop and stare, think again. You have time, for everything.

Next up - Oil Painting workshop, Dublin Ireland. Email for details and booking julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Rory's Hands, Oil Painting 8in x 10in.

2011-04-02T16:18:00.003+01:00

Well, this week I have learnt a lot about paint, though, mostly how NOT to do things. Which is still learning nonetheless. I have been working on a painting of hands, the attraction being the skin tones, but didn't I only decide to have the hands playing the piano... So the great majority of time was spent on painting the piano keys - WHAT a nightmare. You'd think after all these years that I'd see the nightmare bits coming, but, oh no. I'm just Attracted To Things, and away I go... It didn't take long to dawn on me that the task was rather larger than I'd expected, once I started the white-keys-black-keys. Black paint loves to smudge. You only have to glance at it from across the room, and oops, it smudges itself.
And how to get a straight edge - I mean a REALLY straight edge? I decided to try masking it off. It took all morning to cut the stuff out, and the idea was loosing its appeal, but it worked well-ish, until I started peeling it off, and most of the glue from the tape stayed on my board. Sigh. I 'solved' this by liberally slathering black paint on top, and thought I was a genius. How wrong... The painting was too wet to continue, so I decided to have a tidy up and run the vacuum cleaner round. I know, what was I THINKING? When I went back to the painting next day, sure enough, all the thick black paint had turned into a Fluff Magnet. For the entire street...

You see my difficulty. Anyway, I got there in the end, and while it may seem good to have a reason not to vacuum, the down side is, it means slow-motion mopping instead. It'll be at least a week till the painting dries. Have you ever seen pictures of Francis Bacon's Studio? Total mess. Now I know why. Try explaining that to your mother..

(the colour is far from true in this photo, but I can't move it for better light, see above...)

Tip - don't use anything sticky on your painting.

Next Up: Monthly Mondays Drawing and Painting, Killaloe, Co Clare, Ireland
Portrait Drawing, Dublin, Ireland
Water Colour Workshop, Dublin, Ireland.
Two day Oils Workshop, Dublin, Ireland
Email for info. julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

COPYRIGHT - just a refresher for all. The copyright on everything in this blog belongs to me - words and pictures, unless otherwise indicated. This means you may NOT copy it, print it out, or paint from it, or even mimic the layouts, without my permission. It would be theft. Rest assured, I wouldn't dream of stealing anything from you. On the contrary, here I am, sharing!
Copyright is a legal issue, and its Interesting Neighbour, Plagerism, is a very large and emotive subject, and one that causes argument, particularly among students, and one which I won't discuss here. Except, to remind you that, whether you agree with it or not, Copyright means the Right To Copy has not been granted.
As I said in my last post, half the pleasure is in Seeing the things around you, and Your vision is spectacular. Trust yourself!

Drawing subjects... and visual feasting.

2011-03-27T11:08:00.002+01:00

Every moment of every day is a visual feast. Even if you haven't time to sit to paint, allow your eyes to absorb the amazing beauty all around you - this means not Thinking about it, but just.... Looking. When we really start to observe light, and shape and colour, our lives begin to be transformed. How could we not have noticed how colourful everything is? When I was walking the dog yesterday I noticed some unusual looking objects on the ground - just one or two at first, but eventually a whole heap of them. They look like buttons from a formal blazer, or perhaps little drawer-knobs. They look like they have been carved, each one with the same pattern on the top. Knobbly, very solid, brown with hints of greens and red. They are seeds from Eucalyptus trees, I deduced by looking...up! (I am very grateful that they'd already landed on the ground, they'd be a bit painful if they landed on your head)

Just peering at the detail on objects like this increases your visual awareness, with no effort on your part at all! Stare, wonder, unravel the details with your eyes, and the next time you draw something, you will be as tuned in as if you'd been drawing all week.

Tip of the day - don't look hard for somthing interesting, it's right beside you. And when you are out and about, sometimes the most interesting landscape is at your feet.

Double click on the image to see it BIGGER....

Next Workshops, April - Drawing on location. Portrait Drawing. Email for details.

Musicians Hands, Colour Pencil.

2011-03-21T15:58:00.002Z

This drawing was done a while ago in Colour Pencil, on Bristol Paper, size 11in x 8.5in (small), and was part of a series I did of musician's hands, holding their instruments. I love drawing hands, and all skin tones. This week I am painting more hands, in Oils. But I'm not speaking to it at the moment. Nearly very painting I do, I have a fall-out with at some point, which is such a regular occurrance now that I take it as Normal, if Annoying... Still Learning..

Musicians make great subjects for drawing while they are playing - you have to work quickly, frequently revisiting sections of the drawing, as the subject is moving constantly. It leads to fast decision-making and lively drawings, and loosens you up. No time to be Precious. I did some in a local bar where I used to live, and found that drawing the musicians as they played was a much more intimate experience than photographing them. Taking a photo is very quick, and I guess we are accustomed to seeing a camera. But standing still and drawing is rather different - I was very discreet (as I didn't want anyone to inspect what I was doing, an audience is not helpful...) but the musicians were aware that I was doing Something. But of course, when they weren't playing, I wasn't drawing, so the embarrassment blossomed on both sides. Eventually, after a few sessions, one musician left the group while they were still playing and glanced over my shoulder at what I was doing. Then gleefully shouted out, hey, Christy, she's even got your HAIR in.... They'd twigged!! (and I was too shy to go back - tip, take a friend to sheild you!)

I have been asked many times over many years if I would write a book on drawing and painting. I began this a while ago, and would be thrilled if you contributed by asking me a question! I won't necessarily answer all of them, but I will try - it is so interesting hearing what bothers you, when you are learning. Often, it is the same questions that come up, over and over. Which means that you are not alone with your problem!

Upcoming Worshop - Drawing on Location, Belfast UK. Email for details julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

BIG NOTE.... I really love teaching. Not everyone can say that. If I can help you in any way it would be an honour to do that. Just ask me a question. But I know that you will not learn anything by copying my work. Not a thing. So please do not do it. Don't print out my images, don't try to draw them, for the copyright is mine and you don't have my permission to do it. Thank you. Rest assured I will never, ever try to copy anything that you have created.

Oil Painting Workshop.. Oranges 8in x 10in Oils

2011-03-14T20:32:00.002Z

Today I finished this painting of Oranges. Oils on board, 8in x8in. (though I added the stalks after this shot was taken..) It was very quick, for me - I got the whole first layer in, in one day, which felt terrific. I then had a couple of busy weeks where I hardly got to sit down with it, but it was a joy to complete, over a couple more days. (which probably means about 4 more days..) Last week I did a one-day flit to London to visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery (a lovely gallery, well worth a visit) who were showing the first ever UK show of original paintings by Norman Rockwell, a wonderful American Illistrator, who was HUGE in illustration from the 1920's - 60's. I wrote about him for my college thesis rather a long while ago and this was the first time I'd seen the work for real. Wow, it was amazing. Larger than I'd imagined, and some pieces loose, and some so painfully fine and fabulous, I was leaning over the barriers so I could really peer at the canvas. Deeeeelicous. Sadly, the best book of his work for sale in the Gallery Shop was also the most expensive. But I'm worth it.. After a whizz around the National Gallery too, for my top-up of Venus-flesh and floaty-angels, I feel very inadequate back at my desk. But will plod on, regardless. Practice practice practice...

Next Up - Oil Painting Workshop 20th March. Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for details.

Water Colour Workshop, Dublin

2011-03-09T15:15:00.002Z

I'm always looking for subjects which lend themselves to the particular media I'm using, and peppers allow for great use of the layering techinques in water colour as the tonal areas are strong in their contrasts. Its not easy - but well worth the suffering. This first little painting was one of some demos from a recent workshop. It is very simplified to help students See the shapes and tones I was looking for. It's these factors which give the painting the 3-d look and explains the twists and turns in every subject. Also, I don't like spending too long on a demonstration because basically, students are just watching paint dry, and I don't want them to get bored.. Or worse still, to be putting off Starting themselves... (yes, I'm wise to all your stalling tactics, sheesh)

Here's some folks pretending to Suffer for their Art after the demo... The completed painting below is by Tomm Moore, who was rather surprised and delighted with his own genius!

Colour Pencil Demonstration Step by Step, Skin, Cloth, Hair - LAYERING

2011-03-01T11:28:00.007Z

I get many enquiries about Colour Pencil and how to use them, particularly regarding the Layering required. Like most things, there is more than one answer to this, and the way I use them works for me.. but may not be the same way that the next person uses them. For me the answer to the question of How?, is often, Maybe... or Try... (Actually, How? is simply the wrong question...)
Firstly, always blame your tools. Its not You, its Them. Secondly, remember that in this case, the tools are Pencils, Sharpener AND Paper Surface, not just Pencil. A couple of years ago I decided to use only Light-Fast colour pencils, and my Brand-Nightmare began, so I really so know how awful it is when the pencils won't go down as you want them - and I'd been using pencil successfully for 25 YEARS, already..!! Yikes. (that's since before I was born, obviously)
I tried many brands and some remained useless as far as achieving strong, dense, rich colour. Some were grainy - I wanted smooth and line-free. Some only accepted 3 layers of colour, when I wanted...the option of just one or two more, if it NEEDED it. Also, I was using Extra Smooth Bristol paper - Bristol paper is a gorgeous surface for colour pencil, after the initial shock of how slippy it feels. But Extra Smooth is going too far, so I ditched that and use Bristol, without the Extra. I also ditched the idea of using only 1 brand of pencil, and mixed them up, according to colour.Doing this actually had the fantastic bonus of a new Palette of colours, especially for skin tones, rather than restricting myself to the one brand. I also keep my pencils really sharp (= cocktail stick sharp!).

Next thing is to know that everyone has a different way of working, everyones Process varies a bit, so if you get lots of advice which is contradictory, don't worry, they're all right! I personally try to do as few layers as possible, because it is slow enough as a medium without dragging it out longer than necessary. I also don't do an all-over base layer, though MANY do. I just get fed up going over and over the whole page that way, and prefer to do small areas at a time, but completing them as I go. The very important thing about working this way is to creep along the page till you're finished, and not flit from one area to another or it feels like the spots you've done will never join up!

As far as pressure, there's a long way between pressing Lightly and pressing Too Hard. Get some Bristol paper and draw some 1 inch squares and practice filling them in using different techniques- lots of light layers in 2 or 3 colours, try mid-pressure layering and leave the heaviest pressure till the end. Trial and error in small little boxes, rather than on something that you have carefully drawn out.

These images show some of the stages on a recent artwork using Colour Pencil. It was mostly Caran d'Ache (water soluble hard ones, but no water added) plus the Luminance range, which is expensive, but you're Worth It (it includes a good range of Dingy, non-colours, far more useful than Brights), and Derwent Artist. (The colour difference between images is purely because the photos were taken at different times of the day and night, but it shows the stages). The full artwork was A3 size and it took 60 HOURS to complete. Sheesh...! And yes, I rub out my initial line drawing as I go along. And no, I did NOT use a grid. So you shouldn't either... Copyright on this drawing (and on all portraits) belongs to the sitter, please do not copy or print this in any form. I also use on pencils, no smudging, no brandishing tools, just pencils.

Next up: Two day Big Drawing for Distance Learning, Belfast. 5th & 6th March.

Email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for details.

Oil painting, creamy cakes from The Wooden Spoon, Killaloe..

2011-02-28T14:21:00.004Z

I posted a painting of a creamy bun a while ago which was painted in oils on canvas, so I thought I'd show you another one I did in the autumn, but on board. The canvas was a lot quicker, as it seems to take colour more thickly, first time around, and colours blend in almost by themselves, whereas board has no absorbing quality so the paint smears and slides for the first layer and needs a second (or third...) to show a richness of colour. I think... Just to see what happened, I painted it onto a coloured base, rather electric...This painting is 8in x 10in, just a little bigger than the previous cream cake.

And why am I showing you these now..? Because I spent Saturday doing a workshop and the venue was the Demonstration Kitchen above the Wooden Spoon Bakery in Killaloe - such torture as the ever-changing aromas wafted up the stairs all day... And huge plate fulls of meringue for eye-feasting - I can sense a meringue painting coming on...

Here's a pic of a lovely pastel drawing in progress, by one student on Saturday.

Next up: Weekly classes resume this week in Belfast and two days of Big Drawing on Sat 5th & Sun 6th March in Belfast.

Oil Painting Portrait

2011-02-23T08:09:00.003Z

This is the first head I have painted in oils. I started the Learning-to-use-Oils project in July 2009, by trial and error, of purely still life, mostly of fruit on white cloth. Each one was 6inx6in, and while I had no idea what I was doing, it was addictive and frustrating and fast and...fun. I used canvas for the first year till a friend, who had also tried his hand at oil, badgered me into trying to paint on board. How I snobbily resisted. Eventually, to please him, I did. And what a difference.. For me, its slower, but I like the smooth finish. I'm still learning, still feel excited when I feel how oily one colour is against how dry and reluctant another may be. Still reeling at the cost of some tubes.. But I buy them anyway! (artist quality only folks, otherwise, trust me, you may as well not bother).
My favourite subjects are people and animals, so I finally took the plunge and had a go at painting Rodney, my local Dry Cleaner, as he has a great head. I found the painting difficult (SKIN TONES????!!), as I do every time, but I took a break from it for a few days and was glad to get back to it, and it only took about 4 days. I gave him a little more hair after this shot, and recoated the back ground.. Not the clearest photo, very hard to photograph, but you get the idea.. Hope you like it. And yes, Rodney says he likes it very much, Aw.

Next up, Big Drawing Workshop Saturday 26th Feb, Killaloe, Co Clare Ireland

Water Colour Workshop Sunday 27th Feb, Dublin Ireland

Call or email to book. www.juliedouglas.co.uk

Phone - from UK 07730 560 517 from Ireland 087 1330040

Oily Cheeses and colour Pencil Peppers...

2011-02-16T13:14:00.001Z

Here is my most recently completed oil painting, another in the series for local shops. This was a challenge, as usual, because I primed it differently. This is painted on MDF board, so must be primed with a few layers of gesso before painting. Up to this one, I used a wide brush to prime, and sanded it down, but often the stripey lines of the primer show through. This time I used a roller so there'd be no streaks. Big no-no. The surface wasn't smooth at all, but had the the same qualities of the roller itself - spongy, and it absorbed the paint differently. And not in a Good Way Different... However, I'd spent so long drawing this out that I decided to plod on, and eventually and frustratingly got it done. It is gently fuzzy in reality and doesn't show any of the pain it took to produce... But sure, no pain, no gain.. And the cheese was the easy bit. The challenge was the lid.

This week I was in Killaloe, Co Clare doing my Monthly Monday class, and the drawing below is by one of the students, Orla Flanagan, using Colour Pencil. A fabulous piece of work!

Big Drawing, and Colour Magic

2011-02-07T13:27:00.000Z

Had a lovely Big Drawing Day in Dublin yesterday, with a very well behaved bunch of students, hardly any huffing, and all smiles at the end. They did the best colour pencil cherries ever. Sadly, my in-house photographer (son) wasn't in the mood so I have no shots of the cherries. Well, he took one from far away, so it was mostly a close-up of a kitchen roll, with some serious-looking students in the distance, and my back side in between. Which I'll spare you. But here they are doing some mushrooms in charcoal.

Meantime, here's my new favourite toy....

Fabulous isn't it...? AND, I made it myself - you'd never know! It's to isolate colour, a fabulous little device for when you're struggling to get it right. In this example, of white objects, its a handy way to see the colours that are really there, rather than what we Think are there. All the colour spots you can see are of part of the white object... but they're pink! Or is it orange...? Yummy.

But this (below) is the best way to hold it - so that you are blocking out your view of everything except the colour - this way your eye is not distracted and your brain isn't going into But-It's-White overdrive. Dare you to make one, it'll take 3 seconds. Take a piece of grey paper, A4 (bigger than this example) and make two holes with a paper punch. Voila. You'll never see colour the same way again.

Next up, Oil painting workshop, Belfast.

Completing the tonal study...

2011-02-02T08:51:00.002Z

As I said in my previous post, I went back to my tonal study, and painted a strong background, to see how it altered the tonal balance of the painting. Using very neat Sepia, I took the plunge - and once again found it to be more trnsparent that I wanted and streaky (see below). The solution of course, was to paint a couple of layers, waiting for the previous layer to be dry first. The effect was as I expected - the tulips and leaves looked too pale, so I darkened the darker areas to redress the balance. BALANCE - a new favourite word. Balancing-act, don't lose-your balance.
This painting is around 5inches x 7.5 inches.

Next up - Big Drawing Day, Dublin, Ireland.

Water Colour Workshop, Dublin

Oil Painting Day, Belfast, UK.

Water Colour and portfolio tidying

2011-01-31T12:48:00.000Z

I have noticed more and more over the last year or so that many people have difficulty getting the right tonal balance in their paintings (as opposed to in their drawings), which means that they are put off by the colour they see. So last week I gave my students a Tonal exercise, drawing first and then painting tulips using Sepia only. I did it myself too, and found it interesting... I don't use Sepia in my water colour palette, and I found that the colour, its permanency, seemed to be absorbed a bit into the paper as it dried, so that it wasn't as dark as I intended it to be. This is one of my studies, and in a moment I will paint a very dark background, to see what happens... (If its a disaster, I won't be posting it!)

I spent half the weekend making a big mess in my living room, in fact, almost Total Coverage with paper, plastic sleeves, lists, extra lists and tape everywhere (think of your teenage daughters bedroom, but multiplied..). I was snipping and trimming and chopping and arranging students portfolios for submission this week to NCAD, just the first round of submissions, with all the rest to follow over the next couple of months. As I took the over-stuffed portfolios off students and sent them off downtown shopping and chilling, I began to wonder what on EARTH I'd been thinking - hang on, I'm coming with you... But the reward of finding a calm out of the chaos is great, and everyone was relieved to receive their work back, neat and clean and Ready, at last. Well done everyone. And thanks, all the mums, for the big hugs - but I'm afraid I can't adopt your children just now, thanks for asking, (and I think 18 is too late to adopt - and A, don't even ask, you're older than I am!) but I'm a friend for life, don't worry.

Sweet Treat

2011-01-25T22:20:00.000Z

The first painting I put on this blog was of chillies, which was part of a series for local shops, small paintings reflecting the shop which displays them. Todays post is another from that series, which is ongoing. It is Oil on canvas, size 9 inches by 7 inches, making it a really large cream cake. It was great fun to paint, as the folds of cream became quite voluptuous at that scale, and it always makes people smile when they see it. (Yes, of COURSE I ate them and they were as light as a cloud, as soft as...angel breath mmm..) It was displayed in the bakery for a while and has now moved rather upmarket to the Boutique B&B round the corner, for guest to see while enjoying their Afternoon Tea!

Painting on canvas is a particular torture. It is springy, which at first is disconcerting, but worse is that the paint bleeds - that was a surprise to me, coming to Oils after many years of dry media and Water Colour. I never expected oil to bleed, into the little grooves of the canvas. And while I am working on board at the moment, which has other characteristics, in comparison, the paint blends more deliciously on canvas, allows itself to slide arond the surface more willingly than on board...

Next up - new evening class in Belfast due to student demand, so now two evenings and a morning class to choose from.

And in February, a Big Drawing Day, hooray! - in Dublin.

Water Colour workshop, Dublin

2011-01-24T09:51:00.000Z

Here are a couple of shots from my Water Colour Workshop at the weekend. It was pretty intensive as it was designed for my Distance Learning students, as the starting-block to their water colour term, but many other students decided to come along too, jumping in at the deep end. They produced a mountain of paintings (or rather, EXERCISES), accompanied by screams of Torture, huffing, muttering under the breath and wailing for More Coffee... (and that was just me!! Only joking...) But today, I'm getting emails from them saying how Relaxing it was! How quickly we forget, which is how it should be, or we'd never start another painting.
Lovely that students came from far and wide, including flying in from Kerry, how civilised(compared to me driving through the fog!), and Wales.

Next up, Portfolio Assembly for NCAD portfolios. This is a horrible job, but I was nearly knocked over by stampeding students when I sort of Thought-out-loud about offering this... Presentation of artwork is very important, and can transform the feel of the whole portfolio. Portfolios need to be dropped off for a couple of hours to be sliced, cut and rearrange to its most glorious advantage ready for submission. Sunday 30th January.

Portfolio Course, Dublin

2011-01-17T08:52:00.000Z

Well, seven girls with a looming deadline for portfolio submission to college makes for highly entertaining, fast-production stress. Many had reached the difficult stages, of dealing with thought-process evolving as they unravelled the brief, but after pushing them through that pain barrier its a joy to see students come to grips with the problems before them and begin to blossom. With hardly any kicking or screaming... Amazingly, this group said they liked it better when I got cross and said it Even More Like it IS. Eek! Girls, you are Charming, and Enchanting.
This photo puts a whole new meaning on Tidy the Table..

The only causalty of the day was a very plain but lovely cake stand from the 1960's which I intended as a prop for a student. I was putting it in the car not carefully enough, and I knew instantly from the shape of the bag that it had split into several pieces. I'm not precious about Things or Stuff, but I do like Props, so it was a shame to lose this one, which I hadn't painted yet. Never mind, there will be others!