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For fun I pulled out an old pen&ink sketch and proceeded to start colourizing it in Xara. I didn't get too far when it started to remind me of my pre-xara days. I used to take an airbrush to sketches like this. Because I was an airbrush novice, I used considerable restraint. The goal was as much not to wreck it as it would be to colourize it. Often I'd add about as much colour as I've done in this Xara example. I liked those poor examples of airbrush skill! So it is I rather like this xara example with its limited colour.
The historic building itself is remarkable. The wood-framed building arcs around the corner making it extremely unusual. It is in the town of Annapolis Royal which was founded in year 1605.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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For fun I pulled out an old pen&ink sketch and proceeded to start colourizing it in Xara. I didn't get too far when it started to remind me of my pre-xara days. I used to take an airbrush to sketches like this. Because I was an airbrush novice, I used considerable restraint. The goal was as much not to wreck it as it would be to colourize it. Often I'd add about as much colour as I've done in this Xara example. I liked those poor examples of airbrush skill! So it is I rather like this xara example with its limited colour.
The historic building itself is remarkable. The wood-framed building arcs around the corner making it extremely unusual. It is in the town of Annapolis Royal which was founded in year 1605.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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Hi Ross,
Sorry about the Ted Turner joke, I couldn't resist [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] he colorized old Black & White movies.
Excellent use of colour, I like it very much. I especially like your Pen & Ink drawings.
Soquili [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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Ross
I know this may sound odd, but I have always envied people who can really draw. I can render, but I could never draw worth a damn.
When I was attending art school, sometimes we'd sit on the front lawn and draw trees and things.
There was a grammar school across the street and sometimes we'd be drawing when school let out and the kids would walk across the lawn and look over our shoulders. One young twerp looked over my shoulder at my attempt to realistically draw tree bark or some such pursuit and said, Boy are you bad!
Sigh
Nice drawing.
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
Be It Even So Humble...
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That looking over the shoulder thing prevents most people from learning to sketch. Going out and sketching the trees is probably the best way to learn. Its not to late to develop those skills now. Get youself to sketch something every day. Even if you only spend five minutes a day - you will get better at it. Do it for yourself. Resist the urge to get feedback until you are more confident in your abilities.
If you try what I say you will quickly improve! Give it ten minutes a day for three weeks and you'll see big improvements in the product and in how comfortable you are. You will learn to have your hand/pencil tap into your vast experience in observing things.
Sketching is not only fun. It is a useful way of communicating and recording ideas.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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But Ross, I've forgotten how to hold a pencil, not to mention the fact I don't even have any pencils anymore. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
Do they still sell pencils?
Actually that is a very good suggestion. I will try to purchase a sketchbook and take the time to draw the roses.
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
Be It Even So Humble...
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It makes we want to start practise drawing "real" things again [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I try to get in atleast 30 minues of doodling each day. It is nothing organized just on whatever scrap paper happens to be lying around. I don't try to depict anything special I just draw what comes to mind.
But to really practise how to sketch/draw I think I should be trying to depict something concrete and recognizable [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Ross, I agree, drawing from life is probably the best excercise of all. It is very different drawing a subject from life than a subject that has already been flattened for you (photo).
I think there is just enough colour in the sketch to add some warmth. More colour and the colour would become more important than the actual subject and/or how it was depicted.
Great stuff!
Risto
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It used to be common for those getting a liberal arts education to have to learn to sketch. Just as people learned debating, latin, and script lettering skills - they learned to sketch. Today sketching skills seem to be getting rarer and rarer. Just because they are now rare doesn't mean they are hard to learn. Stick with the few minutes a day thing and you will definitely improve in short order.
Do occassionally draw the same thing over again (and again and again). It will help you to really start seeing aspects of it you didn't originally perceive. Most people when they start sketching get boggled down in details. With practice you start to appreciate what lines are extraneous and eventually you draw fewer and fewer. I'm still working on that aspect myself. It is interesting to figure out what lines you need and which you don't. Start with the important ones and then progessively add in the less important ones until you reach the point where you are satisfied no more are needed.
I certainly don't sketch much these days. I do it enough that my skills are maintained but I'm not really improving. I do know that if you work at it, there is no limit on improvement. Famous sketchers like Picasso got better throughout their lives. Remember when he started he could only draw stick men like most people. There is hope for us all!
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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Hi Ross,
Great image and very encouraging words of advice. Thank you!
Bob C.
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Hey - I've just learned the building has is own website. The site also features paintings by Xartist and fellow Nova Scotian, David King.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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Yeah that's a nice building. I think the current owner did quite a bit of work on it as she likes fixing up old buildings (and well it might have needed some work). The interior is nice and has an interesting metal ( thin copper? ) ceiling painted white with much detail (don't know the facts or words to describe it .... Ross might know better being in architecture).
David King
www.dkingdesign.com
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David - I haven't been in the building for quite a while. I do remember it as being relatively original, which is exceedingly rare for Victorian-era commercial buildings. Annapolis Royal is very rich in architectural heritage and I encourage everyone, if they ever get the opportunity, to visit and enjoy its appealing small town character. The only place I've been with similar (although very different) qualities is
Telluride, Colorado. Annapolis Royal is more "pure" because it hasn't had all the recent development of places like Telluride.
Oh! The ceiling is likely copper or tin. The thin sheets were pressed into molds and sold through catalogs. They were very popular in the victorian era. They are still sold today by Steptoe & Wife (great company name eh?). I believe they use original molds. I once did a architectural design project that used 15,000 pounds of cast iron from Steptoe & Wife. The quality of the castings was perfect. I'm sure their tin ceilings are good too.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
[This message was edited by Ross Macintosh on April 18, 2001 at 06:29 PM.]
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Thanks Eric! When I started colourizing the sketch this is the kind of effect I had in mind. I'm still undecided about if I should add more colour to the above sketch or not. I like it with limited colour - maybe [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] I'd like it even more fully rendered??
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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Wow, I almost spelled color your way (colour)!
ANYway, Ross, I think it looks really good the way you have it, it gives it a kind of artistic feel. But it really depends on the look you were going for. I'm sure it would look good the other way also, but there's only one way to find out! Experiment with it, there's really no harm you can do! Just keep the original and start over and compare, I'd be eager to see it. Post the results if you decide to change it. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Steve Newport
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Of course in "English" the correct spelling is with the "u".
American spelling is slowly creeping into Canada. Colour is one word that many Canadians (the stupid ones [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] ) spell either way and often get away with it. We sure as hell don't get away with "nite" instead of night (or "lite" instead of light). Many younger Canadians now think the last letter in the alphabet is "zee" when in English it has always been "zed". The influence of American television, with shows like Sesame Street, has subverted our English language. Perhaps in another thousand years we Canadians will all be Americans.
I'm not trying to be beligerent here. I find our language differences pleasant and amusing.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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And together we can rule the world!! Just imagine it, one continent, on country, one view, and one heck of a lot of power! we can spell "color" colouor and pronounce Z as zeeeed... Wow, it's too late, someone shut me up!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Steve Newport
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I figure one less letter to type is one less chance to make a mispelling :-D. Anyway I think the english language (British, American ,Canadian, Australian ...whatever) is in need of a great big overhaul. Get rid of those silly useless letters in words which just are a pain and take longer to type (thought, bought, why the "ugh" ....why!!! ... "ugh!" is just what I say about their inclusion in these words [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]). So in the spirit of bettering the english language I will now rewrite this paragraph using the "King's (ahem ...that's me) english" [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
I figyer wun les leter tu typ iz wun les chans tu mayk ay mispeling :-D.
Ah the heck with it ... you get the point :-) Just having fun!
David K
www.dkingdesign.com
PS ... Ross ... When's the last time you came home after a hard day at work and relaxed in your "E-Zed Boy" recliner with a beer. I rest my case ... hehe ... just kidding [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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for what it's worth i would stop right here...its easy to 'overproduce' these things
my favourite adage is "LESS IS MORE"
scouse eric
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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Thanks Eric. One of my favorite quotes is:
"The past is past. That explains why it is past."
Perhaps that has nothing to do with this thread but then again, maybe it does. Think about it until it hurts and then stop.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
