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Friday, October 25, 2013

Loose Up Life Drawing & My Birthday

Hi, Friends, enjoying life? My birthday is next Tuesday (thank u, Lydie, you already celebrated it in a comment!). So, instead of next Monday, I upload this post for a make up (= I'm not sure I can post with a hangover).  Also, Editor will come. We'll talk over the project in person at the beginning of November. I'm preparing for it. Lalalala~~~ ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ·.•*•♫°•♫·.•ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

Now, a life drawing class, no tutor, has started. I'd share tips to loose up watercolour life drawing on A2 in a very short time ( = in 1, 5, 15 or 20 minutes). 

1)  The lesser, the better, brush stokes are.
Don't overwork, is a rule of thumb. If you wonder more strokes or not, "Stop it" is a wise option. Actually, no time to think twice in 1 minute! 

2) Limited Palette & Have Your Own Colours
The lesser, the easier, to unify colours in a busy work. Try one colour to study value and movement. Then, pick up your favorite colours to work on in longer minutes. Selection of colours demonstrates your uniqueness and style. Find your own colours.
1 minute

Well, I often pick up too much fresh paints in a big hurry and paint thick on papers. But it comes out more vivid, stronger and much clearer than ever, see below. Her sharp eyes and a scarf's green caught my eyes. Look at her intense eyes! *When I get tired, I SECRETLY sketch other members!! Hahaha, we enjoy results over coffee. 
... and I'll lose my friends one after another?! Gulp.
 

3) Control of water & Know Colours
Control of water is the key for successful watercolour. Each colour has a character like a person. It behaves differently with varied amount of water on paper. To maximise a colour's personality, amount of water is crucial. It's an adventure to manage how much brushes pick up water.
Of course, lots of messes are essential. It's fun for me to taste messes. Yum! I always find something useful! Remember Beethoven did not compose nine symphonies at once. Michelangelo did not make Cysteine chapel at the beginning of a career. All great masters are great hard workers. "Love creating messes" is a watershed to divide people who enjoy life with self-esteem from people end up in regret

4) Big Paper is all your playground 
Drawing is a physical exercise! Don't be shy. Move well and use your body, arms, hands, feet, everything rhythmically. Then, you can be stress free! 

5) Drawing Skills & Painting Outcome go hand in hand 
Ultimately, drawing skills decide any painting's result and level. 
I've found the quicker, the better a result comes up, because I very much concentrate on work and make a right and brave decision. Next time, I'll try 20 minutes work with the speed spent in 1 minute work. 

Regarding papers, please use qualified papers even for practice (the thicker, the better). Practicing expensive papers looks wasting money, BUT no! It's the short cut to know papers and learn how to use papers = technically, you'll get better more effectively! 
Talking of me, thin papers are for really a quick job and save money. 300gsm are for interesting subjects and for washes. 
In a class, I'm very happy and never demand myself too much. When I make "one" favorite work, I celebrate it with members. When I joined the class, I challenged watercolour life drawing for the first time. I get faster and faster to organise work. Brushes dance merrily on papers. Friends, challenging is nice! In addition, you will find your own way. Other people's ways are, eventually, for others. 


BTW, I got myself an easel for a birthday present. Ahem! I found a brand new one at Vinnie. Can you guess how much it was? Hehehehe, I'll answer it later. 
Friends, have a wonderful day.
Happy Painting! Lalalala~~~ ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ·.•*•♫°•♫·.•ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ Ah, party, party! 





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28 comments:

  1. The happiest post I have ever read!!!! Very interesting ready your comments on paint and materials, very wise words. And I loooove in particular your sketches where there are several on one piece of paper. Have the happiest of birthdays xx

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    1. Thank u, kind Polly! Very happy to know you enjoyed the post. Yes, it's good to put some together on a same paper to see movement. Yes, give it a go and enjoy it. Hahaha, I had a big night yesterday. Ah, after this week end, how could I put back my weight?
      Cheers, Sadami

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  2. Thank you for your wonderful tips, Sadami, I love looking at your great sketches! Have a very very very happy birthday!!!

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    1. Thank you, caring Judy! Yes, I had a big night yesterday. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Cheers, Sadami

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  3. Dear Sadami:) Thank you so much for your valuable tips! So kind of you. I love the sketches from live drawing class. I'm sure you won't loose friends but get more instead!!
    The sketch of the woman with the green scarf is wonderful, my favorite.
    Dear Sadami, I wish you the most beautiful birthday ever. Take it easy on the alcohol:):) Kisses and hugs!xxx

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    1. Thank u, so caring Renate! Very happy to know you enjoy my work and post. BTW, are you ok? Getting better? I had a big night yesterday. So far, I just had a "sip" of wine(what a good girl!). But I ate well. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Swimming does not burn weight, my physio said. Aggghhhhh!!!? But I'm happy. Kisses and hugs! xxxxxx

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  4. Happy Birthday, and you certainly deserve a beautiful easel and more! You did a great job with your figure drawing. I often feel intimidated during those sessions, trying to draw like everybody else instead of in my own style. But I see the authentic Sadami style coming through in your work here. It's wonderful!

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    1. Thank u, so caring Katherine! I'm very happy with the nice easel. BTW, regarding fear, I realised it had rooted in my pushing attitude -- but why? Luckily, my psychology lecturer assisted me to understand myself. It was a wonderful, of course, painful as well, and sweet experince to know myself = know others, accept others. The turning point in my life. Today, I do not have fear. Katherine, you have a rich experience in education. Please maximise it and apply findings to yourself. Think of why you have fear, why you do drawing. I listen to my heart. it requires me to paint and draw. So, I do from joy.
      "Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves." (Maslow, Motivation and Personality, 1954)
      Best wishes, Sadami

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  5. Great sketches! And, no, you will not lose friends - I think you would gain quite a few if you painted them and then showed them how great you make them look!
    I will wait until your real birthday to say Happy Birthday :) Or maybe you can celebrate all month!!

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    1. Oh, thank you, so nice Rhonda! Hahaha, some members said, "I look too good!" One member has suggested what about sketching each other in the class. It would be fun. I had a big night yesterday. So far, I just had a "sip" of wine(what a good girl!). But I ate well. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Swimming does not burn weight, my physio said. Aggghhhhh!!!? But I'm happy.
      Cheers, Sadami

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  6. Happy Birthday early Sadami - my brother's birthday is Tuesday too - see good people are born in October!! Love your watercolor and life drawing tips - I am so glad I found your blog...you are certainly a great inspiration to all who visit. I agree with using the best paper to work on - others just seem to be a waste because you don't fully realize the amount of paint and water ration you need to use on cheap paper. I don't know about other mediums but good watercolor paper is such a must...I use backs and fronts and when I don't like either - I gesso over them and use them again...so no waste!! Have a beautiful day and enjoy your birthday Tuesday!

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    1. Oh, thank u so much, caring Debbie! Wow, please pass my best wishes to your brother! (we have to have a party together one day.) Very happy that you enjoy my blog, which enables me to go forward.
      Debbie, you know much about "how to," more than me! Although I do not use gesso, it's a great idea (I read a gesso use in Burton Silverman's book). Keep up wonderful work. I had a big night yesterday. So far, I just had a "sip" of wine(what a good girl!). But I ate well. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Swimming does not burn weight, my physio said. Aggghhhhh!!!? But I'm happy.
      Cheers, wink, wink, Sadami

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  7. Happy Birthday!!! Wishing you a year filled with wonderful painting days :)

    And great tips; very expressive sketches full of movement and mood !!1 Love them all :)

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    1. Thank you, caring Meera! Oh, what wonderful wishes for me (I'm working on the picture book to be published next year RIGHT NOW. I'll make the wishes come ture).You, too, enjoy this weekend!
      Best wishes, Sadami

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  8. A beautiful present that will be very useful. Have a nice monday, lot of kisses :)))))

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    1. Oh, so caring Lydie and you have a very good memory. Thank you so much. I'll enjoy drawing more. Lots of kisses, Sadami

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  9. I've started going to regular life drawing sessions again, so thank you for this great advice Sadami - I always get flustered trying to decide what tools, mediums, colours to use (I sketched my colleagues too, but wasn't brave enough to show them.!)
    If I don't get here on Tuesday - I wish you a Happy Happy Birthday and a great year of painting, sketching and illustrating!

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    1. Thank u, so nice Cathy! Very happy to know this post becomes a little help for you. Now, other members have begun to use watercolour, too. A2 seems to be only me. Regarding secret graffiti, some members said, "I look too good!" One member has suggested what about sketching each other in the class. It would be fun. I had a big night yesterday. So far, I just had a "sip" of wine(what a good girl!). But I ate well. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Swimming does not burn weight, my physio said. Aggghhhhh!!!? But I'm happy.
      Cheers, Sadami

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  10. Beautiful easel, and hope you enjoy a very happy birthday! Cheers!

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    1. Oh, thank you, so nice Dora! (*sorry I do not have facebook and cannot leave comments your facebook.) I had a big night yesterday. Ah, after this weekend, how could I put back my weight like before? Swimming does not burn weight, my physio said. Aggghhhhh!!!? But I'm so happy.
      Cheers, Sadami

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  11. Wonderful post Sadami, and I wish you a very happy birthday. You are not getting older, you are getting better. :)

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    1. Oh, thank you so much, caring Carol. What a wonderful and smart say you gave me! I'll keep it in my mind.
      Best wishes, Sadami

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  12. Happy Birthday Sadami! We celebrate with you. Love your tips and wonderful sketches and watercolors. Beautiful easel too. love,Diana

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    1. Thank u, very caring Diana! Very happy to know you enjoy this blog. Yes, I certainly feel many people celebrate my birthday together. Very happy. Like your say, I'd enjoy drawing more and more!
      Love and smile, Sadami

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  13. Que celebres tu cumpleaños rodeada de tus amigos y gente querida, que será mucha mucha pues es imposible no quererte!
    Un abrazo

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    1. Oooohhhh!!! Tina, muchas gracias! Tu comentario me ha hecho muy feliz! También, tenga un día maravilloso!
      Un abrazo, un beso y sonrisa, Sadami

      Oooohhh!!! Tina, thank you so much! Your comment has made me so happy! You, too, please have a wonderful day!
      A hug, a kiss and smile, Sadami

      >>>Tina said...
      That you can plan your birthday surrounded by your friends and beloved people, that will be very much because it is impossible to not love you!
      A hug

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  14. I'm still on time (at least in Europe) to wish you a happy birthday, Sadami. I hope you have had a great day.
    Your studies of the dancing figures reminded me at once of Matisse's La Danse. Am I right?
    Cheers, dear Sadami.

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    1. Oh, thank you, Albert! Of course, for me, an everyday birthday girl, anytime will do?! Yes, I have had wonderful days and still ongoing a following week.
      Oh, you have a good eye. I see. But I had no image in my mind, when I drew them (can you think of anything in 1 minute?). Simply because I wanted to save paper. If you draw ONE line figure on A2, don't you think it's too big? Well, I don't know genius Matisse had an economic motivation for a masterpiece.
      Cheers, Sadami

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