The only way you are going to improve your craft is to push yourself and experiment with something new, out of your comfort zone.
As I was preparing this blog, I chose not to draw or paint a picture using my usual methods. I believed it was time to create something new.
Staging the scene: It’s a nice, warm and beautiful afternoon, I am sitting outside, under my garden umbrella. I have my sketchbook in hand and my faithful HB pencil… and what do I start drawing??? A horse! Really???
My brain is boiling with frustration. It feels like my hands are on “automatic drive”. So, I react quickly and transform the horse into a unicorn.
The drawing I designed on my sketchbook using an HB pencil.
So far, nothing complicated…
Now, the challenge!!!
What could I do to challenge myself? As incredible as it may seem, I have never created a picture using only one color. Even better, I have never created a picture in reverse —-> Method involving drawing or painting using a white pencil (or brush) on a dark background.
The challenge was set.
I will paint my picture using only the white color and its different shades on a dark background. Even better, I will create a dark grey background that would include some kinds of straight lines and a few decorative items (leaves, and maybe some type of effects, such as smoke and dust flying around).
The process
I started my project by staging my base colors. The later evolved and changed throughout the process.
Then, I started to work on the background and its components.
1. Grey layer underneath dark red horizontal lines.
2. Leaves staged in a swirling manner.
3. More leaves on the ground and some smoke.
4. The dust particles around the unicorn. Please, note that the dust was added toward the end of the project.
The horse’s coat was a challenge. I started by using a chalk brush. As you can see below, it didn’t work that well.
Version 1 —> This looked really bad! :-(
Versions 2, 3, 4, and 5…. Not only did I work on the coat, but also I worked on the mane and tail. It needed to look more impressive and magical. After all, this is a mystical beast.
A few hours later, this is the result of my experiment.
VERSION # 6
You will notice that the horn is twisted and the eye is white and glowing.
I ended up using different values or shades of white (cream, eggshell, ivory, vanilla... and grey which is a neutral or achromatic color).
I will be the first person to admit that this is not a perfect composition: there is no wow factor here! It’s an okay illustration. Nothing more, nothing less.
HOWEVER!!!!
I would have never created a picture like this before. Because guess what? As you maybe have already noticed, looking at all the paintings I post on my website and Instagram account, I don't render this way.
CONCLUSION
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO STEP AWAY FROM YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF… EXPERIMENT!
This is it for today. I hope my little experiment will inspire you. Have a wonderful summer, and until next time, create some great art.
Corinne Zaragoza
Author and illustrator.