Drawing from Line to Life

My New Studio – Week 9

Mike Sibley — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:27:41 +0000

George arrived, as promised, with his helper Roger, to begin erecting the studio...and within minutes the first section was upright. He worked hard for the rest of the day and by the time he left the empty shell was beginning to look like a building.

By four o'clock we had half the ceiling completed. The sky looked heavy with rain so, rather than risk a downpour overnight, we worked on into the evening installing the roof insulation and the metal box-profile panels over the completed half...

My new Studio – week 7-8

Mike Sibley — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:46:18 +0000

George the builder called in briefly to build the low retaining wall for the concrete floor - having first removed the soil kicked on top of the concrete by the chickens! (Reminder to self: Keep the chickens in their pen when the floor is poured!).

And then it rained... and rained...for days! The digger was cancelled, because the ground was too soft. But finally the rain abated and everything was set in motion again.... and then the studio arrived!

My new Studio – week 6

Mike Sibley — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:45:41 +0000

Right on time the concrete mixer backed into our yard. I made George a cup of coffee (he says he lives on caffeine) and in no time at all the site began to look as though it might eventually be a studio...

Negative Drawing – Tiger’s ear

Mike Sibley — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:13:23 +0000

Alexandra emailed me to ask: "I was wondering if you would be able to give me some tips on a tiger's ear I am drawing at the moment."

Personally, I'd use negative drawing for almost all of this with just a few narrow indented lines where those lines directly cross over others or where the background is dark. Don't be daunted by the seemingly complex task - split the job up into many stages...

Using copyright photographs?

Mike Sibley — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:31:08 +0000

If you copy copyright material for your own enjoyment or education, I doubt many photographers will object. However, if you use the image for a commercial purpose you'd better be well insured. When I first began drawing seriously I ran into the problems of using copyrighted material, so now I always work from my own photos. But I've also learned to do without them. I'll explain...

My new Studio – week 5

Mike Sibley — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:08 +0000

Today I finally began to remove the roof timbers and evicted the swallows - tyrant that I am! There are plenty of nearby trees and access to the inside of the barn for roosts, and roosting was all they were recently using their old nest site for. With the roof and end panels removed from the old hay store, that just left the rotten uprights to haul out to complete the job...

My new Studio!

Mike Sibley — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:53:31 +0000

As so many people keep asking how my new studio is progressing, I'm going to keep a diary of events here. I've been working in the house for the past 30 professional years and I outgrew the space a couple of years ago. It's time to move out! I'll finally have the studio space to begin making instructional DVDs - a project that I've been enthusiastic about for the last two or three years. The 34' x 20' studio complex will consist of a studio, office and DVD editing suite....

Fixatives for pencil drawings

Mike Sibley — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:05:58 +0000

I am by no means an expert on this matter but I do always use a fixative on my drawing on completion. In my case I use Winsor & Newton's "Fixative for Pastel, Charcoal and Pencil". A good fixative not only fixes the loose graphite to the paper to prevent smudging, it also contains a UV filter to help to prevent yellowing (or aging) of the paper by sunlight.

Mounted or Unmounted paper?

Mike Sibley — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:22:33 +0000

I don't ever mount my drawing paper mainly because I detest any "bounce" in the paper as I'm drawing. A smooth and hard surface beneath my Mellotex means that the mark I make is the mark as I intended it - not one that sinks into a soft surface that interferes with my control. If your paper is lightweight, change to a heavier weight...

Having Prints Made?

Mike Sibley — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:46:26 +0000

If you're giclée printing, suggest that they desaturate the image or print using only blacks and greys. You don't want the use of colours to create the greys, because you stand the risk of metamerism, which is an overall colour-cast that varies under different lights. If you will be offset-litho printing...