Discovery
It is great fun to watch a child search for shells on the beach. The pure glee of discovery at finding a treasure is enchanting. It is easy to join in – turning each new find over to see what colors are hidden underneath, marveling at the mathematical symmetry and yes, even holding a shell to your ear to share the sound of the sea.
Whether beachcombing or ink painting, bringing the joy of discovery to your day is a delight!
This week we will explore the technique of finding objects hidden in the background and lifting them into prominence. Shell Secret demonstrates this joy of discovery. Guided by the background that gives us a sandy feel, we are able to find the hints of our shell. We can use lifting to lighten the piece and give shape, luminance, definition and depth.
This technique gives the painting a very cohesive feel and allows you to share the delight of unearthing the unexpected with everyone who views the piece.
I look forward to seeing the fun things you will discover in your pieces this week!
Creative Sparks
- A pearl inside a shell
- The symmetry of a cut open shell
- A snail or sea creature still using their home
Shells
About this painting: What’s more fun than painting one shell? Painting a whole group of shells. For multi-subject pieces, it is important that there by a focal object. Here, the large shell makes a great focal point as it is both the largest and the most intricate. Another feature of this video is a discussion about getting through a stuck phase and giving a painting one last chance…
Challenge Level: ✮✮✰
Why: I found the striations and dimension of the focal shell difficult to paint. Perhaps it will be easier for you – I hope!
Predominant technique: Direct painting over a pale background
Inks: Sandal, Peach Bellini, Cloudy Blue, Caramel, Ginger, Lemonade, Teakwood, Slate, Valencia, Eggplant, Honeycomb
Reference image: https://pixabay.com/en/sand-wa…
Project Steps:
1. Begin with a pencil drawing on Yupo
2. Lighten the drawing with alcohol and the cotton ball
3. Begin inking with a layer of alcohol and add in the pale background colors (Cloudy Blue, Peach Bellini, Sandal) Use the cotton ball to make sure that the background is covered
4. Make sure that the ink layer is thick enough to allow for lifting and texture
5. Splatter alcohol to create sand texture in the background
6. Use the brush and alcohol to lift the lightest parts of the painting
7. Paint in the local color of the large shell
8. Add the local color of the other shells
9. Add dark values with Teakwood and Slate
10. Add warmer values with a combination of Valencia and Ginger
11. Lift and add texture with the cotton swab and alcohol
12. Use compatibly colored markers for additional detail and shading
13. Lift with the brush and alcohol, then the cotton swab and alcohol
14. Tighten the edges with the Sepia pen
15. Lift details with a pale marker
16. Add additional dark values with Eggplant and Teakwood
17. Add additional color to the shells and lift as necessary
18. At this point, I lifted the areas of the sand so that the shells were nestled in. I ended up regretting this step – please proceed with caution or skip this stage
19. Review the painting to see what needs to happen next…
20. To obscure the lifting I did in Step 18, I splattered alcohol and ink – this may not be necessary for your piece
21. Use a pale marker to reestablish the light lines in the shells
22. Lift highlights with the cotton swab and alcohol
23. Add additional color with the markers; soften with the brush and alcohol as necessary
24. Add a little bit of definition with the sepia pen
Video Notes:
Around 13:00 – I let the painting sit for several days. I was unhappy with the lifting I did in Step 18 and frustrated that the details of the large shell weren’t coming together. This is a point that one often gets to with an ink painting – it is unacceptable as it is, but the path forward isn’t obvious. As I continue with the piece, my mindset is about giving it one more chance…
Shell Secret
About this painting: The subject of this piece is actually a fossilized shell (photo taken in a museum). I lifted the image out of a sandy background and left plenty of the background showing through for a more fluid, ink effect. I love lifting for shell paintings as it is both delicate and capable of creating subtle detail. The warm earth tone inks lift well – of course the painting could also be lifted out of a dynamic colorful background!
Challenge Level: ✮✮✰
Why: To use lifting alone as a technique can be challenging. It is so tempting to add a little ink or penwork.
Predominant technique: Lifting from a textured background
Inks: Most likely Ginger, Caramel, Latte
Reference image: Missing
Project Steps:
- Begin with an inky textured background. Mine is splattered with alcohol to give the look of sand
- Using the cutout method, trace the outline of the shell with alcohol and the brush
- Lift out the design with just alcohol and the brush
Video notes:
This is an older video from the Beach Course. It is captioned, but not narrated.
Karen Walker Art 