Learn my coloured pencil techniques

I have a few spaces on next months “Beginner’s Workshop’ at my studio 26th-27th October. An opportunity to learn all about the materials and the basic techniques I use to create my coloured pencil images. Suitable for complete beginners or those just putting their toes in the coloured pencil pond!

Very short notice but I also have a couple of spaces on this week’s ‘The Bigger Picture’ creating large more complex compositions or an

 exploded view of part of a plant. Thinking outside the box to create a more contemporary look. 14th-15th September.

Details on my new website http://www.annswan.co.uk or email me ann@annswan.co.uk

Coloured Pencil Swatches – blanks of these to fill in yourselves can be downloaded from the members area of my new website.

Pictures from my workshop last week at Dedham Hall are on the new blog on my website.

Latest ‘Larger than Life’ -Day Lilies

The rich colours of these double Day Lilies in the long border grabbed my attention a few weeks ago and this idea was born. I’m adding a couple of petals from a different variety coming in from the top.  Progress has been slow because this is so large I need two tables to work on and we have been looking after our lovely granddaughter Lily (a joy) and I have been doing the final checks on the new website (frustrating but we’re nearly there).

Stage 1 masking out stamens and applying base colour with a mix of Faber Castell and Pan pastels using baby oil.

Stage 2 & 3 working on the details and layering petal colours with more baby oil to blend them in. Added the base colours for the dead flower.

Creative Colour Mixing at Nature in Art

I really enjoyed a great week as Artist in Residence at Nature in Art followed by a lively two-days teaching a Creative Colour Mixing Workshop.

These are the pictures I worked on during this week.

This is my first trial of Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 series and I really enjoyed working in this paper. Not so happy about the slightly grey tinge to the paper or the fact that the colour seemed to drain a bit but I will now persevere with something more vibrant. We really need a trustworthy and enjoyable paper to replace Fabriano hopefully only in the short term.

These ‘Larger than Life’ Parrots are finally near completion, just a tidy up and then off to be scanned.

I managed quite a bit more leaf work on this “larger than Life’ Artichoke but it is very painstaking.

Finally, I got started on my next really large piece, ‘Larger than Life’ Day lilies. I can’t wait to continue with this but have to finish those pesky leaves first!!

Not to bad for a week’s work, thanks to Nature in Art for having me!

Nature in Art

Just back from a great week at Art in Action as part of the Nature in Art section next week I am off to Twigworth near Gloucester to be the Artist in Residence at Nature in Art so if you are in the area do come and say hello. There will be a small exhibition of my work in the Atrium of the education block and I will be working there all day from Tuesday to Friday. It is a lovely place to visit with some amazing work on show in the galleries and sculpture garden and the cafe does a good lunch.

AS well as continuing to test new papers, the cherries above are my first attempt using Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 series and I am quite enjoying the feel of the paper, I will be working on a new ‘Larger than Life’ – Hemerocallis picture so watch this space!

Art in Action

What a fabulous show, very sad that it is the last (at least for a while) but so busy and so much interest. Just the best show for meeting genuinely interested members of the public and for talking to and watching other artists at work. I was taking part on the Nature in Art stand alongside many really talented wildlife artists. One week on and I’ve already had several bookings for workshops and sales of equipment online.

What a lovely surprise, the gang from the Solihull Coloured Pencil Academy turned up on the stand!

Let’s hope Art in Action comes back soon.

Open Studio Weekends

Amazingly the sun is shining for my first Open Studio weekend and the garden is behaving well. I am taking part in the Marlborough Open Studio event this weekend and next. Other artists will be open through all four July weekends but after next weekend I am off to take part in the very last Art in Action at Waterperry near Thame from 14th-17th July. Then the final week in July I am artist in Residence at Nature in Art at Twigworth near Gloucester. It’s going to be a busy July but fun as my second favourite thing after working with coloured pencils is talking about working with coloured pencils! I shall have some of my latest ‘toys’ for sale and I look forward to seeing lots of you at these events.

Peaceful Preci – a wonderful week in Umbria

A fun week with a lovely group in Umbria, high up in the Sibillini National park, with trips to Spello, the Piano Grande and Norcia, dinner at an Abbey and lots of excellent work. 

Maisie is fast becoming my star pupil with two excellent pieces so far this summer one in France and now this excellent flower study in Italy.

Here is some of the pieces the others were working on in Italy with Maisie’s help. A great group and loads of fun, thanks everyone for working so hard.

End of an Eventful Week at Manzac

Who said colouring in was boring. We have had thunder,lightening and floods with some of us having to hike through the dark to get back to our gites. We have visited 3 lively local markets, walked through the  Grot du Mazul, climbed up through an incredible church building into the rock face at Vals and had some delicious meals and loads of laughs. May be not as much drawing as we would have liked so perhaps we can do a longer workshop in 2018. Details for 2017 at Manzac d’en Bas are 29th September to 6th Ocotber.

Here is what we got up to this week plus some exercises aimed at improving drawing skills.

And last but not least, the lovely Maisie’s masterpiece.

UKCPS Exhibition Best in Show

To my amazement this picture 0f Nectarines from my ‘Larger thanLife’ series has just won the Derwent Best In Show Award and the Rembrandt Lyra award for the Best Flower, Fruit and Vegetable picture at the 15th Annual UKCPS International Exhibition at the Menier Gallery, Southwark Street, London. If  you are in London up until 14th May do go a visit it’s near London Bridge and I am doing a workshop on 11th May. book on the UKCPS website, there are 2 places left.

Final Day at Dedham

Another lovely, fun week at Dedham with lots of hard work and excellent results.