Incredibly generous, ah! Love the contrasts between light and dark, it has always drawn me in. The tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr has always been a fave, the page at the end, where the little girl goes out for tea and it is dark outside... brings so much wow factor. Reading it to my two was always exciting - the thought that she might be out at that time of day!! Love it, thank you x
Thanks for the really interesting and useful post. I am a total newbie to colour (and art really) and just starting my tentative steps into using it after drawing for a year or so. I love the freedom of this stage, I have no expectation of myself and can just play. I'm excited to try out this kind of thing with my inkset I got myself for xmas! Would love to see a follow along.
This is so helpful, thank you Helen! I've been locked in a battle of wits with watercolour shadows for ages, I couldn't stop all the colours smooshing into each other (in the wrong way, I'm happy to have the right kind of smoosh). In the angel and girl image is the blue ink waterproof or is it that you are planning so carefully that two colours aren't re-wetting each other and making the wrong kind of mess?
Yes yes it was helpful. Thank you! And I had to unpause my subscription to read the whole thing! Focusing on light in my current MA project, which is also the reason for pausing my subscription - no time for reading!!
Ach Helen - this is fabulous - thank you for responding - it's so interesting to hear how you work. I'm going to test out your techniques and see how I get on. YES PLEASE to a draw along - I'd totally join in!
Thanks Helen (and Sabina for asking the question). This was really helpful - I’m planning a nighttime painting about when the Blue moon appeared last summer and have been trying to figure out how to do it. Your clear and detailed answer is a real gift. I can’t wait to get started now…..
Thanks Helen, really interesting to know how you go about things.
Do you have any tips for sketching in the dark ? There are times when I sleepily wander back along the landing to my bedroom in the very early morning, and the gentle tones of soft light from a skylight are so subtle and make beautiful shadows from the staircase, I’d love to capture them but think I won’t be able to see my paper or the marks I make.
oooooo I remember being on art foundation and going out to sketch in the dark as a group. we had to cover a sheet of brown paper in charcoal then draw with a rubber and rub out the light and then use darker compressed charcoal for the darks and white chalk for the super highlights. haven't done that for years but it was tons of fun at the time...!
My only tip is to put your finger where you start to hold your place, at least you know where your drawing will end! That’s if it is so dark you can’t even see your sketchbook, for example, in the dark auditorium of a theatre.
Oh this is so useful! I tried digitally colouring an ink sketch recently and was told it looked a bit too ‘coloured-in’; perhaps I will try doing the colour first and inking a new version over the top. Thanks Helen! And thanks Sabina for the great question!
On an unrelated note, I have just bought some of the Procreate brushes you recommended from Retro Supply Co, they have a 50% off offer for Black Friday. This might be useful for other Pencil Pals to know!
Ah thanks Holly. Yes colour first is a secret super hack that REALLY works, give it a go! Oh enjoy those Procreate brushes. 50% off is irresistible isn’t it? It feels easier to download a bunch of them to try them out without too much pressure. Hx
Fleabag is my favorite and I think my first Helen Stephens experience! I love the scene in the park where they meet. It's pure magic! And knowing Fleabag is inspired by a shelter pup makes it even more special since I'm a rescue pet fanatic.
Wow! What an amazing question and answer! I never thought to ask about that but now I feel illuminated. No pun intended. We’ll sort of. I learn a new skill every time I read this post. I can’t wait to try this method out. Thank you Helen for you generous and thoughtful advice and thank you dear reader for the amazing question!
Incredibly generous, ah! Love the contrasts between light and dark, it has always drawn me in. The tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr has always been a fave, the page at the end, where the little girl goes out for tea and it is dark outside... brings so much wow factor. Reading it to my two was always exciting - the thought that she might be out at that time of day!! Love it, thank you x
Thanks for the really interesting and useful post. I am a total newbie to colour (and art really) and just starting my tentative steps into using it after drawing for a year or so. I love the freedom of this stage, I have no expectation of myself and can just play. I'm excited to try out this kind of thing with my inkset I got myself for xmas! Would love to see a follow along.
This is so helpful, thank you Helen! I've been locked in a battle of wits with watercolour shadows for ages, I couldn't stop all the colours smooshing into each other (in the wrong way, I'm happy to have the right kind of smoosh). In the angel and girl image is the blue ink waterproof or is it that you are planning so carefully that two colours aren't re-wetting each other and making the wrong kind of mess?
Yes yes it was helpful. Thank you! And I had to unpause my subscription to read the whole thing! Focusing on light in my current MA project, which is also the reason for pausing my subscription - no time for reading!!
Ach Helen - this is fabulous - thank you for responding - it's so interesting to hear how you work. I'm going to test out your techniques and see how I get on. YES PLEASE to a draw along - I'd totally join in!
Thanks Helen (and Sabina for asking the question). This was really helpful - I’m planning a nighttime painting about when the Blue moon appeared last summer and have been trying to figure out how to do it. Your clear and detailed answer is a real gift. I can’t wait to get started now…..
Thanks Helen, really interesting to know how you go about things.
Do you have any tips for sketching in the dark ? There are times when I sleepily wander back along the landing to my bedroom in the very early morning, and the gentle tones of soft light from a skylight are so subtle and make beautiful shadows from the staircase, I’d love to capture them but think I won’t be able to see my paper or the marks I make.
Once I’m back in bed I forget about it again!
oooooo I remember being on art foundation and going out to sketch in the dark as a group. we had to cover a sheet of brown paper in charcoal then draw with a rubber and rub out the light and then use darker compressed charcoal for the darks and white chalk for the super highlights. haven't done that for years but it was tons of fun at the time...!
My only tip is to put your finger where you start to hold your place, at least you know where your drawing will end! That’s if it is so dark you can’t even see your sketchbook, for example, in the dark auditorium of a theatre.
I’ll have a go and see how I get on 👍🏼🙂 thanks Helen.
Oh this is so useful! I tried digitally colouring an ink sketch recently and was told it looked a bit too ‘coloured-in’; perhaps I will try doing the colour first and inking a new version over the top. Thanks Helen! And thanks Sabina for the great question!
On an unrelated note, I have just bought some of the Procreate brushes you recommended from Retro Supply Co, they have a 50% off offer for Black Friday. This might be useful for other Pencil Pals to know!
Oh good to know. Just had a look, could you share the name of the brushes there is so much to chose from. Thank you
Here is the Procreate e-book I mentioned, my brushes are in here: https://open.substack.com/pub/helenstephens/p/i-made-you-a-procreate-workbook?r=rm2gf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hx
Hi Meo, My faves are listed in my Procreate works book here on Substack. Hx
Ah thanks Holly. Yes colour first is a secret super hack that REALLY works, give it a go! Oh enjoy those Procreate brushes. 50% off is irresistible isn’t it? It feels easier to download a bunch of them to try them out without too much pressure. Hx
Fleabag is my favorite and I think my first Helen Stephens experience! I love the scene in the park where they meet. It's pure magic! And knowing Fleabag is inspired by a shelter pup makes it even more special since I'm a rescue pet fanatic.
Ah thank you Beth. Yes our Peggy is a rescue, they can make the best pals can’t they?
This was such an interesting post - thank you! And yes, great idea, would love if you did a demo and we try and paint along!
I will hatch some plans for a live painting session. Thank you. Hx
This was great! Yes, I think it would be very fun to have you demo and then we practice! Thank you so much!
Ya welcome Terry. A painting demo session would be fun, I will hatch some plans.
Wow! What an amazing question and answer! I never thought to ask about that but now I feel illuminated. No pun intended. We’ll sort of. I learn a new skill every time I read this post. I can’t wait to try this method out. Thank you Helen for you generous and thoughtful advice and thank you dear reader for the amazing question!
Hi Trig, Yes isn’t it a great question? And drawing with light and shade is my absolutely favourite thing to draw. Hx
Thanks Helen, very handy to know. Will have a try myself 😊
Show us the results, I am nosy!
Of course 😄