Irish castles are always dramatic and this is an example (with a little bit of “artistic” licence, thrown in) executed in ink and watercolour – line and wash.
buildings
A simple tip for Acrylic Artists.
Acrylic painting, Advice, Animal illustrations, Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, Landscap[es, Original Artwork., Signed by the ArtistOne of the problems facing acrylic artists is that this type of paint often dries out too quickly. Artists who work in acrylics ( as I do, albeit occasionally) know how frustrating it is when you leave a specially mixed colour, for even a short time, to find on your return, that the paint on the palette, is now as hard as a rock, totally unworkable and, therefore, quite useless……
Having seen artists try to keep their acrylics moist via the use
of cling film, kitchen foil and assorted covers, which worked for a couple of hours but not much longer, I have a solution that works very well, even in the summer heat of my Breton Studio. That is, to place the palette, plate, and so forth, on which you have mixed the paints, in a (preferably) clear plastic box that has a tightly fitting lid. This container will keep the acrylics moist and totally useable for several days. I use the container for a brand of chocolates (covered in gold foil) that are extremely popular at Christmas, for this purpose, and it has never let me down. I hope this tip will be of use to you.
A Slight Change of View.
Advice, Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, illustrtation, ink, ink drawing, Original Artwork., Signed by the ArtistI always enjoy drawing buildings, but, sometimes, as in this case, the main body of the castle wall, wasn’t particularly interesting, so, I took the liberty of adding two towers in the background, each with a conical roof. This gave more depth and dimension to the actual entrance and, it gave the illustration, ink on paper, more for the viewer to focus upon and to digest.
This type of “improvement” if you like, can be applied to many situations. You do NOT always have to draw exactly what is in front of you. If a view looks better without that hump of land in the middle of it, exclude it. If you feel a tree could be “moved aside” in your work, then move (or remove) it. Art is the artist’s viewpoint: it is not (unless you wish it to be) a photograph. Do not be afraid to enhance your work, if you see fit. But please, please, avoid drawing or painting, what you think a work should depict. This latter particularly applies to landscape artists who have a predeliction for illustrating all hills and mountains as enormous spiked edifices and all water (river, lake, pond, even the sea) as being flat calm……
Be flexible yet imaginative in your artwork. You are the judge of the final drawing or painting should look like. And on that last point, I appeal AGAIN, to all artists to remember to take a break and stand well back from your work, at least every 20 minutes. Otherwise you will will plough on regardless, often with quite disasterous results…….. 
An old Breton town. Watercolour on paper. Size 55cm x 35cm.
Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, contemporary art, illustrtation, Landscap[es, Original Artwork., painting, Signed by the Artist, watercolourCommissioned artwork, featuring a popular local tourist townland.
Drawing and painting – a personal invitation to you. Watercolour on paper.
Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, Car illustratiion, cartoon, contemporary art, Drawing and Painting Classes, illustrtation, ink, ink drawing, Landscap[es, Line and wash, motoring artwork, Nude, oil painting, painting, pencil and crayon, Pencil drawing/, portrait, Still lifeDrawing and painting are therapeutic, creative, educational and above all, hugely enjoyable occupations. My Studio (just 35 mins. from Rennes) is open to visitors all year round and you are welcome to enjoy the 2 hour (1-2-1) highly acclaimed art sessions that I hold (indoors and outdoors) during the year. For further information, please fill in the form below and e-mail it to me. For artists and non-artists, there is residential accommodation too.
Brittany – Professional Drawing and Painting Courses.
Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, canvas, Car illustratiion, charcoal, contemporary art, Drawing and Painting Classes, illustrtation, ink, ink drawing, Landscap[es, Line and wash, motoring artwork, Nude, oil painting, painting, pencil and crayon, Pencil drawing/, portrait, Still life, watercolour
Do you want to master the skill of making quick and accurate drawings and paintings? Or do you long to create a truly superb work of art?
Then come an join me in my fully equipped Art Studio in gorgeous Brittany – and make your dream come true…
As a working Artist-Painter, I have many years’ experience ( In Ireland and in France) of teaching people how to produce lst class illustrations and paintings – in all fields and in all aspects of drawing and painting mediums and materials.
Although I specialise in one-to-one Professional, Art Personal Tuition, I also hold a number of challenging Open Days (limited to just 4 persons) which comprise a Professional Art Class in the morning and in the afternoon, the students are given the time to unleash their creativity and to create a wonderful work of art of their own.
For full details and tariffs on these excellent programmes, etc., please contact me at:-
art2cherish@orange.fr.
LIGHT UP YOUR ARTWORK.
Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, illustrtation, ink drawingAdding touches of yellow, or soft orange hues, or letting the colour of the paper
Through the archway.
or under surface come through, makes for a light filled artwork.
Ink drawing of an earth house in Brittany.
buildings, illustrtation, ink, ink drawing
CHILDREN’S ART MEDIUMS????
Anne D'Alton's Artworks, buildings, illustrtation, pencil and crayonCrayons and pencil are regarded by some as “childish”. Not so. Here is an example of these mediums used together to produce an illustration – much loved by the Client!
http://www.annedalton.org 
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