Christmas decorations, student artworks

I thought it would be fun to end the term with students painting their favourite Christmas decoration. The first image below is by Heather, who drew using coloured pencil on tinted (grey) paper. A really lovely and dramatic drawing.

The next images are in water colour, all done be students sitting at home, using Zoom to connect with the other students. I am so grateful to whoever came up with the idea of online learning. It has been a saviour over the past many months.

Above, by Christine McC, below by Cathy.

This is the subject that got the most laughs out of my students as they worked! Don't get me wrong - we have a lot of fun every time (mingled with a little torture...), but this was a different league of mirth. Gennie, who was painting on Zoom in County Clare, spent much of the morning tittering, as she painted a litle robin that she had knit for the Christmas tree. In fact, she has an entire flock!

For info on weekly drawing and painting classes please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Holly and ivy, water colour student works.

 Holly has such glossy dark prickly leaves that are irresistible at this time of year. Variegated leaves allow for lovely layering, which is the basis of water colour painting. Here is a selection of students artworks 

Katy 

One of the challenges of water colour is deciding on the order of work. Light first, moving to darker colours with subsequent layers is the preferred method, though of course this can be played with and manipulated. To create crisp-edged veins, often the best way is to put down the vein-colour first, then allow to dry. Then paint the darker colour over most of the leaf, APART from the vein, leaving the paler colour showing and pushing the dark colour as close as possible to it to 'create' the vein. 

For softer transitions of colour, working on a damp surface is the key, though just HOW damp is learned through trial and experience. 

Nicky

These artworks were done in one of my weekly classes, which last two and a half hours. Frequently things are not finished in the time, which is why sometimes the images shown here are not completed. However, the point is the learning, not the race to the end. 

Ken

Rachel

Christine

Heather

Rosejane

Above - lovely artwork by Toni, who has only been painting for a few weeks! For info on weekly classes please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Christmas Present! Water colour and colour pencils artworks by students

 It's lovely to work using seasonal subjects, and what's more seasonal than the giving of gifts? 

So I wrapped a few Tupperware boxes in Christmas paper, and after an hour or so I was feeling quite festive! 

Here are some examples of lovely student work. Maximum suffering, great results.

Above - lovely water colour by Nicky

Two lovely pieces by Jennifer, who only started classes this term! 

Two sessions got this lovely painting over the line. Christine W

Ken's fabulous Coloured pencil artwork. Two sessions of suffering...

Cathy's lovely artwork, not quite finished.

For info on weekly drawing, water colour and oil classes please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Website www.juliedouglas.co.uk 

Drawing and Doughnuts and Queen's University, student artworks. A well being session

I recently gave a drawing workshop to a group of students who are studying at Queen's University, Belfast. they were from all different subject areas, from Economics to Philosophy, languages to IT. Every subject, except art. I admire universities and colleges who encourage student interaction outside of their immediate comfort zone, and this mix of students paid attention and came up with great results. I appreciate that some of them may have turned up because of the bribe of 'doughnuts', but they all drew while they munched! 

The challenge for me was that I only had an hour or so. What to teach for such a short period of time...? I decided on spheres, using compressed charcoal on tinted paper. This medium is fairly swift to use, and the lecture was about LIGHT and SHADOWS. 

My demo board, including explanatory labels about light and lack of light. 

Oil painting demos of sphere and egg shape, showing light and shadow behaviour. 

The results! All excellent! 

It was good fun to go out of the studio to teach for a change. 

For info on weekly classes, workshops and group sessions please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Website: www.juliedouglas.co.uk 

Sweet Treats! Sweets in coloured pencil and water colour, student drawings

Hallowe'en got me thinking about trick or treat, so I opted for treat and found an old fashioned sweet shop in Bangor. The choice was enormous, from lolly pop swirls to mint humbugs and cherry lips! I got bags-full of a variety of shapes and sizes, looking for patterns and contrasting colours to give maximum visual joy! Here are a few students lovely artworks. 

Alison S - good enough to eat!

Christine's

Some opted to draw on tinted paper. This works really well for coloured pencil, and saves a fair bit of elbow grease regarding background tones. It's also lovely to ADD white, rather than leaving blank white paper to create light areas. 

Sara, in action! 

Rachel J's tall glass of sweets, excellently resisted! 

this is also by Rachel J, who enjoyed the subject so much that she did a second version. The background paper - which she found by just scanning the room - really adds to the fun of the subject. 

Daniel's lovely water colour. Background washes are a challenge in water colour and I think Daniel did a great job here. 

Tania's, coloured pencil

Rachel O - first ever time using coloured pencil! 

Ken's sweets in a cup, coloured pencil

For info on upcoming weekly classes and workshops please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Website: www.juliedouglas.co.uk 

Classes are currently in studio with the option of Zoom. 

Fabulous pheasants, water colour, student artworks

 Last week my students got their water colours out and had great fun painting fabulous pheasants! I love to give seasons subject, as much as possible, and the other day I was driving home through the countryside from a walk in the woods when a pheasant ran out of a field and across the road in front of me. It was so comical - we just had to paint pheasants! 

We started by carefully drawing one and too some time to paint it with care. this meant we were familiar with the subject and able to loosened right up. We chose to do a few small studies without drawing, going straight to paint, and produced a fair flock! Below are some examples of students wonderful work. 

Georgie's

Liz McM

Ruth

My quick demo

Cathy's

Producing a quantity of studies is a great way to familiarise yourself with the subject, without any pressure at all. 

For workshops and info on weekly classes, please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Classes are currently in-studio, with Zoom option when needed. 

Summer Workshops 2021 - the dates!

 

Summer workshops 2021 I am delighted to bring you this selection of workshops available over July and August. I hope you find something that interests you. All classes are fully tutored, and suitable for all levels. Please get in touch if you have any questions at all.  Life Drawing: 22 July, 29 July,  and Fri 6 August,  6 - 8pm. Lovely, fun sessions. Cost £35 per session Includes refreshments and large paper. Please bring pencils and chalks (if using) so as not to share hand-held materials. Botanical drawing:Tues 20 July  10.30 am - 4pm. Light lunch provided. Cost £100 Trees:Wed 21 July 10.30 am - 4pm. Pen & wash, and drawing. Light lunch provided. Cost £100 Water colour skies:Tues 27 July 10.30 - 4pm Light lunch provided. Cost £100 Comber Doorways: Wed 28th July 10am - 4pm  Not available as a Zoom class. Lunch at my house! Cost £100                                   Oils: Mon 2 - Fri 6 August, 10am - 4.40pm (finessing at 12 on Friday),  all materials and props provided. Cost £600 (Also available on Zoom)  Portrait drawing:Tues 17 - Fri 20 Aug 10.30 - 2.30pm (this is an intensive course, with time in between if you wish to practise!) (Also available on Zoom)  Demo videos, workshop notes provided. Cost £275.00 Art for Teachers! Dates to be confirmed - may be in the evenings, with wine.  Art for families or groups. Why not book a lesson for friends, family or work colleagues. Bespoke classes, suitable for all levels. Get in touch!  Classes are held in-studio and numbers are restricted to allow for social distancing. Zoom is available on most workshops upon request apart from ‘Comber Doorways’.  For booking and more info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk More workshops may be added during  the summer. One to one available. Artworks: above, Balligan Church Pen & wash.  Top,  graphite portrait, Julie Douglas

Summer workshops with Julie Douglas 2021

I am delighted to share with you the selection of lovely subjects on offer this summer, both in-studio as well as on Zoom if needed. 

It’s important to note that, apart from the Life Drawing sessions, my dates are, currently, flexible.   For this reason, I have not added dates to the listings below -  if you are interested in attending a workshop, please note the duration of that subject and get in touch, giving me an idea of dates that suit you. Also if there is a workshop you would like to do but it isn’t featured below, please get in touch and ask! I will do my very best. All sessions are tutored, and if in studio, social distancing will be observed. 

Julie D, underpainting. 

                                                                                                     

 

LIFE DRAWING: Fully tutored sessions. Friday 18th June, THURSDAYS 22nd, 29th July,  Thursday 5th August. 6 - 8pm with refreshments. Cost £35 per session. (These sessions are in-studio only). Number are limited to allow for social distancing.

 

ART FOR TEACHERS! (Two days) All you teachers deserve a medal for the work you have put in over the past year, and more. This workshop is for you to recharge your own batteries and reconnect with your creative side. I will make all the decisions for you! You just need to turn up! Drawing and watercolour. 

OIL painting workshop (five days): 

A fully tutored workshop taking you through the pleasure of setting up an arrangement, drawing it and painting it, in black and white and then colour. You will complete at least two paintings as well as some colour studies during this week. 10am - 4.30 Mon - Thurs, 10am - 12.30 on Friday. Cost £600

Early stages of portrait in colour pencil, Julie D

PORTRAIT drawing workshop (three days) :   Fully tutored sessions guiding you through the proportions of the face, comparative measuring and all you need to know. This class is accompanied by a series of purpose-made videos making it perfect for Zoom as much as in-studio.  You will also receive a comprehensive e-book written by Julie which outlines all you will do in class, and much more. Cost £300. 

WATERCOLOUR skies (one full day): This workshop will give you the time and space to play with paint and get to grips with clouds and sky. 

TROUBLE SHOOTING WORKSHOPS  If you are struggling and would like a tutorial to assess your work practice and help getting to the route of a problem, please get in touch for a one to one. 

DRAWING TREES (one day)  on location, weather permitting (otherwise, in studio). 

LOCATION DRAWING  (one day)  Comber doorways and buildings. With refreshments at my house! Tues 3rd August 10am - 1pm 

BOTANICAL DRAWING (one day) - or rather, drawing of a botanical subject, using chalks and charcoals, and pen and wash. 

Student pastel drawing. (Margery) 

ART FOR TEENAGERS (two days) A creative experience in the studio fo school age students wanting to expand on their skills and work with like minded others. 

For information or if you have any questions please email 

julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Drawing: A day at the Ulster Museum

With lockdown easing, I was delighted when my friend Claire asked if I fancied a trip to the Ulster Museum, in Belfast.  A MUSEUM? OUT? HOW EXCITING!!!!! So the booking was made, and on Saturday we packed out pencils and headed off. 

And...relax. We have arrived. 

There are many wonderful things about the Ulster Museum. the first is the setting. Tall trees of many varieties, and lovely gardens all around. The second wonderful thing is the cafe. Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, it's not about the food, or the refreshments, it's about the WINDOWS. Which look out to the trees. 

I love trees. 

Moleskine sketchbook, pen drawing of four girls sitting on the museum steps, using their mobile phones. 

So we settled in with the sketch books, and set to looking out. I"d brought a small sketch book, and my eyes were attracted by the four girls to the left, huddled together but not speaking, playing with their phones. A very modern sight. And unlike people-drawing in the olden days, where you had to be very quick because... well, because they MOVED, now you are fairly certain that you'll have several minutes of a stationary pose to draw without fear of any movement whatsoever. Sigh. Perhaps they will be a generation of no-neck. 

The great thing about working in pen is that you just get on with it. No rubbing out, just keep going. Very liberating. 

We spent a couple of hours in the cafe, looking out, before wandering around the building. A lovely day out. Just remember to book in advance. 

My studio is now fully open, with only distance students remaining on Zoom. For details on classed please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk for info and dates.

Website, for more images, is  www.juliedouglas.co.uk