Laurel Williams: Junior Studio I

A record of my process and development for my first Junior Studio project as a BFA of Fine Art.

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Blog 9: Finished Pastel Paintings

Hi there! So here are the final layers/versions of my paintings in pastel. Just as a reminder: underneath is a watercolor underpainting which is not shown. The comparisons below are the first coat of pastel and then the second. In the first two it’s hard to tell that there’s a difference but I think the last one is pretty obvious. I’m going to let the final fixative dry on them and then I’ll take the tape off in a while so that there will be a white border around each.

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Blog 8: Under-paintings

Hello everyone! This week I finished the other two under-paintings. Below is a picture of the one from last week with water added to the watercolor pencil drawing, and then the other two images (also first one in pencil, second one with water added/”painted” on).

By next week I expect to finish the pastel layers on all of the paintings. Currently, these images look very bright and almost like daytime scenes but by next week they will be darker/night scenes (hopefully).

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Blog 7: Final Draft & Beginning Under-paintings

Hello there!

For this week I finished the final draft of my paper and started the under-paintings for my final three drawings. 

The thumbnail sketches I settled on are the top right from the first set of four, the top right from the second set of four and the bottom left from the third set of four (from my previous post of sketches). I thought that doing two environments and one close up of Small Boy would help tell the story, give variety and also “acting” amongst the backgrounds so that there’s a good mixture of it all. I also just really like that drawing of Small Boy and I think it will give me a good opportunity to create some strong lighting on his face. 

I’ve decided to use the Arches watercolor paper that we used for our class last quarter. I have paper that is specifically for pastels but it is only for dry media and much smaller. The Arches paper was the size I wanted and is also cold pressed with a decent amount of texture so that I can be sure that after the under-paintings there will still be enough tooth to grab the pastel pigment. Starting with the sketch from the first set of images, I used watercolor pencils to map out and color in washes for the first layer (photo below). I have not added water yet so the color is quite dull at this point but I do want to keep it dark because it is a night scene. However, it will liven up and sharpen some once I add water and the layers of pastel over the top.

I will do the other two “maps” this coming week and begin adding water/pastel pigment soon. I decided to cut off the paper from the block and tape each one to separate art boards so that I can work on them simultaneously. That way, while one is drying from either water or fixative I can be working on the others to save time. 

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Blog 6: Technique Practice

Hi everyone!

This week I reviewed my final paper and then solely focussed on practicing the different pastel techniques I learned from my research (images are included below). Some of the techniques include side strokes, hatching, end-drawing, dusting, feathering, scumbling, blending, broken color and the three different main approaches to pastel application. I also tested some mixed media washes in oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc. All of it was done on wet/dry, white, mixed-media paper for consistency. 

The next coming weeks I will choose three of the twelve thumbnail sketches to make my final pieces and begin my under-drawings and paintings. If I can, I’d like to get them all finished early so that I can have a little extra time to work on the final presentation and get them set-up or framed neatly. 

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Blog 5: Thumbnail Sketches for Final

Hello Everyone!

Unfortunately I had a very busy week/weekend and caught the flu. I was not able to do any technique practice yet but I did have another look at my final research paper and I drew some thumbnail sketches for my final series. To do so, I re-read my story and listened to each song that was meant to inspire the three main segments/final pieces. I then made four options for each of the three final images, as can be found below. They are also included on my project board. For this coming week I hope to catch up a bit and do the majority of my technique practice and perhaps find a few more instructional videos on youtube for how to use pastels. 

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Blog 3: Research & Folk Inspiration

This week I spent time reading the two textbooks I laid out for myself and watching the accompanying videos by Richard McKinley. For both books/videos I took notes in my sketchbook. From doing this I found that there are many more supplies I may need (most I probably have, I just need to go around my room and collect them). 

Mainly what I learned from the reading is that pastels a very versatile. Their main uses come down to hue, chroma (intensity) and value. They are also very well suited to being mixed together (soft, hard, oil and oil stick) or with water, watercolors, turpentine or oil paints used as stains. You can also build them up with modeling mediums. There are many different kinds of paper, ranging from smooth--even watercolor paper--to that with more tooth. Smooth paper is better for blended techniques and rough paper is best for broken-color techniques, so something in between should be good for my purposes since I will attempt to make use of blending and broken-color together. I also learned that fixatives can be used as a darkening agent or for added effects, such as shadows or splatters.  

As for the pastels themselves, it seems hard pastels are best for sketching, structure or adding detail. Soft pastels offer more variety in large washes and subtlety. Often, they are used together in conjunction with feathering, dusting, scumbling or layering. The main thing to avoid is muddying the color, which often happens when complimentary colors are mixed too much. 

There are several approaches to beginning a drawing/painting as well, such as the linear, the massive/blocking-in or atmospheric (suggestion of forms). Making corrections can be done but should be done early on and delicately because pastel paper can be prone to puffing and tearing. 

Most of the prior information comes from The Pastel Book. The following is from Pastel Pointers: McKinley gives great advice on several different topics that were not covered in the original textbook. He mainly focuses on how to create finished works, not just techniques and materials. He covers how to arrange a palette, how to hold and recycle pastels, how to compose (plan) and transport them and even practical things like how to frame, ship and file taxes on artwork.  His additional video also went in-depth on how to do underpinnings and the importance of the theory of simultaneous contrast and how it makes the most successful pieces. 

Overall I thought the books and video were very informative and useful. Now that I have the notes, I will begin to construct the first draft of my research paper. I will also begin some technique practice drawings and begin to make sketches/thumbnails of my final ideas/options for my short story. This coming week I will also be attending an off-campus life drawing workshop in which the director has agreed to give me pastel instruction while sketching live models to get me started in the medium. 

Aside from that, I did a few other things this week. I fleshed out my studio a bit more with a small table-top easel and other tools along with a copy of my short story (clipped to the inner wall of my studio if anyone is interested in reading it), character designs, musical choices (for inspiration and a future animatic) and a few notes to myself/story and artwork objectives that have been posted to my project board. I also added more inspirational artwork. I found traditional works of The Swan of Tuonela in various mediums and also a few pastel drawings on dark paper by a Disney Studio artist who did work for an animatic of their version of the story that was never released for Fantasia. These have been included below so that you may get an idea of what I’m going for (basically dark and mysterious/ominous). 

Traditional Renderings: 

Disney Studio Artist:

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Blog 2: Proposal & Materials

This week I spent some time contemplating my project ideas and decided on going the pastel route. Because of that I then got out my two textbooks on pastels (as mentioned in the last post) and went over what materials I would need. Most of them were already in my possession and so I organized and laid them out to be brought to my studio space in Fisher on Monday. I also made a list of other things I might need to get from Michael’s or Blick. I also managed to find an extra sketchbook for making plans and taking notes in for my research. 

I then started collecting books on visual development and loose postcards of old Disney concept art I had lying around to add to my project board. I chose only the ones that made some sort of use of pastels and involved characters in their environments. I also went online and collected some of my favorite concept art by Mel Shaw for The Fox and the Hound specifically. His style is what I imagine mine will become closest to, or perhaps like that of Kay Nielsen although his work is mostly in gouache. (Below you can find three of Mel Shaw’s pastels for The Fox and the Hound). I also wrote up a project proposal that describes my exact goals and process which is as follows:

Objective & Goals

I would like to learn to use the major materials and techniques of the pastel medium effectively for illustration and visual development purposes. I will do this through research and small experimental projects. By the end of the quarter I would also like to have developed several works in my own style that would be solid additions to my portfolio, specifically targeted at becoming a concept/styling artist for Disney and/or Pixar. Using The Pastel Book by Bill Creevy and Pastel Pointers by Richard McKinley—along with YouTube videos, online/library research and other artists/artwork as inspiration and a guide—I will attempt to become familiar and comfortable with the medium of pastels. I may also attempt other styles but the main goal will be to create my own that will focus on solid proportions, strong color, texture, some lighting and a storybook atmosphere. I intend to create three final pastel paintings based on a short story I’ve written called “Sielulintu” as a part of an Independent Study. The paintings will be landscapes from three of the different scenes of the story and include the main characters. This may be a lead into a thesis/animatic of the story set to music.

Project Outline

Keep up with project board, weekly blogs & bi-weekly meetings. 

Find an off-campus lecture/workshop/studio tour to attend and take notes/practice from. 

Develop a research paper based on the aforementioned books and sources and how it will apply to my goals and project. Do small practice projects/experimentation during this process and develop ideas for final three paintings.

Develop final three pastel paintings based on “Sielulintu”. 

Final presentation/keynote creation.

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Blog 1: Project Ideas & Preparation

For my first Junior Studio I have three project ideas and they are as follows:

1) A Study of Warm Glass Techniques

Using a book entitled Warm Glass by Beveridge, Domenèch and Pascual I would develop small projects for myself based on the lessons/techniques taught in the book so that I might retain what I’ve learned through reading. Simultaneously I would develop ideas for a large final project or series by the end of the quarter. 

+ This would be a great way to complete some requests for glass works by incorporating the commissions into my projects. 

- Though I love 3D artwork and sculpting it is not likely that this route would add to my portfolio for illustration, visual development, story and animation which is what I would like my career to be in at this point. 

2) Advanced Watercolor & Illustration

After taking the watercolor course at PUC during fall quarter I have fallen in love with the medium. It perfectly suits my personal style while still allowing me to explore others. If I were to choose to do this I would use several texts to guide my research. They would include books like The Watercolor Artist’s Bible, Chinese Watercolor, Light and Shade, etc. By doing this I could further explore more techniques and tools including carious types of paper, experiment with sizes, brushes, pencils, crayons, paints and more. I would do several small experimental projects that would end in a final series that would make use of my own developed style. The subject would likely be a continuation of my “mini me/Little Miss Lu” comic illustrations. 

+ This would be great for practice and help me to further master my own style in this medium while allowing me to practice other styles and techniques. It would also be helpful for my portfolio. It may also be useful for a thesis idea.

- I have worked with watercolors before and might prefer to try a medium that I haven’t become comfortable with yet. 

3) A Study of Pastel Techniques

In this scenario I would use two books to guide my research. They would be The Pastel Book by Bill Creevy and Pastel Pointers by Richard McKinley. Similar to the warm glass study, I would use the books to teach myself what materials to use and how to use them by completing small experimental projects whilst planning a final series/project in my own style. 

+ This would be a great addition to my portfolio, a good introduction to digital painting (as I am told by another student because it involves layering while painting/drawing at the same time) and would introduce me to another medium that I have used before but am not currently skillful in or very familiar with. It may also be useful for a thesis idea.

As you can see, I have not included a downside to the Pastel option so this is what I am currently leaning toward. It will be new and likely challenging for me but it is a classically used medium for visual development artists at animation studios and something I think I ought to be familiarized with. However, I will consider it until next week when I make my next blog post and turn in a proposal. I have most of the materials for all of these options but I will also think about what I may need to collect before then, starting with a sketchbook.