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Pocket Sketching with Kath Macaulay
Using Color and Contrast
Season 1
Episode 8
Using a photo of a cottonwood tree Kath sketched plein air unsuccessfully for most of a week, Kath demonstrates what she found in color and contrast to make the sketch have vitality. She emphasizes the conscious change to real observing, versus training as a child to do stereotyped images of trees, clouds and other forms. The real world is not what we have as tapes in our heads.
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Kath discusses the dark colors that make the light colors work.
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For extreme speed, go with just grey scale or use color for only the focal point.
27:01
The difference is words. The addition of words doubles the meaning. Date the entry.
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When you really want portability, keep everything compact instead of big.
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You are building a composition of things from different places.
27:01
Always start with a daisy: it’s the easiest flower.
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It is never messy and is archival so you don’t remove it.
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In the process you will find out why you picked it and how it was made.
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The sketch will remind you of everything you didn’t sketch right down to the smells.