A note about painting outside: yes, birds can poo on your painting! The first time I was painting a landscape en plein aire with friends, it happened to my painting! I made a joke of it, raising my fist in the air and yelling, "Critic!" We all laughed, I cleaned it off, and we got back to painting. Later, I found out that it's considered good luck in Italian folklore. We were painting in protest of a proposed development that would have endangered a sensitive and significant wetlands area. Not only was the development stopped, but our project and the art show that followed got a lot of attention from local media, residents, and county supervisors; the area was declared a national treasure by the Audubon Society, here in the U.S.; and the area - Elkhorn Slough - is now considered an international destination for birdwatchers! So, if a bird craps on you or your work while you're working on it outside, you might want to take it as a very good sign from Mother Nature! (It also turned me into a landscape painter, after having been a portrait and figurative painter all my life up till then.) 🙂
Wow what a story!! I'm glad you were able to salvage the work post-poo 😂 that's amazing though that it did indeed bring you good luck! Might have to go outside more often and hope to be pooped on 😆
Your original plan of getting out in nature is one way to be a bit more free and less conscious about distractions. You seem quite relaxed in nature making hiking videos and could also take photographs of subjects to draw. Weather and birds permitting of course. Thanks for sharing a lovely day out!
Beautiful sketch Shannon. You are brave asking for advice on TH-cam 😅 just a couple of sketching tips, it looked like you were holding the pencil tight, hold it further away from point and loose, you then cant help being loose and when sketching draw in the basic shapes first over the whole subject, wether its a tree, building, dog or anything, very lightly to get form and composition and then rub out to refine and add details like the hair and coat patterns on your dog. Omg I hope that helps, you are so talented, I’ve tried coloured pencil drawings like you and just can’t do it, I get on with paint so much better. This summer I’ve been sketching more and it is a different skill and really get what you say about people watching, so enjoyable when you get used to it 🤗
Lovely video Shannon! Thanks for sharing. I think as creatives we naturally gravitate to new styles and tools etc as time goes on. I think it's very important to have your 'core' art style/craft but experiment with new things and develop as an artist as time goes on. It keeps it fresh for those who love your work, seeing new additions but also for you as the creative as it keeps your passion alive! I'm so glad you got to spend time with Paddy (gorgeous boy he is!). Have a lovely weekend and I look forward to one day in the future seeing you pitched up in The Lakes in one of your vids, thoroughly enjoying your creative time out there. It's such a gorgeous place, and people would LOVE to see you doing what you do. I was chuckling at the bird poo thing worry though, maybe a cute little parasol over the area where you are working to get rid of that concern?? 😅😊 Elisa x
Excellent video Shannon! You can really capture an audience with relaxing personal topics like Paddy and your hair etc. Many people, like me, enjoy and engaging segment like this. It was great seeing how those pens worked and the videography in the cafe! As always great job! Have a wonderful weekend! Bob😊
I took some drawing classes in college. I remember the exercise that really helped me loosen up was looking at a live model, with my very large drawing pad behind me. (So my body was between the model and the large newsprint pad.) The task was to draw what we saw. Large strokes, small strokes too, vine charcoal. I think this one made such a big difference because having NO control of the outcome or even the process very effectively challenged my need for control. So that exercise did A LOT to break through me needing to control the drawing. The really fast drawings loosed me up a ton too. If I were doing it now, I'd set a 10 second timer and sit on a bench outside and draw things. Each 10 seconds would be a different page - different subject. I think in the class the exercise was a set of 10 second drawings, then we moved to 20 seconds, then 30 seconds. All very quick, no time for being a tight sketcher. (I'm still not loose, but I can switch into it for sketching; and I love my own style, but I'm always wanting to stretch and learn more.)
That sounds like a great exercise! I've always wanted to book onto a life drawing class, I might have to look into them around here ☺️ Thank you for the tips! That sounds like such a fun way to experiment and try loosening up 🤍
Hi Shannon lv the cafe challenge, great move forward, i do take a book day, and i do not feel so on my own if i read a book, its just something new, i lost my daughter a year ago and i feel so lost some days so little steps forward are all i can manage, no expectations and no pressures and no perfection , i just go for the day, hope that encourages you. Glad you are trying new things too, have a great week ❤❤❤
A new chapter in life calls for new changes and challenges, you're on the right track! Your hair came out great, as did your pen drawing!! As for new mediums, have you ever considered oil pastels? Mungyo Gallery Artists Soft Oil Pastels are affordable and don't dry out. Oil pastels are such a unique mix between painting and drawing, and their thickness makes it easy to loosen up! Rich Arriagada on TH-cam does some incredible landscapes, and oil pastels do well with plein air. But also gouache does look extremely fun! Excellent video as always, and wishing you the best. ☺
In our life drawing classes in animation school, our teacher had us loosen up by doing short gestures on large pieces of newsprint. The poses were only like 30 seconds to 1 min, and we were supposed to focus on the line of action and the essence of the pose instead of details. Since the newsprint was so large and we were standing, we were able to draw more loosely, making movements from our elbows instead of our wrists.
I can empathize how hard it can be to change your method/style. I have always painted really loose and I tried to do some more realistic pet portraits and it was so hard to change!!
I love your hair color! 👍 Your art and your business are super inspiring. I'm getting started on the tabby cat tutorial right now. I can't wait to see how mine turns out! Thanks for the great videos. ☺
Ok, to loosen up, don't focus on one part of your subject at a time. Look at the whole thing and look for loose shapes that make it up and quickly draw them in and then refine afterwards. Also, do not hold your pencil like you are..thats for detailed work...hold the pencil much further away from the tip and loosely hold it with thumb and index finger only and rest it on the next finger along to steady it...much more movement in the pencil then and impossible to do details so you have to keep loose. I've also developed more of an interest in doing looser stuff as time has gone by. Have you tried charcoal? Such a good medium to loosen up.... Another one is to time yourself and only give yourself a limited time to draw things...like a minute or even 30 seconds lol....you have to draw the full thing in that time. You'll not be messing about putting all the hair tufts in the ears before even starting the rest of the animal when doing that haha....
Amazing tips thank you!! I get hung up on small sections as it’s what I’m used to 😂 I tried charcoal back in school but I haven’t touched it since! I like the moody effect it can give though. I’ve always stayed clear of more ‘messy’ mediums but they’re becoming more appealing! Fab ideas thank you so much ☺️
@@shannonmullin Maybe try the pencils....not as bad...but yeah, i love working with charcoal...it is also really fast. I can do quite detailed portraits using black and white charcoal pencils on toned paper and offer them at much cheaper price because of it... I think it is a normal process to want to expand a little as time goes on. I always did highly detailed work and it is hard to loosen up....
A note about painting outside: yes, birds can poo on your painting! The first time I was painting a landscape en plein aire with friends, it happened to my painting! I made a joke of it, raising my fist in the air and yelling, "Critic!" We all laughed, I cleaned it off, and we got back to painting. Later, I found out that it's considered good luck in Italian folklore. We were painting in protest of a proposed development that would have endangered a sensitive and significant wetlands area. Not only was the development stopped, but our project and the art show that followed got a lot of attention from local media, residents, and county supervisors; the area was declared a national treasure by the Audubon Society, here in the U.S.; and the area - Elkhorn Slough - is now considered an international destination for birdwatchers! So, if a bird craps on you or your work while you're working on it outside, you might want to take it as a very good sign from Mother Nature! (It also turned me into a landscape painter, after having been a portrait and figurative painter all my life up till then.) 🙂
Wow what a story!! I'm glad you were able to salvage the work post-poo 😂 that's amazing though that it did indeed bring you good luck! Might have to go outside more often and hope to be pooped on 😆
@@shannonmullinit definitely helped that it pooped on a canvas, not on watercolor paper! 😆
Your original plan of getting out in nature is one way to be a bit more free and less conscious about distractions. You seem quite relaxed in nature making hiking videos and could also take photographs of subjects to draw. Weather and birds permitting of course. Thanks for sharing a lovely day out!
Beautiful sketch Shannon. You are brave asking for advice on TH-cam 😅 just a couple of sketching tips, it looked like you were holding the pencil tight, hold it further away from point and loose, you then cant help being loose and when sketching draw in the basic shapes first over the whole subject, wether its a tree, building, dog or anything, very lightly to get form and composition and then rub out to refine and add details like the hair and coat patterns on your dog. Omg I hope that helps, you are so talented, I’ve tried coloured pencil drawings like you and just can’t do it, I get on with paint so much better. This summer I’ve been sketching more and it is a different skill and really get what you say about people watching, so enjoyable when you get used to it 🤗
Lovely video Shannon! Thanks for sharing. I think as creatives we naturally gravitate to new styles and tools etc as time goes on. I think it's very important to have your 'core' art style/craft but experiment with new things and develop as an artist as time goes on. It keeps it fresh for those who love your work, seeing new additions but also for you as the creative as it keeps your passion alive! I'm so glad you got to spend time with Paddy (gorgeous boy he is!). Have a lovely weekend and I look forward to one day in the future seeing you pitched up in The Lakes in one of your vids, thoroughly enjoying your creative time out there. It's such a gorgeous place, and people would LOVE to see you doing what you do. I was chuckling at the bird poo thing worry though, maybe a cute little parasol over the area where you are working to get rid of that concern?? 😅😊 Elisa x
Excellent video Shannon! You can really capture an audience with relaxing personal topics like Paddy and your hair etc. Many people, like me, enjoy and engaging segment like this. It was great seeing how those pens worked and the videography in the cafe!
As always great job!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Bob😊
Thank you so much Bob! I hope you have a lovely weekend, I’m glad you enjoyed the video ☺️
I took some drawing classes in college. I remember the exercise that really helped me loosen up was looking at a live model, with my very large drawing pad behind me. (So my body was between the model and the large newsprint pad.) The task was to draw what we saw. Large strokes, small strokes too, vine charcoal. I think this one made such a big difference because having NO control of the outcome or even the process very effectively challenged my need for control. So that exercise did A LOT to break through me needing to control the drawing. The really fast drawings loosed me up a ton too. If I were doing it now, I'd set a 10 second timer and sit on a bench outside and draw things. Each 10 seconds would be a different page - different subject. I think in the class the exercise was a set of 10 second drawings, then we moved to 20 seconds, then 30 seconds. All very quick, no time for being a tight sketcher. (I'm still not loose, but I can switch into it for sketching; and I love my own style, but I'm always wanting to stretch and learn more.)
That sounds like a great exercise! I've always wanted to book onto a life drawing class, I might have to look into them around here ☺️
Thank you for the tips! That sounds like such a fun way to experiment and try loosening up 🤍
Hi Shannon lv the cafe challenge, great move forward, i do take a book day, and i do not feel so on my own if i read a book, its just something new, i lost my daughter a year ago and i feel so lost some days so little steps forward are all i can manage, no expectations and no pressures and no perfection , i just go for the day, hope that encourages you. Glad you are trying new things too, have a great week ❤❤❤
A new chapter in life calls for new changes and challenges, you're on the right track! Your hair came out great, as did your pen drawing!! As for new mediums, have you ever considered oil pastels? Mungyo Gallery Artists Soft Oil Pastels are affordable and don't dry out. Oil pastels are such a unique mix between painting and drawing, and their thickness makes it easy to loosen up! Rich Arriagada on TH-cam does some incredible landscapes, and oil pastels do well with plein air. But also gouache does look extremely fun! Excellent video as always, and wishing you the best. ☺
In our life drawing classes in animation school, our teacher had us loosen up by doing short gestures on large pieces of newsprint. The poses were only like 30 seconds to 1 min, and we were supposed to focus on the line of action and the essence of the pose instead of details. Since the newsprint was so large and we were standing, we were able to draw more loosely, making movements from our elbows instead of our wrists.
with a conte stick ;)
I can empathize how hard it can be to change your method/style. I have always painted really loose and I tried to do some more realistic pet portraits and it was so hard to change!!
@@laurenmclaughlin3085 I’m so stuck in my ways with particular techniques!! I suppose it’s what comes most naturally to us ☺️
I love your hair color! 👍
Your art and your business are super inspiring.
I'm getting started on the tabby cat tutorial right now.
I can't wait to see how mine turns out!
Thanks for the great videos. ☺
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the tutorial, I’d love to see your drawing when it’s finished ☺️🤍
You're drawing is magnificent ❤❤❤
@@sienna_E thank you so much 🥰🤍
Ok, to loosen up, don't focus on one part of your subject at a time. Look at the whole thing and look for loose shapes that make it up and quickly draw them in and then refine afterwards. Also, do not hold your pencil like you are..thats for detailed work...hold the pencil much further away from the tip and loosely hold it with thumb and index finger only and rest it on the next finger along to steady it...much more movement in the pencil then and impossible to do details so you have to keep loose.
I've also developed more of an interest in doing looser stuff as time has gone by. Have you tried charcoal? Such a good medium to loosen up....
Another one is to time yourself and only give yourself a limited time to draw things...like a minute or even 30 seconds lol....you have to draw the full thing in that time. You'll not be messing about putting all the hair tufts in the ears before even starting the rest of the animal when doing that haha....
Amazing tips thank you!! I get hung up on small sections as it’s what I’m used to 😂
I tried charcoal back in school but I haven’t touched it since! I like the moody effect it can give though. I’ve always stayed clear of more ‘messy’ mediums but they’re becoming more appealing!
Fab ideas thank you so much ☺️
@@shannonmullin Maybe try the pencils....not as bad...but yeah, i love working with charcoal...it is also really fast. I can do quite detailed portraits using black and white charcoal pencils on toned paper and offer them at much cheaper price because of it...
I think it is a normal process to want to expand a little as time goes on. I always did highly detailed work and it is hard to loosen up....
Love this video, your hair and your meet up with gorgeous Paddy. Have you tried watercolour pencil at all? Quite a fabulous medium. Xxx
Awww thank you so much! I haven't no, I have one white one but I've never tried a whole drawing! 🥰
Every woman whose life undergoes a major change also changes her hairstyle. So you're in good company and everything will get better!
@@JustALady08 it must be in our DNA to do that! Thank you so much 🤍
@@shannonmullin That is quite possible. So you are not alone! And maybe it's just a chance for better luck. I wish you that.
Wow im rly early thats a first lol
@@EmilysFineArt yay for being so early! 😆🤍
A bird pooping on your drawing just means it was meant to be a painting.😆
@@fatcat3211 Hahahha I suppose it could be considered good luck too! 😆
@@shannonmullin it is considered good luck! I just wrote a little answer to you about that, with a story about it happening to me! 😊