Postcard sketch : Thunbergia laurifolia

Postcard sketch : Thunbergia laurifolia 

 

Basic kit 

These are basic and simple material kit  i often used and travel with.

1. Pencil ( my favorite pencil are this bright orange colour from Stabilo x shock. It have triple shape that are easy to hold )

2. Eraser

3. Black Pen ( I often used Uni pen Fine Line , 0.2 & 0.3. These pen work well as its waterproof . Work well with smooth paper too )

4. Water brush Pen ( I love these water brush and its essential for travel sketch. Two brand i'm using are from Pentel & Holbien )

5. Watercolour  ( it's best to start with basic Primary colour. Start with P-Yellow Deep, Prussian Blue and Crimson Lake, while additional colour are Sap Green. Watercolour from  Alpha Artist Watercolour)

6. Blank Postcard 

There are 2 size of postcard i often used. 

15 x 10 cm 

16 x 12 cm 

Watercolour  paper are suitable because it's slightly ticker than average paper. 300 Gsm 

7. Stamp ( I'm not a stamp collector . I was once  involve with art community called Mail Art, exchange art in mail form. The suggestion of collect a stamp came from  post boy of  post office i often go. He introduce me to diversity of stamp of his collection. He was the one that post stamp mark on most of the postcard and saying it would be nice to used variable stamp for my  postcard sketch. Since then i collect stamp , but not to obsession)

 

I always sketch with notebook, a Kokuyo notebook. The paper are not made for watercolour however i find that these paper able to stand certain amount of watercolour, but not much. Its a good practice for control of water, brush stroke at same time not to worry much of making mistake. Sketching are not about making it nicely or perfect. Make mistake are best lesson. 

 

 

 

For this lesson ,  have small size sketch paper. It best trying for colour pallate. 

 

 

 

 Try to sketch from different position or perspective. 

Start sketch or draw with a clean line, take your time and observe about the shape and size. You may start with rough sketch of pencil to give the ideas of position that you like 

the most.  Need not to be precise about the whole plant,  nature doesn't have straight line. They are regular that give beautiful balance.

 

With sketchbook it is easier to make transition to postcard . Sketchbook size also play part in sketch on postcard. With small or medium size sketchbook , the transition or direct do it on postcard are easy. Once you comfortable with your line in sketchbook, same thing apply to postcard.

 

 

  Start coloring with basic Primary Colour.

  P-Yellow Deep, Prussian Blue and Crimson Lake. 

Mixing Crimson lake and Prussian Blue will produce colour of purple. At this part, playing with hue and value of colour give best ideas how you would like your botanical sketch be. Its a sketch , need not to have the exact colour of original flower. With much practice , it will came naturally that your sketch will gradually feel the sense or idea of real , 

real but not realism.  

 

 Start with very light wash of purple

 

 Mixing Prussian Blue and P Yellow Deep will produce colour green.  Different colour  of yellow also can be used as it will produce other range of green. Another best primary colour are Yellow Orche.

 

Second part begin with light wash of green

From this stage, you'll see how you able to keep continue layer  and begin to form the plant. For shading or shadow used  cold colour , Prussian blue. Avoid using black , brown or similar to it. 

You may think its hard to work with limited colour, but learning and knowing about minimal basic colour are actually liberation. We are not bound of using the exact colour on watercolour set. Once you make trial and error, with experiment, you able to make your own colour.  Soon you will find that additional colour are more of enhanced your drawing to make it highlight.

 The last part  ( pic above)  make a slight detail. Detail are more of indicate about the plant character  other than their shape, size or colour . The little detail will shown it qualities and things that you find the plant unique. Within these part i suggest you see it on 

your own way. 

 

 

 

 For final part, put a stamp on the back and you have your own postcard.

Terima Kasih