Allison Ward Martin
​watercolors and calligraphy
Remember the good...
As a beginner it is real easy to concentrate on all the ways your paintings and sketches could be better. I usually look at a painting and see ONLY what is wrong with it. Sometimes it is even paralizing. I created this website to share my journey not to sell high-end artwork. With this goal in mind, I would like to share with you the milestones I've reached along the way.
Perspective
Mastering perspective is essential for someone wanting to capture historical sites in their sketches. I am working on getting the perspective correct and many times it takes time to sit an look carefully at the lines and shapes.
9/2014
Limit Your Palette
On this sketchbook page I limited my palette by using only 3 colors; quinacridone red, Prussian blue, nickel azo yellow. I was able to create a brown but didn't master the gray. For someone who doesn't do well with limits, I was surprised to see that I could actually finish the painting!
Shadows
I have been working on shadows. I tried a few different ways to create them and sometimes I liked the results and sometimes I didn't. The middle sketchbook page is my favorite example of shadowing.
October, 2014
An abandoned warehouse gave me a great opportunity to practice shadowing. The top pages were done in January 2014 and the bottom pages were completed in October 2014. I'm getting better!
Figure Drawing
March 13, 2013
Collins Hill High School Students
I am surprised that I even attempted to draw people. It took courage to draw these kids while they were wandering around where they could see. What if these teenagers saw what I was drawing? Now looking at the drawing I am proud that I had the courage!
