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More on Cast Shadows

More on Cast Shadows

by Mindy Lighthipe | Drawing Tips, Graphite, How-To, Light on Form, Online Art Classes, Surface Contour, Uncategorized

CAST SHADOWS!!!! UGH!!!! I always work with one light source. It is very consistent and can be very rewarding once you get used to it. I find that once I got the “hang” of it, I am now able to make anything 3-dimensional at any time. Some people have a...
Surface Contour for Botanical Artists

Surface Contour for Botanical Artists

by Mindy Lighthipe | Botanical Art, How-To, Light on Form, Surface Contour, Videos

  Where are the bends, twists and curves of any given object? Think of surface contour as a topographical map or the terrain of an object. To clearly see the surface contour it helps to create an armature drawing. An armature drawing shows the formation of how...
Surface Contour of a Pumpkin

Surface Contour of a Pumpkin

by Mindy Lighthipe | Graphite, How-To, Surface Contour, Uncategorized

I recently posted a video of an artichoke which demonstrates how I do an armature drawing to show the surface contour. One of my enthusiastic blog readers sent me a drawing that she did of a pumpkin and was having trouble understanding how she could improve the...
Understanding Surface Contour

Understanding Surface Contour

by Mindy Lighthipe | Drawing Tips, Surface Contour

Good drawing skills are essential if you want to depict nature realistically. I can not stress this enough. Too often artists solely work from photographs. Unless they have a good foundation of  drawing skills the finished work of art falls short. Adding paint never...
Botanical Art & Natural Science Illustration Tip #7

Botanical Art & Natural Science Illustration Tip #7

by Mindy Lighthipe | Surface Contour

Botanical Art & Natural Science Illustration Tip #7 Surface Contour – In, Out and Over an Artichoke     For realistic drawing and painting botanical artists and natural science illustrators must always follow contour lines of the subject while...

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