Friday 18 December 2015

Vellum Adventures

 “Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.” Salvador Dali

For a while I'd been wanting to try out painting on Vellum and last year, fellow artist and friend Shevaun Doherty gifted me a sample of vellum for me to try.   For a year I looked at it, examined it and backed away.  what if I spoiled it?  what if I wasted it making mistakes and ruined it?

In the end, I contacted William Cowley and bought a sample pack suitable for painting on.   Still I waited, there was only one piece of each type and I'd never worked on vellum before.

More research was needed. Luckily some of my Botanical Artist friends have blogged online about their Vellum painting techniques, so I was able to read about how they work with this tricky medium.

Dianne sutherland - Painting On Vellum who also teaches an online course Dianne Sutherland Botanical Art Online Course - Painting On Vellum,   Shevaun Doherty of Botanical Sketches and Other Stories: V is for Vellum,  Sarah Morrish of  Art and the Hedgerow: Painting on Vellum, and Kate Nessler for her article in The American Society of Botanical Artists: Painting on Vellum, all have excellent articles online about painting on Vellum and I learned an enormous amount from them.
 
Once I had enough information, it was time to practise my technique.   I've never been one to practise a piece fully before painting.  A few tonal/colour swatches and notes, a trial of a few petals/buds/leaves and I'm off.  I've always produced better results when I'm still exploring a subject and there's no point in having my best work in a sketchbook.  But there's no room for this with Vellum, it's too rare, so practise I did.

First practise was on paper, then on a small piece of Sheepskin Parchment which was lovely to work on.  Fortunately the gooseberries didn't ripen together so there was a steady supply of berrries. 


watercolour dry brush, vellum, paper
Dry brush practise on Paper, then Vellum (on top)
watercolour dry brush, vellum, paper
Dry brush on paper above, on Vellum below
Then, with more confidence, a more ambitious attempt on Manuscript Vellum, I tried a little piece of Kelmscott, but really didn't like working on it.

watercolour gooseberry, dry brush, paper, vellum
Dry Brush on Manuscript Vellum
 At last I felt that I could brave a larger piece and decided to try working on the Calfskin Vellum, a small branch of Gooseberries

watercolour gooseberry, vellum, paper
First washes and Dry brush
 At first they looked a bit like glass Christmas Baubles, with their pale colours  
watercolour gooseberries on vellum
Building up the colours on the berries
Then as more colours were laid down, they started to look more Gooseberry-like
Hairless Gooseberry - Watercolour on Vellum

Salvadore Dali was right, there's no danger of me reaching perfection, but I won't stop trying.
I'm still not sure how I feel about painting on vellum, but I have a little more, so will try it again when I find the right subject.  What do you think, are you tempted to try it?

12 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the mention! I'm thrilled that you broke through the 'fear factor' and braved the vellum... and what a result! Fabulous piece! Well done! Looking forward to the next piece 😊

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    1. Aww Thank You Shevaun, you and a few others helped with the fear factor - it's a lot easier to try something new when you have such excellent teachers!

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  2. Great blog, Polly! I've been wanting to give vellum a go for ages so I must stop reading about it and order some samples too! Your work looks great - you've got the knack 😃

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    1. Thanks Lesley. Do order some samples, you'll be glad you did, and the lnks to other Vellum Artists will help you get to grips with the techniques. Not sure I've got the knack yet, but I'm working on it.

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  3. Polly, Wonderful results, especially for your first try! The gooseberries look transparent and juicy, with the beautiful luminous color that you get from vellum. I'd say that you are a natural!

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    1. Thank You Janene, not sure I'm a natural with vellum, it's almost opposite to the way I normally work, but I've learned a huge amount and I'm sure it will help my work on paper too.

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  4. Such beautiful work Polly, very impressive.

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    1. Thank you Vicki. I have such wonderful Artists to inspire me and spur me on - including you.

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  5. Beautiful work Polly, you must do more on vellum. I still have some sitting in the cupboard!! :) xx

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    1. Thank you Claire. I'm looking for the right subject for my next piece, but will take my time. Still waiting to see your next Vellum work - always a real treat.

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  6. Looking good Polly! It's amazing how it just glows, I'd forgotten the wonder that is vellum. I guess I just had to otherwise it would have become an expensive addiction! I think you've done a marvellous job.

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  7. I'm currently in conversation with the McEwes trying to get hold of thus letter still about how Rory stretched his works. You've reminded me to pursue.

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