After preparing my piece of Kelmscott vellum, the next step is to transfer my completed drawing to the vellum.
I do preliminary drawings on tracing paper then combine elements to work out my composition. When I am satisfied with the composition, then it’s time to transfer it to the vellum. Once it is transferred, I try to keep any changes minimal to protect the surface.
I place graphite transfer paper between the drawing and vellum and carefully follow the lines that I want for my painting.
This transfer paper is made with layers of 3H and 4H pencils on tracing paper. It works great because it makes a faint but crisp line and does not leave smudges on the vellum. To make the transfer paper, lay down many layers of hard graphite in different directions, then rub it with a tissue to smooth out the graphite and remove the loose graphite dust. This transfer paper can be used over and over.
I like to use a well loaded larger brush for getting down the basic form. As long as the tip is pretty dry, there can still be a fair amount of paint in the brush. For fine details, I usually switch to a #1 Winsor & Newton Series 7 brush or a #0 Winsor & Newton miniature brush. The main thing is to rotate the tip of the brush on a paper towel and dab off any extra moisture so the tip is relatively dry. Otherwise you will remove the under layers of paint, since the paint sits on top of the vellum rather than being absorbed. Too much water on the brush will just move the paint around on the vellum and leave white splotches and dark globs of paint.
A detail of the violet painting in progress. I’ll tell you more about the plants and insects in this painting in a future post.
When I was starting out on vellum, I learned much from other artists who shared their techniques. Here are some articles and posts that I’ve found particularly helpful:
Kate Nessler’s article from the ASBA journal, The Botanical Artist.
Denise Walser-Kolar’s article from the ASBA journal, The Botanical Artist.
Dianne Sutherland has many resources and tutorials on her website and blog regarding vellum.
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
Brilliant blogpost, Janene! What a fantastic painting too! Is it for the SBA next year? Well done!
Thanks, Shevaun! I do plan to submit this painting to the SBA exhibition next year. I’d better get busy and get it done so I can work on the others I hope to send in as well.
Just want to say your website is good. Thank you
Thanks, Jo!
Oh how gorgeous Janene!
So lovely to see your processs and how the outcome has so much delicacy and sweet tenderness towards the plant life.
Hi Coral, thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I am a big fan of your work and blog, and your kind comment means a lot to me.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your work is beautiful.
This is a brilliant and helpful post. I like your description of how the brush should be — it adds to how others have described the “vellum dry brush.” Every little detail helps. Your painting is beautiful, “tender,” just as Coral Guest has described. I find myself coming back over and over again to this post and am inspired by it each time. I hope to take a class with you some day!
Hi Lea, I am happy that you found the post helpful! It is my hope to give back something to the artistic community that I have received so much from myself. I agree that every bit of knowledge about the art and craft of botanical art adds to ones skill and technique. Best wishes to you!