An Introduction to Pencil Sketching  

Acknowledged as a classic in its field, this valuable 80 page learning tool has been out of print now for many years. I am very pleased to advise that I am now able to bring new life to this much cherished and sought after publication in its re-release as an e-book.

The following is taken directly from the “Introduction” of the book: “Practice, practice – forever practice. There is no such thing as an instant artist in any medium and there is no easy way to become a competent artist.

"In this book he teaches us just about all we need to know to be able to sketch and draw proficiently and provides us with a range of valuable physical aids to help simplify the process, including “angle-sticks” and the “viewing mount”. All the reader has to do is to follow the instructions, practice the easy to follow steps and success is guaranteed." Peter Wale, Artist, Illustrator, Tutor, Leura, Australia

This book has been written to help the beginner, with two main aims in mind:

• To introduce the reader to pencil sketching
• To show the importance and need for an aspiring artist, particularly in landscape, to be able to draw scenes in pencil before painting them in watercolour, oil colour or any other medium.

There are many ways to sketch with the pencil, so do not be misled into thinking that the methods used in this book are the only ones. They are my methods. But there are certain fundamental rules in drawing that all artists must know. This book sets out to explain a few of them.

Sketching with the pencil has never ceased to give me great pleasure. I hope it can do the same for you. And remember practice, practice, practice.” Jack McDonogh

The Contents section includes the following:

Introduction (as above), Materials, Preliminaries, Composition, Perspective, Geometrical solids, Beginnings, Experimenting,

Sketching the elements of a landscape: Reflected light, Shadows, Reflections on water, Trees, Boats, Rocks and sea, Clouds, Architectural details.

Advise from one artist to another,

The viewing mount,

Stages in making a sketch,

Practice sketches,

Finished sketches.

"...But this is not just another “how to draw book”, because in Jack McDonogh we do not only have a wonderful artist, but also a superb teacher and this to me is the big difference this book has to offer!" Peter Wale, Artist, Illustrator, Tutor, Leura, Australia

You can buy this great book on a CD for only $32 AUS (plus $5 postage and handling).

To purchase CLICK HERE

Now for the first time since its release on video (1986) you can now enjoy lessons from the late master artist Jack McDonogh as he demonstrates how easy it is to get started in watercolours. First Jack shows you how to master the three basic elements of landscape – sky, trees and earth. Then Jack demonstrates how you can combine all of them to create a magnificent painting of your own.

Jack McDonogh was nationally famous as a professional artist and also as one of Australia’s best known and best loved art teachers.   Jack’s special talent was to understand and solve many of the most common problems experienced by beginners together with his personal empathy with all students make this DVD one of the best art-instruction courses you are likely to see anywhere. Watch it and you’ll be inspired to take up your brushes and paint a picture so good you’ll hardly believe you painted it yourself.

An excerpt from the DVD for you to review.

The DVD contains information you need on:

• Brushes,
• Colours,
• Paper and
• Accessories.

Basic instruction on:

• Composition,
• Colour Mixing,
• Wet-in Wet techniques,
• Dry Brushwork.

 How to master the painting of:

• Skies,
• Clouds,
• Rain,
• Trees,
• Grass and
• Earth.

For the Special BONUS Offer  CLICK HERE TO ORDER 

“Apart from the pleasure he gains from painting, Jack McDonogh has dedicated years of his life to bringing the same pleasure to people who want to paint in watercolours.” Melvin McMichael, former Principal Mitchell College of Advanced Education, Bathurst.

Jack on location with a group of his students

“…takes the reader from the very beginnings of learning to paint watercolour landscapes, showing techniques I use for stretching paper, composition and painting the various elements of a landscape, the trees and clouds and reflected light.” Jack McDonogh

Jack reveals the secrets of his watercolour techniques in this informative 62 page e-book. Jack guides the reader step by step in his simple teacher to student language. The beginner is introduced to the basic ingredients, the artist’s tools of trade, progressing to composition, perspective and outdoor sketching. Jack shows the reader why the artist has licence to change the scene to improve the composition of the picture before Jack demonstrates his ways of applying colour to paper.

Interwoven throughout the text are Jack’s unique methods of painting the important elements of a landscape, earth, grass, trees and buildings. Jack was perhaps best known for his cloud studies. In this book Jack reveals his own methods of obtaining the dramatic effects which is depicted in all of Jack’s work. A folio of Jack’s paintings is included for further study involving all the techniques shown throughout the book. A final chapter on mounting and framing is included to compliment the finished picture.

The Contents section includes the following topics:

Introduction, Materials, Preliminaries, Composition, Perspective, Geometrical solids, Beginnings, Experimenting, Sketching the elements of a landscape; -Reflected light, Shadows, reflections on water, Trees, Boats, Rocks and sea, Clouds, Architectural detail. Advice from one artist to another, The viewing mount, Stages in making a sketch, Practice sketches, Finished sketches.

Below is a portrait of Jack and Colleen McDonogh by Reg Campbell, thanks to the kind permission of Betty-Ann Campbell and Charles Sturt University

Watercolour Workshop with Jack McDonogh (Available soon on CD)

Step by step demonstrations of how to paint watercolour landscapes.

“In this book I do not dwell on the various techniques used but mention where they help me in painting a landscape. So this book is to be seen as a follow-up to “Australian Landscapes in Watercolour”” Jack McDonogh

This book provides an opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s foremost watercolourists as he develops his paintings. Twenty two works are featured in various stages of development, together with notes by the artist on each step. Some discussion of materials, equipment and techniques precedes the paintings section.

The emphasis throughout is on learning from the artist at work and observing the techniques used as each painting takes shape. This book serves as a useful companion to the earlier book “Australian Landscapes in Watercolour”.

In the “Introduction” Jack states that “This book has been written with one aim on my part and that is to help the beginner in watercolour painting…” and “to start you painting” Jack McDonogh.

Contents:

Forward, Introduction,

Part 1: Before you start, Materials and equipment, Some notes on techniques,

Part 2: Step-by-step paintings; Sand dunes, The gum tree on the hill, Gums along the road, Alice Springs country, Dusk by the creek, Break in the blizzard, Winter by the creek, Snow in the bush, Abandoned diggings, Poplars by the river, Poplars by the road, Breaking wave, Rolling surf, The light on the rock, Early morning mists, Fog moving in, Boats in the bay, Stormy afternoon, Summer storm, The inlet at Narooma, Bathurst country, Low tide at Nambucca Heads. In conclusion.