Plateau

I've reached a sketching plateau, over the past few months. The shift to the opacity of casein threw the gaps in my skill into high relief, so I have subscribed to ArtTutor.com, a British online art instruction service.  I'm pleased with the quality of teaching, value for the cost, ease of use, and  opportunity to interact with other students. The discipline of practice is up to me.

Note:  Art Tutor offers free instruction on its youtube channel, and coupons toward subscription content to followers on Facebook.

Experiment

Rose Red, Titanium White, Ivory Black

I am playing with Richeson Casein for the month of April.  James Gurney and Stephen Quiller like it, but not many contemporary artists seem to use it.

I am not used to opaque paint, so am at square one.  It is milk-based, and does not re-wet like watercolor and gouache, so you have to squeeze out only the amount you will use in one sitting.

I am using the paint in a Canson Montval 5.5 x 8.5, cold press, 140 lb, twelve-sheet watercolor tablet I had on the shelf. (I plan to use both sides of each page.) I read it is hard on brushes, so picked up an inexpensive set of Artist's Loft craft brushes. I am starting with freezer paper, clipped to a drawing board, for a palette.

The picture is of a prepared background using Rose Red, Titanium White, and Ivory Black.