Graphite Commission
While it has been a quiet time on my blog, my studio life has been anything but slow! I was contacted by someone in product management at Derwent House in the United Kingdom about doing a commission with their graphite sketching pencils. This was an exciting opportunity for me, as for many years I worked exclusively in graphite. It was fun to switch back and try out their pencils, which are very nice to draw with.
They wanted something stark along the lines of the little egg still-life or beach stones piece I’d done; something to show off the tonal range of their graphite collection. I tried combining an egg with several stones, but none of the photos and set-ups had the feel I was looking for, so I switched the composition to only stones. It was strange to work with graphite again at first, but after the first couple of stones, I switched back into a more “black and white” mode and found it refreshing.
Derwent also makes a line of graphite tinted pencils that would lend themselves to drawing these beach stones I’ve collected, and I may well try that out at some point in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, the sharp-shinned hawk drawing is back on the front burner and I’m making wonderful progress with it. I’ll post a photograph of it later this week. (And thanks to everyone who’s given me advice at the Pencil Pushers blog on how to handle the paper smear!) Here’s a photo of the completed commission.
Debbi,
What a lovely drawing. It is an extremly delicate and thoughtful gem of a piece. You have been busy!
I wanted to let you know that I too have perused the Derwent Graphtints in the Dick Blick catalog. I wonder if they can be used with success. Maybe even as a grisaille in underpainting?
Comment by Chantell — Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
Thank you Chantell. It was a lot of fun to have the commission and deadline. In the spring maybe we should both get a set of those Graphtints and play around with them and trade notes. What do you think?
Comment by Debbi — Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
Hi Debbi! This piece is, as are all of your artworks, very beautifully executed. I think you were successful in showing the range of values with the pencils. What does Derwent think?
Comment by Kathy Clericuzio — Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Thanks Kathy. The contact from Derwent is “really happy” with it and says it was exactly what she was looking for. I’m pleased about that. Now they will frame it and send it around shows that they attend in Europe, and then hang it in their offices. Thanks for checking in.
Comment by Debbi — Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:54 am
I say…let’s do it! We’ll have to remind one another when Springtime rolls around…hehe!
Comment by Chantell — Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:54 am
I’m glad you want to. I think it would be fun. I won’t forget to remind you. Hmmm, that’s an odd sentence. Stay warm Chantell!
Comment by Debbi — Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Debbi, this piece is stunning. I’m sure Derwent will be very happy. Hope to see it published soon!
Comment by Kendra — Tuesday, January 20, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Thanks Kendra. It has arrived safely at Derwent House, which is a relief.
Comment by Debbi — Tuesday, January 20, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
Debbi, Your work is superb!!!
I just collected some wish rocks and beach stones today… yours look more real than them!!
Comment by Gwen Buchanan — Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 2:01 am
Gwen, thanks for stopping by. I think you should post some photos of your beach stones on your blog. It must be freezing up there – how brave to go out to the beach.
Comment by Debbi — Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 9:52 am