Landscape about Wellesley, MA
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am in the process of doing a landscape about Wellesley for the Wellesley Society of Artists 75th Anniversary Exhibition this spring. The first piece I started was a fall view of Rockridge Pond, colored pencil on Colourfix paper. I abandoned the drawing after two days of work, finding the paper too rough to achieve the delicate layering and shadowing of autumn foliage. You can see that drawing below.
The drawing I’m currently doing for this show is a view of the sunset over Route 16/Washington Street. Everyone who lives around here knows how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic on Rte. 16, trying to get somewhere on time, only to watch the clock tick away as your tires aren’t moving. (In fact, I’ll bet almost every town has a main thoroughfare like it!) I actually set out that day to photograph the town hall or Wellesley Library, but this shot really caught my eye and imagination. It’s colored pencil on Rtistx 320 board, and I find that I can get much finer detail with this than the aforementioned paper.
Is this your first drawing that features a car, street light, and other inanimate objects, or have I just been away from home for too long? I’m pumped to see how it turns out!
Comment by Alex — Sunday, February 8, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
Yes Alex, it is my first drawing to feature a car, street light and other inanimates, and yes, you have been away from home for too long!
I started working on the car after I took this photo today, and it’s really pulling it together nicely. I’m excited too!
Comment by Debbi — Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 12:06 am
Wonderful!.. You are so productive, Debbi… the way you manipulate colored pencils is exquisite!
Comment by Gwen Buchanan — Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Thanks Gwen. I try to keep moving, one foot in front of the other. (one hand, one drawing in front of the other????) When I stop the trouble starts.
Comment by Debbi — Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Debbie, the second attempt is much more smooth and balanced than the former painting attempt. I’m excited to see the results…especially since I’ve been wanting to work on the rtistx boards. Let me know all of the juicy details of working on it, please! I scrapped my recent work too. The 400 paper that I was working on tore at the edge (due to over handling) and the perfectionist in me had to start over again.
Comment by Chantell — Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Hi Chantell, I’m sorry to hear you had to scrap your new drawing. The paper ripped??? I was wondering what had happened to you, and began to think that you were away on vacation. . . I’ll bet you wish you were!
I’m happy with this new piece, and busy working on the car. Why is it that we always run out of certain pencils we don’t realize we’d need so much? I am off to Pearl Paint in Cambridge for the second time in as many weeks for Cool Grey 90%. Arghhhh!
Comment by Debbi — Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Hi Debbi,
Vacation? You’re right. Merely a wish. I’ve just been a tad inattentive to Pencil Pushers. Trying to rework my drawing (new one) and creating a new FB account as well. Yes, I made a stupid mistake and tried to tape the paper to my board and when I repositioned it…tear! My heart sunk. Sooooo. Back to the drawing board (pun intended).
Ooh any excuse to get to Pearl is fine by me. Addicted to that place..totally! I think that you subconsciously under-buy just to go back (Dr. Chantell Freud). Keep painting. I love what I’m seeing!
Comment by Chantell — Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
You are so funny Chantell. Dr. Chantell Frued. Love it. I got my pencils and was back at work an hour later, working away on the SUV. I will be posting an update on Friday, I hope, before I go away for a week on Saturday morning.
I will be very curious to hear more about your new piece. What is the support/surface now? I assume it’s not the Fisher 400 that you just bought a huge mega-roll of! I like working on Rtistx, but I don’t know how large you can get it, and you like to work large!!!! It would also be pretty heavy, and therefore more expensive to ship places. Just some thoughts.
Comment by Debbi — Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 6:10 pm