It has been interesting to use the Derwent Graphitint pencils in combination with regular colored pencils to draw these rocks. The soft tones of the Graphitints lend themselves very nicely to shading stones. At this point, I’m jumping all over the drawing to get an idea of what it will be like, and balancing out the values and space. Nothing is finished yet – the glass vase, stones and bird’s egg, and foreground all need a lot more work.
I’ve started a new drawing experimenting with Derwent Graphitint pencils. I was intrigued by them last winter when I received the Derwent commission to work with their Graphite Collection, thinking they would be interesting to use for a rock drawing. Stones have so many subtle colors in them and lots of grays, and these pencils are graphite with just a tint of color. You can also use them with water to intensify the color. However, since I’m working on Canson Mi-tientes paper I’m forgoing the water, as this paper is not really intended for wet applications. I decided to put the stones in a vase to “contain” them, and added one different element (a bird’s egg) for variety of interest. I like the juxtaposition of the transparent glass with the solid heaviness of the stones. I’m posting a photograph of the set-up, as this time I’m working strictly from life. Often I will set up a still-life right on my drafting table and draw what I see right in front of me.
Other times I will use several source photos and combine them, using certain elements and eliminating others. This was the case in the drawing of the Wellesley Public Library’s fish tank. Below are two of the photographs I resourced from, as well as the finished drawing. You can see that I eliminated most of the fish, and worked to create the composition I wanted – adding in more empty space and using the placement of fish and plants to lead your eye around.
I am posting a photograph of the finished fish tank drawing “Shhhh”. I may end up tweaking it a little, but basically it’s done. It’s an unusual drawing for me, and it took longer than I had anticipated it taking. I am eager to move on to something new!
I also have news to share, which is that my drawing, “Garden, Late Summer” was juried into the Colored Pencil Society of America’s 17th Annual International Exhibition, which will be taking place from July 9 – August 29, 2009 at the Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth, Georgia. The show was juried by Graham C. Boettcher, who is the William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama. Approximately 125 works were selected for inclusion in the show. In addition, I will be receiving my “Signature Status” by having had my work juried into three shows within ten years. Also receiving her signature status will be fellow artist, Lynda Schumacher from Michigan. More information about the show can be found by going to the CPSA web site, www.cpsa.org.
My colored pencil landscape of Wellesley Hills in traffic at sunset won “Best in Show” at the 75th Anniversary show of the Wellesley Society of Artists. The opening and awards ceremony was this afternoon, and here’s what the juror had to say about my piece:
- Great value range with wonderful mood. Great sense of late afternoon light. Good division of space. Striking piece!
Powered by WordPress