Experimenting with new materials. . .
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 can’t believe how much you have done on the new drawing, with all the recent interruptions you have had! With “This Above All” I worked some from photo refs I had taken, and some from life. I really enjoyed working from life with what was right in front of me, and want to work toward doing that more and more.
Comment by Lynda — Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
Yes, it is fun to work from life and a little more challenging, but photos are great tools as well. You know why it looks like I’ve gotten more done? The paper. I love working on these colored Canson papers. They are great for this type of drawing.
Comment by Debbi — Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
I love to see how you use photographs, and I am especially interested in the current piece that you are working on from life. I’ll be watching…
Comment by Holly Bedrosian — Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Hi Holly, thanks for checking in. I realized I rarely share my source photos, mostly because I change them so much, so this time I thought I would!
Comment by Debbi — Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Looks good! Now if we just gave you the peace and quiet to get some work done . . .
Comment by Alex — Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
Ain’t it the truth! Next week I’m getting back to work more.
Comment by Debbi — Sunday, May 17, 2009 @ 7:41 am
Have you checked the lightfastness of graphitints? A number are OK and a number are not.
Comment by Katherine — Monday, June 22, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
Thanks for bringing that to my attention Katherine. Are they lightfast rated in the CPSA booklet, or somewhere else? I’ll have to check it out.
Comment by Debbi — Monday, June 22, 2009 @ 1:38 pm