It is looking better Margaret! Look at Sara’s yellow plum and it’s reflected light. When doing a reflected light, it often helps to use an ivory pencil (or yellow ocher, depending on the color of the subject) on top to blend colors in the reflected light area. You can blend the ivory up into the dark toning above it and create the soft, irregular shape of the reflected light. Then go back and add the appropriate lighter color of the subject on top of the ivory layer. I know this probably sounds complicated. I hope it makes some sense. Let me know.
Margaret, I made a little drawing of how I go about my cast shadows. @doug-milne, will you check it over to make sure I’m not suggesting any bad habits?
Hi Sara- this looks good! Except for step 1, it is basically how it is illustrated in Wendy’s videos and books. I am curious about step 1, but if it helps you visualize your process, by all means do it! I start with what is your step 2, which is applying a grisailles layer in color pencil (using an appropriate color which is usually a darker tone of the subject’s main color). The grisailles layer as you have in shown in step 2 establishes your highlights and range of tones and gives you a guide to follow through the remaining steps.
The one change I would suggest is to lighten the cast shadow a little. It will be dark at the edge of the subject, but it transitions lighter as it moves away from the subject. The cast shadow is meant to be more of a suggestion to ground the subject to the page. If it is too dark overall, it can become distracting to the focal point rather than supporting it.
I erased and tried to implement your suggestions. Let me know if I should start over with a new drawing….
It is looking better Margaret! Look at Sara’s yellow plum and it’s reflected light. When doing a reflected light, it often helps to use an ivory pencil (or yellow ocher, depending on the color of the subject) on top to blend colors in the reflected light area. You can blend the ivory up into the dark toning above it and create the soft, irregular shape of the reflected light. Then go back and add the appropriate lighter color of the subject on top of the ivory layer. I know this probably sounds complicated. I hope it makes some sense. Let me know.
It does make sense. I did use a lot of Ivory. I will keep trying and study other examples. Thank you for your feedback.
Margaret, I made a little drawing of how I go about my cast shadows. @doug-milne, will you check it over to make sure I’m not suggesting any bad habits?
The one change I would suggest is to lighten the cast shadow a little. It will be dark at the edge of the subject, but it transitions lighter as it moves away from the subject. The cast shadow is meant to be more of a suggestion to ground the subject to the page. If it is too dark overall, it can become distracting to the focal point rather than supporting it.
Thank you for all these suggestions. I have been traveling and will get back to trying again very soon!