This is such a fun study.
This morning I was drawing, and my mind was wondering, and I was thinking about your drawings and how you say that you want them to look “softer”. I never really understood what you meant by that, but I think I may have had an epiphany :). I tend to have a heavy hand, and sometimes get too satuarated too fast, and then my pencil seems to move in a “slippery” way across the paper, instead of kind of grabbing on to the paper. (Hard to explain). But the result seems to be rigid feeling drawings. I have to force my self to layer my pencil in very light layers, slowly building up to saturation. When I can manage to do this, I end up liking the results better. I’ve started to force my self to hold my pencil more toward the back instead of toward the tip, which forces me to tone with a lighter touch. Does this make any sense?
Sorry, just one more thought to try to explain. I try to barely let my pencil touch the paper while doing those little toning ellipses. It isn’t until I get almost done that I allow myself to press a bit harder to add in those really dark darks. I’m not sure if this is the way it’s supposed to be done, but it’s a way that’s been working better for me. Thought I’d see if you might want to give it a try to see if you see any difference, positive or negative. Btw, your drawings are looking really wonderful!
It’s so kind of you to think about my desire to get a softer look with my drawing and also to take the time to help me understand what I’m doing wrong! I will definitely try to build up my layers more slowly and with less pressure. I know I was building up dark sepia too fast and with too much pressure and I’ve tamed that beast! 🙂 I probably need to try doing the same with the other colors. I was also using verithins for my second burnishing and that made my colors more vibrant but my goal is softer not brighter. Vern helped me with that one! I have a bit to go to finish up a surprise lily and then will try your techniques on my next go around. Thanks again! I’m not feeling quite so discouraged this week and that’s a great thing!
01 August 2018
I think you guys are onto something here. Interesting to think about if you layer too quickly the integrity of the paper may be compromised? Slow layering to allow the color to gradually seep in? Love this discussion.
I really like this study, Dee, and all your discussion about burnishing. It’s so helpful when people share their process! I’m a little confused about the identification, though. I’m not seeing an oak seed (aka acorn). Could it be an oak gall?? Or is it the angle you chose? Just wondering.
This is such a fun study.
This morning I was drawing, and my mind was wondering, and I was thinking about your drawings and how you say that you want them to look “softer”. I never really understood what you meant by that, but I think I may have had an epiphany :). I tend to have a heavy hand, and sometimes get too satuarated too fast, and then my pencil seems to move in a “slippery” way across the paper, instead of kind of grabbing on to the paper. (Hard to explain). But the result seems to be rigid feeling drawings. I have to force my self to layer my pencil in very light layers, slowly building up to saturation. When I can manage to do this, I end up liking the results better. I’ve started to force my self to hold my pencil more toward the back instead of toward the tip, which forces me to tone with a lighter touch. Does this make any sense?
Sorry, just one more thought to try to explain. I try to barely let my pencil touch the paper while doing those little toning ellipses. It isn’t until I get almost done that I allow myself to press a bit harder to add in those really dark darks. I’m not sure if this is the way it’s supposed to be done, but it’s a way that’s been working better for me. Thought I’d see if you might want to give it a try to see if you see any difference, positive or negative. Btw, your drawings are looking really wonderful!
It’s so kind of you to think about my desire to get a softer look with my drawing and also to take the time to help me understand what I’m doing wrong! I will definitely try to build up my layers more slowly and with less pressure. I know I was building up dark sepia too fast and with too much pressure and I’ve tamed that beast! 🙂 I probably need to try doing the same with the other colors. I was also using verithins for my second burnishing and that made my colors more vibrant but my goal is softer not brighter. Vern helped me with that one! I have a bit to go to finish up a surprise lily and then will try your techniques on my next go around. Thanks again! I’m not feeling quite so discouraged this week and that’s a great thing!
I think you guys are onto something here. Interesting to think about if you layer too quickly the integrity of the paper may be compromised? Slow layering to allow the color to gradually seep in? Love this discussion.
I really like this study, Dee, and all your discussion about burnishing. It’s so helpful when people share their process! I’m a little confused about the identification, though. I’m not seeing an oak seed (aka acorn). Could it be an oak gall?? Or is it the angle you chose? Just wondering.