My first time working on the Kraft paper and I really liked it! I am anxious to now try a section of bee hive that I found on the Appalachian Trail last week. (Right next to a fresh bear claw print!)
Hi Doug, I am noticing that same beautiful quality that is in the “collar” area of your amaryllis . Do you start with watercolour, would like to know what your initial process is for grisaille.
Hi Maureen- On the amaryllis drawing I first did all the grisaille in Dark Sepia establishing the mid and dark ranges and leaving the highlights. Next layer was watercolor pencil in respective colors where I lay out blocks of color and add some preliminary details. I am mindful to keep the watercolor lighter in the highlight areas and heavier in the dark shadows, etc.. This is followed by the color pencils and the last step would be Verithin pencils to finish off the edges and enhance details. On these nuts I still used Dark Sepia for the grisaille, but I did not use any watercolor. Someone kindly gave me a sheet of Kraft paper that I used. Now I have a pad of my own and I am looking forward to experimenting with it. I understand it takes watercolor well. Thank you for your question and I hope this helped.
24 January 2020
I love the way this looks, Doug! You really made those light tones look so natural! Can’t wait to see this beehive drawing!!!
Hi Doug, thanks for the information. When you say you add preliminary details after the water color are you using a very sharp dark sepia or something else?
Hi Maureen- The preliminary details I mentioned were done at the watercolor stage. It depends on the subject, but sometimes I can achieve what I want with the watercolor and not even have to add any (or minimal) pencil to finish off specific areas. Most of the time I am going to continue with color pencil to add layers and detail and I use whatever color is appropriate for the section I am working on. With the amaryllis bulb the majority of pencils I used were a variety of browns and dark sepia and finished it off with coordinating Verithin pencils.
Cool, thanks Doug. More and more I am finding that if I move very slowly in my approach I feel a deep connection to the plant and can achieve more of what I am seeing. It’s affecting my approach in life too, feeling more present in my work and communications with people…
Thanks Sheila! I really enjoy drawing these natural objects I find on hikes, etc. It is also so nice not to have the pressure of finishing something before it wilts, dies, etc.! They are perfect models!
This is a beautiful, elegant drawing! Reminds me of photographs in a book I just bought by Levon Biss, The Hidden Beauty of Seeds and Fruits. (Learned about it at recent ASBA conference.).
My first time working on the Kraft paper and I really liked it! I am anxious to now try a section of bee hive that I found on the Appalachian Trail last week. (Right next to a fresh bear claw print!)
Haven’t you opened the nut and tasted it yet? These hickory nuts taste like walnuts
Hi Doug, I am noticing that same beautiful quality that is in the “collar” area of your amaryllis . Do you start with watercolour, would like to know what your initial process is for grisaille.
Hi Maureen- On the amaryllis drawing I first did all the grisaille in Dark Sepia establishing the mid and dark ranges and leaving the highlights. Next layer was watercolor pencil in respective colors where I lay out blocks of color and add some preliminary details. I am mindful to keep the watercolor lighter in the highlight areas and heavier in the dark shadows, etc.. This is followed by the color pencils and the last step would be Verithin pencils to finish off the edges and enhance details. On these nuts I still used Dark Sepia for the grisaille, but I did not use any watercolor. Someone kindly gave me a sheet of Kraft paper that I used. Now I have a pad of my own and I am looking forward to experimenting with it. I understand it takes watercolor well. Thank you for your question and I hope this helped.
I love the way this looks, Doug! You really made those light tones look so natural! Can’t wait to see this beehive drawing!!!
Hi Doug, thanks for the information. When you say you add preliminary details after the water color are you using a very sharp dark sepia or something else?
Hi Maureen- The preliminary details I mentioned were done at the watercolor stage. It depends on the subject, but sometimes I can achieve what I want with the watercolor and not even have to add any (or minimal) pencil to finish off specific areas. Most of the time I am going to continue with color pencil to add layers and detail and I use whatever color is appropriate for the section I am working on. With the amaryllis bulb the majority of pencils I used were a variety of browns and dark sepia and finished it off with coordinating Verithin pencils.
Cool, thanks Doug. More and more I am finding that if I move very slowly in my approach I feel a deep connection to the plant and can achieve more of what I am seeing. It’s affecting my approach in life too, feeling more present in my work and communications with people…
Doug, these are beautiful, each one and all together. The veining, openings and varied toning are all so effective and interesting to look at!
Thanks Sheila! I really enjoy drawing these natural objects I find on hikes, etc. It is also so nice not to have the pressure of finishing something before it wilts, dies, etc.! They are perfect models!
This is a beautiful, elegant drawing! Reminds me of photographs in a book I just bought by Levon Biss, The Hidden Beauty of Seeds and Fruits. (Learned about it at recent ASBA conference.).