I spent a beautiful week in Steamboat Springs CO where I’ve spent time every year since 1979. I had new eyes on the old familiar hikes because I was on the hunt for beauties to draw. Giving a try to botanical art enriched my vacation! Also, I still struggle with leaves. The cottonwood is suppose to curve up on the ends. Im concerned if I keep shading it will look like a gray leaf.
Again, great page Sara! How about trying some practice versions of the cottonwood leaf and solutions for the curl. Do some tone bars and try different colours and grisailles.
06 October 2020
I love Steamboat Springs!! So pretty there! Isn’t it fun to hike for specimens? 🙂 Light that leaf (or one similar) and pay attention to the way the shadows appear on the edges. Try to replicate that (maybe with some tracing paper or a rough sketch on another piece of paper), and then see if you can adjust your drawing. I think one thing that will help is to make the shadow another color–the brownish red is reading more like a color change rather than a shadow. Try some gray or a little sepia to get that shadow color. (again, practicing is not a bad idea before you try it on the drawing). What fun!
I spent a beautiful week in Steamboat Springs CO where I’ve spent time every year since 1979. I had new eyes on the old familiar hikes because I was on the hunt for beauties to draw. Giving a try to botanical art enriched my vacation! Also, I still struggle with leaves. The cottonwood is suppose to curve up on the ends. Im concerned if I keep shading it will look like a gray leaf.
Again, great page Sara! How about trying some practice versions of the cottonwood leaf and solutions for the curl. Do some tone bars and try different colours and grisailles.
I love Steamboat Springs!! So pretty there! Isn’t it fun to hike for specimens? 🙂 Light that leaf (or one similar) and pay attention to the way the shadows appear on the edges. Try to replicate that (maybe with some tracing paper or a rough sketch on another piece of paper), and then see if you can adjust your drawing. I think one thing that will help is to make the shadow another color–the brownish red is reading more like a color change rather than a shadow. Try some gray or a little sepia to get that shadow color. (again, practicing is not a bad idea before you try it on the drawing). What fun!