When drawing with long straight lines you start by estimating the longest tilts. Sadie calls it "building an envelope." Remember to spend at least 75% of the time just looking. Put your hand down between strokes. Figure out the major decisions first. gradually, as you whittle down the form, a contour begins to appear. Remember strength and integrity comes from the drawing. Color can not support poor drawing.
I have always done thumbnails. Now I will add a contour drawing to my repertoire. Sadie said that 25% of your painting time should be spent drawing. Integrity in your lines and form, that's the key. You need to look, look, and look more. Why is it doing what it is doing?
This drawing was made on tracing paper with an H pencil. The tracing paper was taped to BFK. It is in it's "almost done" state. A little more refinement is necessary. In it you can see the straight line block in on the right. Some of the lines have disappeared and become more refined on the left. I will try a small landscape using my studies and this drawing. (sorry for the bad photo, it's difficult to photograph tracing paper.)
One last Florida painting. This one was done in the early evening and the drawing was done that same session. I will miss that swamp pool.
5 comments:
You really do capture the atmosphere of the swamp here in your pastel painting. The colours harmonise so well together. On looking at first I would think there is little detail in the picture yet on looking closer I do notice there is very subtle detail that being in light lifted out in the water area and the banks to the left of the painting. A bold dash of colour in the distant right bank catches the eye too. Constable and Turner were always drawing and there are many hundreds of their sketches left to this day much more than the paintings they produced. A drawing makes us really look at the subject before our eye gets distracted by colour!
Hi Caroline,
Thank you for all your careful observations of my painting.
I agree with you about drawing. It really does make one look and love the subject in a whole different way.....,it's almost sensuous the way the line follows the form.
I have seen many of Turner's drawing and watercolors. They blow me away.
...and that swamp pool will miss you, too. Who else was making it such a star?
Inspiring post, Loriann. I never spend enough time getting to know my subject in the drawing stage. I like how you showed all the lines, masses and shadows in the beginning stage to set the tone. You worked out the painting from the beginning. Thanks for showing this!
Jala, i am in withdrawal...need to figure out how to get back:-D
Hi Janelle,
Thank you, your words mean a lot to me.
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