It was a rainy day. It was dreary and grey. I decided to bring some color into my day by drawing. I also was a bit behind in my online class, and had not tried incorporating a bee and a dragonfly. I like hollyhocks and I found a few pictures on the Web to use as reference photos. As I was half way through my drawing, I realized one of the reference photos had some water drops on a flower. I had never tried those, so decided to add some as well.
#34: Hollyhock
Colored pencil on 9" x 12" vellum
What I like about the drawing:
I used the technique I learned for drawing shiny fur to bring out highlights in the flowers. I think it was quite effective. I worked to make the leaves look 'blotchy' by adding small blocks of color. This seemed to work on most leaves. When I thought I had finished the drawing I realized it was very plain. I added the fence, and later some soft color,on the sky.
What I might do differently:
My bee, and to some degree, the dragonfly don't look grounded. I am going to add a bit of shadow under the insects to see if it helps make them look more realistic. I made an error in the composition and of the drawing. The water droplets look more like the bee peed on the flower!
What I learned:
I was really pleased with the way the foundation of dark umber created dimension in the flowers. I was finding it difficult to lightly color he sky without pencil lines showing. I made a "puddle" do color on a scrap, and rubbed a cork in the puddle and then rubbed that on the paper.
I'm visiting your blog fromSutanding into danger and wanted to comment on your art. I went back into your older posts and was fascinated at your art lessons and how you could critique your own work. You have tried various media and posted the results. I wish I could be rave enough to pick up my brush once again. I've gotten away from it for so long I no longer have confidence. But I enjoyed seeing the results of your efforts and even if you weren't always pleased with the results you used it to grow.
ReplyDelete