Streaming Path

Having looked at this drawing the white un-drawn areas down the right hand side worried me. I agree with the premise of allowing the viewer into the image by leaving some areas unresolved, but this can be achieved with dark as well as light and there seemed to be no good reason for this image to have light areas.

That's better, the darker ground frames the running water. I've also started working some detail into the water, as far as the first main twist back in the course of the flow. I tried working back further but its too visually complicated.

Its difficult to see in these pictures, but there is quite a lot of change in strength of tone in the water ripples and the land to the left of the water.
I am so pleased with the strength of the dark on the left, it stops the viewer getting tied up looking at tree trunks and concentrates attention on the water.

Streaming Path
70 x 35cm Nitram Charcoal

Finishing this one (please excuse the bulldog clip in the photo!) has required subtle balances of tone, adding in and taking out detail - a gentle exchange.

There's still a lot of water around!

Charcoal Sketch of Coppiced Lime

Another foray into sketching with my new Nitram charcoal led me to working with my photos from Westonbirt of the 2000 year old lime. I thought the dramatic lines of the logs and stumps would suit charcoal well, but its proved harder than I thought. I've put the drawing away for a couple of weeks and looking at it again I can see some potential:

Coppiced lime - 1st state, Nitram charcoal

Hockney's charcoal sketches

 

But then I got my Hockney book out and looking at his drawings of felled trees makes me think that I need more tonal seperation. I'm not ready to give up on this one yet, there will need to be second chapter to this piece before its done.

A charcoal revelation

The lovely people at Pegasus Arts showed me this fantastic 'new' product - compressed charcoal made by Nitram.
I've given it a go and it works brilliantly. This is starting to sound like an advert, sorry, its not intended to be! I was just so taken with the revelatory performance that I felt it was right to share.

 

Its easy to work on a large scale, marks are quick to lay down and build up. the charcoal rubs out successfully with plastic and putty rubbers, and achieves a good range of marks and tones.

 



The best thing about this charcoal is the lack of dust and mess, even your hands stay relatively clean.
I also loved the fine points I was able to get and the way that the rubber could cut through the blacks.
The draw back is the cost - prepare yourselves, but it does last very well, I've barely touched the large stick.

 

Could this be the start of a series of charcoal drawings... I've got so many ideas on the go, I think I will have to stand back and take stock, and not try any more new products!