Working bud detail

Just a couple of hours on the bud. As I tried building detail, I noticed that I'd lost the overall form. I'm learning to move in and back away while brushing.

Another session today of fruitless searching for oil processing supplies. The Internet to the rescue! Canning jars arrive Friday. And the local hardware store is ready to help--they will take an order for pool filter sand.

Rhody work continues

Although this image probably looks quite similar to the previous post's, there are hours here of cleanup and light glazes for the leaves.

This evening I've focused on the bud, trying to develop form and detail. I've been taught to apply unifying washes of very light titanium white and white glazes were applied a few times. But also, a light verona green earth helps to pull form together. I'm finding that dry brush stippling is helping me reach  the texture.

More work on the rhody

I'm enjoying my sable filberts with egg tempera. From a point or line to a wide swath, this brush seems to work well for me. I'm itching to get to the detail, though I know I must take my time and work from the large to the small with color and form.

Filling In

Here is a progression of work from late last night and again this evening.

Starting a new piece

It's so hard to get started. I mean really hard. And so I feel great tonight, finally deciding to take a chance on a rhododendron closeup in egg tempera for the Flower Show.

Here's a peek at my initial masking. The panel on the left is my second gesso refurb and it came out just as nice as the first. There's something quite liberating knowing that I can always renew a gesso board when things, as they sometimes do on my easel, go very wrong. This evening I'll be sponging in initial layers of the background. I'm trying to hold the camera close by so that there will be lots of work in progress shots.

I like this design--such interesting negative shapes. And, sharp and soft edges are already appearing.

Trying Out the Carbon Pencils

This is look I was after--a nice dark background and lost edges. The carbon pencils are considerably darker and lend themselves well to smoothing. These must be close to what charcoal feels like.

Rhody Wrap

Some smoothing with paper towel (I couldn't find my stomps) gave the background a soft, distant touch.  I liked the tonal range and wanted to push darker blacks but even with a 4B I wasn't satisfied--all I got was some distracting streaking. I just remembered that I have a pack of Wolff's Carbon Pencils...unopened! I'll try them out on the next pencil piece when I want dark darks.

More Rhody

Little by little, it's coming together.

Rhododendron Bud

Rhododendron in Graphite

I've been rather busy with various projects leaving my artwork to suffer a bit. In the spirit of recent posts on drawing and lighting, here's a start on a graphite piece based on a rhododendron bud photographed in my cardboard light box.

Rhododendron Bud

Rhododendron Leaf

My pencil exercises inspired me to try something botanical so I snipped a bit of rhododendron. The paper is not my usual Stonehenge and rather on the rough side; next time I'll use my favorite.

I oftentimes seem to lay on a lot of pencil, trying to build the entire form. Here I thought I'd leave out mass and detail. I like the result, how just a bit of shadow can provide enough clues for form.

Rhododendron Leaf

Rhododendron - All Done

Well, that's a wrap. A bit of cleanup and a few buds seemed to do the trick.

Hmm...what's next?

Rhododendron 2

After posting last night, I spent hours absorbed in this drawing.

Here's how I set up this drawing.