Shaded Darkness

Original Post: 1/11/2011

I've been working on adding mood to my sketches.  This is a sketch capturing the mood of shady darkness under a tree - respite from the stark sunshine.  The composition is playing with contrast of sharp and diffused edges and placement of sky holes.    There are impression of roots amongst the textured grass by bold lines.   

Sketches can release artistic freedom to self expression and experimentation.  Sometimes they hold the key to unlock creative avenues and glimpses of future possibilities.   This sketch is bold in many ways that is new and exciting.  The energy needs to be harnessed and nurtured. 

Sketches

Original Post: 11/24/2010

Here are a series of sketches created over the past few weeks. Some of these may be the start of an idea for a full-sized drawing, some are working out composition, some are just practicing and some are working out textures.

Enjoy!

Diane

 

Iowa Landscape

Original Post: 12/31/2009

Iowa has beautiful, graceful valleys that let you see into the distance forever.

Yosemite - Winter

Original Post: 6/28/2009

A co-worker's son went hiking this spring. He shared some of his photos with me. This is a preliminary sketch from one of them. I really liked how the white snow contrasted against the gray sky. The silhouette of the foreground trees will add contrasting stark detail. The placement of the foreground trees will be critical.

Sketching

Original Post: 5/23/2009

Sketching is an excellent way to work out compositions and test out imaginary landscapes. Here are a few thumbnail sketches.

Sketching small 1" to 3" at the most allows me to quickly get an idea down and preventing me from getting too caught up in details. These are quite a bit more sketchy than previous posts.

Just a few pencil strokes can create a grove of trees...

Some are just brief marks - trying to work out placement of rocks or spacial issues.

Some seem to be no more than scribbles...

Sketches

Original Post: 1/4/20099

Cloud Studies:

Tree Sketches:

Woods:


Rock Scapes:

Pines in Clouds:

Mini-Scapes

Originally Posted: 12/27/200
Here are a series of sketches that I have done over the past couple of weeks. They are small (3x5 to 5x7) sketches and time ranged from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

Snowy Sunset:
Rock Scape:

Rock Study:

Rock Study with Ferns:

Pine Scapes:

Pine Scapes II:

Pine Scape III:

Bark Study:

Tree Sketches

Original Post: 05/23/2007 

Here is a tree study. I'm working on dramatic light and shadows....



Here is another tree study. This one I am working on getting the feel of the tree.  You can see the pencil strokes are following the cylindrical form of the trunk to capture the three-demension of the trunk.


These sketches are concentrating on the light playing on the leaves and branches of the tree.

Tree knots, growths and deformities add character and interest to trees.  Here is a study of such features:

Sketch Kit

A Sketch Kit
Original Post Date :07/07/07

I understand the importance of drawing every day. And there are many times I get stuck on a concept that I want to write down and find I don't have paper with me. I have tried many different varieties and flavors of sketch books; large, small, thick, thin. I haven't seemed to find the right combination of a portable writing; sketching book that let's me play.

I finally broke down and purchased my first moleskin journal. http://www.moleskines.com/klmbl13.html I purchased the large sketchbook style 5.25x8.25.

The size is wonderful and the paper is thick.

Here are just a couple of pages from my journal. Most of what I've been doing is experimental yet - but I've been more successful than in any previous attempt. Is it the size? Is it the paper? Is it the medium? Or the combination of the three?

New materials are always fun and can lead to great experimentation and creativity. Here are the materials that I currently have in my little black carry bag:

I stumbled upon a new technical pen by Staedtler that uses a permanent ink and flows very smoothly. Much better than the Kohinoor pens I have been trying. http://www.artstuff.net/staedtler_technical_pens.htm

Watercolor pencils seem to work much better than watercolor paints. I use Primacolor Watercolor pencils with a Niji Water Brush. It is a pen barrel that holds water. Perfect for travel and just enough water on the brush to bring the colors out.

http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supplies/5239_niji-water-brushes.asp

 

A carpenter pencil. The big flat pencils that carpenter's use. It is great to do fast sketches with. http://www.victorystore.com/business/pencils/carpenter.htm

A .7mm mechanical pencil with HB lead. I can't be without a mechanical pencil!