Coastal Weathered Tree - Part Two

This beautiful tree has been shaped by it’s environment as the Oregon coast is rugged with strong winds.  Even though the reference photo is heavy in black silhouette, lightening areas of the needle bunches and branches adds depth to the tree. The sun is glowing through the tree and reflected in the water.  The grass and broad leaf plants are textured in the foreground.  

Reference Photo by Karen Hendrickson, Oregon coast

 

Coastal Weathered Tree - Part One

Step one:  Shading the sky is the first step to a landscape.  Applying the graphite in a light cross-hatching layer and then using a chamois to create a smooth even tone.

Step two:  I use a t-square and mars white eraser to remove the graphite on the edges, creating a crisp, straight border.  

Step Three: Cloud formations are created by using a kneaded eraser to lift the graphite from the paper.  Additional applications of light graphite, blending and lifting of graphite are used to build the clouds.

Step Four: After the sky is established, the middle and foreground areas can then be started….

Small Sketches

 

My blog has been neglected for way too long!  The last post was over 6 years ago.  Over the past few years, I have focused my attention to smaller drawings and sketches.  This collection is a sampling of these.  The smallest is approximately 1-1/2” x 2” and the largest 3-1/2” x 4”.  Using a smooth paper in a sketchbook called “Minimalism Art”, I am able to shade a background with graphite and then smooth it with a chamois.  Now the entire surface is an even tone base to start building up the darks, shapes of trees , textured grass and reflective water. A kneaded eraser is used to lighten areas of clouds or the sun.