Drawing Clean Edges

 

On the previous post, Experience the Landscape, I mentioned the technique of using a ruler to clean the drawing edges after using the chamois to smooth out the graphite.  Here is a short video showing the method I use to create sharp edging.  

Materials used are: 

• small drawing board
• plastic t-square ruler
• mars white eraser 

Place the paper on the board, lined up at the edge of the board.  Lay the t-square on the paper and make sure the paper and the ruler are squared up.  Line the eraser to the edge of the ruler and run it down the outside edge of the ruler.  I carve a chisel edge on the eraser for a sharper line.

This works particularly well on shaded skies.  I do not use this technique for areas with heavier applied graphite as it will smear and press the graphite into the paper.

Photo of finished drawing unframed 

Experience the Landscape

It is more than just a drawing.  I experience the view through my pencil. The air is crisp, the wind is calm and the view is spectacular. 

Serenity I

Graphite

6 x 9”

Arches Hot Press paper

When choosing a landscape to draw, I tend to select scenes that generate a mood.  This mountain scape just embraces relaxing and calmness.  My heart rate lowers, I breathe deeper and slower, my mind clears of all the chaos and hustle of daily life.  

The first step in this drawing this was to create a even tone background shared by both the sky and water.  This was done by applying crosshatching lightly across the entire page then using a chamois to smudge the graphite to a smooth finish.  To create crisp edges, I use a small t-square and mars eraser and erase the overage to a crisp edge.  As long as the crosshatching strokes and chamois-smoothed graphite is lightly applied, the graphite sits on the surface of the paper and can be easily erased.  The Arches hot press paper lends itself well to this technique.  

The next step is to remove areas of the graphite for highlights by using a kneaded eraser.  The mountain is rendered using vertical pencil strokes starting at the edges with firm dark strokes tapering to lighter ends.  And the trees are used in dark strokes forming the pine tree branches and the bushes.  The water is so calm that the tree reflections almost mirror the trees but are slightly less defined.  Gentle breaks in the tree reflection show slight waves of the water.