Friday 29 August 2008

Virtual Sketch Date - August



Here are my contributions to the August Virtual Sketch Date. From the reference photo I first used graphite pencil on a smooth Daler Rowney paper. I'd decided early on I wanted to use the indenting technique for the veins in the leaves. I drew the image freehand on to tracing paper, including the veins, then transferred it to the paper. I really enjoyed doing this one...


I enjoyed it so much I had to have another go. This time I used acrylics on Arches watercolour paper. I've never really used acrylics much before and treated them pretty much as I would watercolours, I think I mostly got away with it. The colour is a bit wrong I think but still cabbagy enough...



Really looking forward to seeing what the others have done with this. Many thanks to Sherrie Roberts for the original reference photo.

13 comments:

"JeanneG" said...

Very nice job. I think your colors came out just great. I had trouble with the colors too. I like the graphite one the best but good job on both.

Andy said...

Thanks Jeanneg - I prefer the graphite too, the acrylic one looks a bit flat...

Leslie Hawes said...

I like them both!
You tackled the veining in the cabbage with enthusiasm. I ran in the other direction! :)

Grangry said...

Hi Andy, I like them both too. I like the feect you got by indenting the lines, I'll have to try that!

Rose Welty said...

I like the acrylic one - you can see the wind blowing - really nice.

Cathy Gatland said...

These are both great - the graphite one very three-dimensional - the leaves and veins are bulging out of the page! The acrylic lighter and fresh-looking - I love that one zig-zaggy shadow, I tried to get that right, but went a bit loopy.

Stacy said...

Andy, I like both of your versions. The veining on the graphite one is amazing and illustrates such patience and bravery since there is no going back from indenting. You may feel the color on the acrylic piece isn't exactly what you want, but it works and is definitely "cabbagy". :)

Gail Bartel said...

Hi Andy, I like both of them but my favorite is the graphite. It is striking, draws me in immediately. I have always been a sucker for botanical illustration but I do not have the patience.
Thanks for the view.
gail

Andy said...

Many thanks for all the encouraging and positive comments. I did get very involved with those veins, but in a good way :o) Also its a subject I would never have thought of tackling before.

This has been fun, and its been great to see how everyone has tackled this. I'm definitely in for September...

Kari Gibson said...

They both look great - I am definitely in for September too!

A Brush with Color said...

Great fun to see them all--everyone's is so unique. Lovely!

BARBARA WEEKS said...

I like them both but the graphite is my favorite. I like the range of values.

laine lea said...

Great job - on both! Doing two certainly seems to be a great way to contract mediums....you seem to have strength in both. Happy paintings!