Catching up on blog-Let's start way back in June

Plein Air Drawing-NewHarbor Maine area-June 2012

OTB Drawing

Raphael-Seated Woman with Child

This summer was so busy I did not get to give my blog the attention I would have wanted to. So let's go back in time a little. I mentioned that I went on a trip to Maine with some fellow painters way back in June. I thought I would post some of the images from that trip in my next few blog entries. I was waiting for OTB to be finished as the image I produced for OTB was based on a plein air drawing that I did on that trip to Maine way back in June and I did not want to give away what my OTB piece was. I drew this plein air drawing after climbing down onto the rocky area that overlooked this scene.

It is employing a technique that I have consistently used throughout my career starting way back in college in Life Class over 30 years ago…(eek) and a technique that many artists have used throughout history. And that is using a colored or toned paper and drawing with pencil, conté or any  medium and then using white highlights. I have included a gorgeous piece here by Raphael where he used this technique. Another one of my past blog posts-"Ivy"- also shows this technique, although when I photographed the piece it did not pick up the light areas very well, but is quite clear in the original piece.

I am also excited about a new paper that just came out on the market produced by Strathmore and can't wait to try it out. It comes in toned tan and toned gray and in both hard and soft cover. Here is a link if your interested-Strathmore Toned Sketch. Definitely will be checking the tooth and feel of this paper.