Having had very positive feedback from my tutor and I do think the use of charcoal is working well for me, I want to enlarge on one of the allotment drawings I completed in an A6 size sketchbook. I always feel I need to apologise for not many photos as stopping to clean up for a photo is restrictive and inhibits the flow of the work.
I’m completing this next drawing on size A2 watercolour paper. I do want this sketch to be a little different to the small one, but I will adjust as I progress. Today I get the main elements of the sketch in place such as the buildings, background trees and the main large container at the front. I also start to rub in and out and form some of the main leaves of the kale. Again I use the putty eraser and the electronic eraser (battery). The battery although tricky to use, can create some lovely dense marks so I will use this technique particularly on the strawberry leaves in the front bed.
It’s my second day on this piece and I return to it with great enthusiasm. I’m really trying to create big bold leaves in the middle ground second bed. I think the rubbing in with the soft charcoal for the heavey dark colour to create the shape and form of the leaves is beginning to work well. I also rub out to create more shape. I also try to create really dark areas to allow for the undergrowth under the leaves in various places. I keep working at building up both areas of leaves and work across the paper from right to left. I’m not sure why I do this but it doesn’t matter if my hand rubs across the paper and smudges an area. I just work back into it. I love the spontaneity of this medium. I clean up again and take a photo. I shall leave it now until tomorrow. I don’t want to rush things.
Day three of this drawing and again I can’t wait to get started. I just hope I can achieve as good a drawing as the small one albeit a bit different. I keep working on all areas and keep building up shape and form in the leaves. The bottom bed is working really well, and I shall leave this I think. The top leaves may need further work. I might have overworked this in some ways.
I return to this drawing for it’s third day. I re-evaluate some of the kale in the top bed. I want to define the leaves more in the front area. I also need to go a little darker in the background where my other object are such as the greenhouse and the sheds. I work darker softer charcoal into one or two of the big leaves adding some line for shape where necessary and I also go dark in some negative space areas and the unseen growth. I add to the greenhouse as it has an open window in the roof and I also put a couple of visible plants in it. I work more on the background darkening the sky a little and the trees and put in some bolder lines in the sheds. I think I’m done now on this one. I really don’t want to spoil it and I am as pleased with it as the littler version.
The final image is below.
As I look at this on day four, I want to revise it a bit more. The trees in the distance surrounding my greenhouse need to be more defined and tonally a little darker. I also notice an area in the large Kale leaves that needs to be blacker too.
My next charcoal drawing is another allotment scene. The original photo I took is on the board I’m working on. I like the unusual and was attracted to the ruggedness of this shed that looks as though its made from several doors. I was also drawn in by the notice on the inside which says PLEASE READ THIS and then an arrow points to the notice. I was outside of the allotment so couldn’t see what was written but it amused me. Only those with a right to be there inside the allotment space could see it. The drawing is in progress below as I draw the main outlines of the shack or shed. It doesn’t really provide much cover from the bad weather and there are weeds growing in front. This is a challenge but I’m just loving this medium. Again I rub in the charcoal and erase it in places. This adding and subtracting is just fabulous and I love the results.
I continue to build up the lights and dark areas. I include all the details such as a bag of compost and some slug pellets. I use the hard dust free eraser for a lot of the rubbing out and occasionally the battery eraser. Both work well. For some of the weeds in the foreground I create with the eraser on the darker wood. In contrast where the lighter areas are I darken to create leaves.
The final work is below, and I couldn’t resist putting the wording in.
I’m really enjoying this work and the potential. I take nothing for granted and still feel I have a long way to go but I do feel my drawing is improving. It’s all about the darks and lights and erasing and redrawing.
Drawing 2 Interpreting the environment 