Wednesday 22 September 2010

I Think it Is Almost There.


I Think it Is Almost There.


I have worked on this drawing off and on for a few days now. At last I have reached the bottom of the page. It was Barbra who advised me to work from top to bottom to save smudging the work already done. Is it finished? I do not think so. I am still not happy with the underside of the bridge. I have gone back and look again at my source and the actual bridge does have a strange angle to it. It is very tempting to go and try and straighten that for the sake of the drawing.

I am not sure that I have managed to capture the moving water as well as I might have. I would have loved to get more texture into the stones. Apart from that it seems not too bad. But then apart from that there is not much more to it.

I know that some of you have advised me to leave drawings where you can see them and return to them later. I will now do just that.

The process has indeed been important to me, as Jennifer commented yesterday. I have met a few obstacles along the way, mainly of my own making and inadequacies. I hope I have learned from them.

Next week as most of you know I am going away for a week to try and overcome a couple of other obstacles, two mountains. In the part of the world where I am going is a pencil factory. I will certainly be purchasing some pencils and may even buy a few of the coloured variety. Any advice in such matters would be helpful.

The obstacle of painters block I feel has been removed thanks to a pencil, a blender, an eraser and loads of friends. I am this morning feeling very grateful to you all.

Watch this space.

This blog is linked to my other. Obstacles Along The Way

8 comments:

  1. Yes, it's good Ralph. Don't forget .. it is alright to alter nature for the sake of art so if you wanted to alter bridge you could. Congrats....a fine sketch.

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  2. Your pencil painting is lovely! Have fun conquering the mountains. Just think of all the wonderful things you'll have to draw especially with all those new pencils.

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  3. As always your work is excellent Ralph. Aren't we artist fortunate to have all these wonderful tools to work with, never boring.

    All the best to you Ralph,

    Joan

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  4. Thanks to you all. I am still working on this listening to advice being offered have tried darkening some of the foreground darks. Joan you are too kind I am feeling like a fish out of water with these pencils.I have sound this as much as a challenge as I think I will find the mountains I am going to attempt running up and down.

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  5. What a lovely drawing Ralph. It's a good idea to walk away from it and return later on - I think it helps to look with 'fresh eyes'. I find getting the texture of rushing water to be very difficult but stones far easier. I wouldn't worry too much about the bridge though because it is very old, so would it be straight anyway? Have a lovely break Ralph :0)

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  6. You will be gone for a week? What are we to do?

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  7. I will make every effort to post but might not manage every day

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  8. Ralph, this is a wonderful drawing, I hate to say this but even better than I thought it would be.. and the reason I say that is because you are always so negative and critical of yourself.. You start out like that and bring it to your work .....no! no! no!....
    Usually a piece starts out ok ,,then we get to that "I hate it part" and then the grand finish... ok so sometimes not so grand, but it's the getting there thats important.. This is very good. and you know I'm brutally honest lol! look at it again in a few days or a week... Trust me you will add or take away something...

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