Fern Sketch

Ferns. I love them, they are rich in texture and would be a great addition to wooded scenes. They've been elluding my pencil though. In Mike's book "Drawing From Line to Life", he suggests disengaging the subject by drawing the space around it, or what is called negative drawing.

So I ignored the leaves, focused on the dark spaces between the leaves. I also did not outline anything, again the focus on only tonal shapes "between the leaves".

This is so exciting!!!! Ferns appeared for the first time on my paper! Very fresh, spontaneous and organic.

Here is the small incomplete sketch, but expresses a major milestone....one step closer to the negative world.

Sketchbooks

What's your favorite sketchbook? Bound, spiral, hand made, hybrid?

I guess mine is a hybrid. I have tried hard bound, spiral, moleskins. The biggest problems I have with any of them is the paper quality. So I've created my own using Rollabind (see attached image of my sketchbooks.)

There are a number of advantages.

They lay flat.

I can interchange any kind of paper, writing, smooth, rough, watercolor paper.

I can remove a page, scan it, and put it back in.

I can archive them to another book. I can add my writings and sketches together in the same book.

The rollabinds keep the paper snug so there is little smearing like the spirals cause.



What is the size of your sketchbook?
I have two now...5x7 and 9x11 (holds 8-1/2 x 11" paper)

What's your favorite pencil/pen you use when sketching?

2B .5 mm mechanical pencil

Do you carry a sketchbook with you all the time?

Depends on what I'm working on. If I'm trying out an idea or technique, I'll carry it otherwise I can go weeks without carrying one.

Do you have a mobile sketch kit? What's included?

I've got one that I made about 3 years ago. The moleskin is about 1/2 full. When I feel like dabbling in color, I get it out. Then I remember how bad I am at color and it gets tucked away again!
http://dwrightsketches.blogspot.com/2007/07/sketch-journal.html

How often do you sketch? Daily, weekly, never?

A couple times a week. Usually when I'm too tired to focus on my drawing, I'll doodle or sketch.

Why do you sketch?

Work out ideas, techniques, compositions.

What do you put in your sketchbook?

Sketches of landscapes, rocks, parts of trees, notes about topics for this group, ideas, shopping lists, scribbles and ramblings....

Do you keep your sketchbooks?

I keep the best ones. The rest are pitched.

Do you keep doodles in your sketchbooks?

Way too many doodles!! But they seem to clear the wandering mind.

Do you ever throw away or erase sketches?

Yes....garbage gets full of them....

How about some scans of sketchbook work?

My sketchblog is full of them...

Mike Sibley Workshops

I've been working this morning on the underside of the tree and grass using techniques that I learned during Mike Sibley's drawing workshop in Indiana.

It's been almost a year since the workshop and the improvement on my artwork has been incredible. And the revelations of "ah-ha"! are still happening!

To attend one of Mike's drawing workshops is an opportunity that any graphite artist should not miss. It doesn't matter what your subject matter preference is or your drawing style (from realism, sketches or abstract) the concepts and techniques Mike demonstrates can be applied to. Spending three days with one-to-one attention with a master is an experience that I will never forget.

Mike is coming back to the United States in September to conduct 4 more workshops! Visit his website http://www.sibleyfineart.com/ for workshop locations and information.

Here's the section of my current drawing. I've been pushing the branches on the underside of the tree back into the shadows. Using negative drawing techniques, I'm able to create the blackest areas between the leaves, allowing them to subtly appear deep in the shadows.