Drawing Prompt #6: Monika, JD & Silke

Monika

Monika choose to stay warm and dry and sketch the Magnolia tree she can see from her window. In her visual diary she has used some light washes of Graphitint pencil with detail overdrawing of HB and B pencils. The buds on the branches are just begining to open and bloom and this is what her drawing shows. MP tells me she had trouble being able to see the tree against the light of the sky as well as the rapidly changing light conditions. 

This drawing has a good dynamic flow across the page. The twisted, angular branch describes the feature of a magnolia well. Monika has thought about the placement of the subject and although the bottom of the branch comes a bit close to the end of the page she has created an interestting composition. The hint of green on the leaves works well. The almost sillouhette shape has a nice contrast of dark against the light sky.

Although Monika says the lighting was difficult, understanding of the cyclindrical shape of the tree trunk can help with adding tone correctly even in dodgy light conditions. At the moment the trunk is too flat - remember that the trunk is basically a tube/cylinder shape and the exercises in shading that form apply here. For revision of shading shapes including a cylinder, this is a pretty good explanation HERE.

Another good piece from Monika!

Magnolia Study by Monika

JD

Well, Monika drew from her window... and JD drew from a photo! tsk, tsk. 😉 This succulent is a potted plant from JD's garden that she has taken images of to work from. JD has used her Windsor Newton 200gsm sketch book and a selection of Polychromo colour pencils.

The shape and form of this plant is very good, JD. You have captured the feel of the leaves and the curling central rosette very well. Also, the colour hues are well blended and nicely built up layers. I think overall you could have increased the depth of the hue further as this plant is quite deeply coloured. But the magenta edges work very well to set off the green fleshy leaves. I also like how you have used blue and violet hues in the outer leaves to create darks.

JD says she is not completely happy with this, she feels something is lacking. I think that JD could have pushed the contrast and shadows more. I often find that a photo will flatten out the tonal contrasts and it can be difficult to recreate depth in a drawing when only using a photo. JD could benefit as well by reviewing the basic shapes tutorial link above as she has drawn only the outline and surface detail of the stem of the plant, omitting any shading to create form. 

However, as a whole, this is a good work with excellent attention to shape and form. The colours work very well and it is a pleasing drawing to see. These plants appear simple in shape but are deceptively difficult to draw. Well done overall!

'Succulent' by JD

Silke

Unlike Monika and JD, Silke braved the outside! Not only that, she did so on her lunchbreak to create this fun drawing of a garden ornament sitting under her apple tree. Silke has once again used her Stilman and Birn sketchbook with Polychormo colour pencils and a Derwent indigo on the metal sheep. The work is nicely desgined and has a good flow in the composition. I like the way the eyes of the sheep are looking up, directing our attention to the apple tree. The shapes of the 'wool' on the sheep mimic the leaf shapes which is a nice touch. As mentioned in other posts, remember, you do not have to draw each individual leaf, but can work in groups and in 'clumps' of darks and lights. I am not sure if the garden bed edging was needed, but the perspective is good and works to reinforce the perspective recession of the sculpture. It is nice to see how Silke has used the dark of the planter barrel to create the positive white shape of the sheeps' head. No outline was needed as the dark creates the form. The light touches of background green helps to keep the entire drawing cohesive. I would have liked to have seen the indigo blue used elsewhere, certainly in the darker leaves of the tree and in the chip bark on the ground.  This is a charming sketch of a garden scene - and extra brownie points for working outside!

'Shaun and the Apple Tree' by Silke