Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Looking Through the Window: Layers of Time


I have finally finished this piece that has been on my drawing table for months now.  I started writing about it in a previous blog post last December 2013. The drawing is approximately 20x30" and worked on UArt 800 grit sanded paper. As I mentioned in the previous blog, I started the first layer of color with Caran d'Arche Supracolor and Derwent Intense watercolor pencils over which I added Faber-Castell Polychromos and Prismacolor colored pencils. The watercolor pencils allowed me to achieve an even tone of color, covering the ridges in the paper before I added layers of wax and oil based colored pencil.

I worked from a photograph I took in the medieval town Koszeg, Hungary. I was attracted to the patina like finish on the window frame including the rusty hinges. I was also intrigued by the layers of space showing through the window and the open window behind as well as the cracked window panes and colors and shadows of reflections in the glass. I expanded upon my photo by exaggerating the colors as well as tints and reflections in the glass panes. When I first saw this broken window in Koszeg, I knew immediately it would be a drawing. I titled this piece Layers of Time.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Kendra, it's gorgeous! And so big! Wow! I really appreciate the tip about using the watercolor pencils as an underpainting! I never thought of that, but I'm going to try it. This is such a well rendered, well composed piece. I like the title and how it suggests the mood and philosophy of the artwork. Your work is amazing!

Kendra said...

Thank you Katherine! I like to work big not realizing how much it will cost me to frame it. Oh well. I experimented with the watercolor pencils and they work well but I don't add lots of water and I work in small areas at a time so the paper wouldn't buckle.