I'm burning the midnight oil tonight, even the dog is looking at me as if to say "can we go to bed now?" I had a tiring day with helping my elderly dad and needed to unwind when I got home. Mostly frustrating with my dad because he doesn't want assistance to help him walk and my heart skipped a beat each he slipped on ice today and refused my hand. So here I am unwinding, trying to portray luscious red apples on Pastelbord. This is a portion of my drawing that would fit on my scanner bed. The scanner has darkened the top white area so its not quite accurate. Yesterday I was having trouble achieving the smooth, shiny texture of the apples. Today I added solvent to the colored pencil and them more colored pencil on top of the solvent. I was very pleased with the ease in which the solvent dissolves the first layer of pencil without streaks and in some areas I didn't even need to add any more pencil. I still don't know what I'm going to do about all the red flecks all over my white Pastelbord but I have to finish the drawing before I have to worry about that.Below are my two colored pencil pieces "Golden Glow" and "Cherries on China" which have been accepted into Special President's Exhibitions; Photography and Graphics Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club. The exhibit runs January 10 - February 11, 2011 and I am honored to have two pieces of my work selected for the exhibition by the president herself, Claudia Seymour.
Happy New Year everyone and thank you for following or visiting my blog! I really appreciate the support & encouragement!
7 comments:
This is gorgeous. I'm following your progress very closely, because I want to know more about solvents. What do you use to apply the solvent to the smaller areas? brush? Q-tip?
For the red spatters... what if you mixed up a little dish of solvent with some red pencil wax, and made a paint. Them flicked it onto the corners of the paper, like a watercolorist's spatter effect? You could use other colors besides red, too. (?)
I hope you are totally 'unwound' now. I sympathise having entertained Mum and Mum-in-Law over Christmas (one aged 92 with a 'bad back and one aged 75 with a broken toe)... took several days to recover (me that is) !!
I love all your work but the reds (cherries/apples etc) are absolutely stunning
Congratulations on having two entries accepted and very best wishes for 2011
Katherine, I use a small flat brush to apply the solvent. Its 1/4" white nylon brush by Loew-Cornell #796 shader. I believe its a watercolor/acrylic brush and I buy them at the crafts store. I dip the brush in solvent but blot it on a towel and work one small area of color at a time with solvent and the brush, using it flat for larger areas and the edge when I come up to the edge of something in my drawing. You have to be careful not to put too much solvent on the brush so it runs on the drawing. One of my students uses Q-tips to apply solvent in a circular motion but I prefer the brush. Great idea about the spatters.
Sue, I am feeling more unwound today! I can sympathize with you entertaining both Mums over Christmas!
I love this piece. There's such interest in creating reflections and these are wonderful.
I just discovered your blog and love your work. I shall be back.
I understand your frustration with your father, my elderly mother is the same. Their independence is so important to them.
Lucious, and congratulations on Salmagundi! Impressive venue, so happy for you.
Congratulations with all your recent accomplishments! Very well deserved. As always, I love this apple piece - my favorites of yours. I think they've taken on a life of their own.
Wow... those cherries look so luscious! Beautiful!
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