The Clubs...Work in Progress Tutorial
I completed this "work in progress" exercise some time ago and only recently moved it here from the studio journal on my website. If you have any questions please contact me.
Studio Notes: This drawing was rendered on Strathmore 400 acid free 80# fine art paper. Other Materials Used: Wolf's Carbon Pencils...2, 4, and 6B, STEADTLER Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencils...F and 2H, chamois and felt...stump and tortillon...kneaded erasure and click erasure...medium and small artist brushes...artist tape...and my "carbon farm".
Stage 1...I began as usual, in the upper left corner of the drawing, being careful to cover the lower portion with a clean sheet of sketching paper. I first applied 6B carbon pencil directly to the paper...then blended with a stump towards the first club head...getting lighter as I came down the paper. I then applies more carbon, from the "carbon farm" using a piece of felt to achieve the smoky shadowed look. I did this just to get a "feel" for the finished background.
The club heads were next. I used 4 and 6B carbon pencil, applying it directly to the paper in the darkest areas, then blending with a stump into the lighter areas of the club head. I used 2H graphite pencil for the reflective portion of the club head, using a piece of folded chamois skin to blend and smooth the graphite.
Stage 2...I have continued to work on the taller clubs in the back...using some of the same techniques as mentioned above. I used a 2B carbon pencil for the smaller details on the club heads and metal shaft. I began to fill in the dark inside of the golf bag, using a softer 6B carbon pencil close to the upper rim and charcoal for the deeper portion of the bag to better show the club handles. I have also worked a little more on the background. I keep going back to the club heads and adding small shadowed areas within the larger shadow shapes with an artist brush. It's a shame this subtle detail work doesn't show up better for you to see here. The more subtle parts of the drawing have so much to add to the total picture.
I spend a lot of time analyzing the shadow shapes in my reference photo. A shadow isn't just one shade but many shades and shapes inside each other...it is important that you convey this in your drawing.
Stage 3...I have continued to work down the paper using many of the same techniques mentioned above. The shadows and highlights on the club heads are pretty well completed. I lifted highlights with a kneaded erasure and folded piece of chamois skin...then went back and added more color from "the farm" in some places with a stump, blended this again with a stump...and repeated. It is the many layers and repetition of this process that gives the club a realistic "well used" appearance. As I look closer at the stage 3 photo here, I see that I got a little sloppy with my carbon...I always keep the lower portion of the drawing covered when working so I'm not sure what happened. Perhaps I wasn't as concerned as the area was going to be dark anyway. Just keep this in mind and keep the area you're not working clean...at least cleaner than you see here! Remember, I said carbon was "unforgiving"...the smudges you see on the lower portion of the golf bag could have NEVER been removed completely!
Finished Drawing...
Using a piece of felt, I added more shadows to the background...then lifted out a few more "smoky" highlights with the chamois square. I will spend another day or so finishing the golf bag, adding shadows to the background and tweaking the clubs...Ah, to know when to quit!
Studio Notes: My initial line drawing is as complete as possible...I even include some of the main shadows shapes. Carbon pencils are a very exciting, yet unforgivable medium to work with. It's far better to be accurate from the start than to discover later that you need to make major corrections.
You can learn about the availability of "The Clubs" by checking the "Sports Collection" in the Drawing Portfolio on my Website.
If you enjoyed this Tutorial, and learned something from it, or if you would like to give it a "critique"...the comment form is open!
PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment
Toledo, Spain V, Spanish Landscape Painting
1 hour ago
3 comments:
Wow this is an awesome tutorial! I want to try it myself. I purchased some Wolff's carbon pencils a couple of weeks ago, but they tend to drag on the paper which reminds me of charcoal pencils, any suggestions? Or is this the way they behave?
Pamyla,
I don't particularly notice any drag with carbon...with charcoal, yes. If you are accustomed to working with graphite...there isn't anything much smoother. Also, regardless of the degree of softness...carbon is BLACK. The only time I apply it directly to the paper with the pencil is in the darkest black shadow areas...everywhere else is applied using a blender, (stump, tissue, chamois, felt, ect). See "My Carbon Farm". This post shows how I make a "carbon patch" and go back into this to pick up product using blending tools.
Yes...chamois from the auto store works just fine...it has some ruff textured places that can be quite useful...the smoother areas are used when I want a smooth blend.
I cut it into about 5" squares...folding it down to a point or flat area..which ever I need and pick up the carbon from my "farm" and apply it that way. I also use a clean chamois to lighten areas...
I've had so many questions on this process that I will try to do a short tutorial...but have taxes and some last minuet art to finish first.
Hope this helps and thanks for the nice comments. I'm honored to have been an inspiration.
Great tutorial,marsha its been a great learning experience.I am still fighting with shadows, though.May be I dont get the right kind of paper here.
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