Wooden porch

A new (and different) test on Canson 180 gsm drawing paper. It is the first time I use ink wash and I am very happy with the results. It was not an intensive wash but the paper practically did not buckle. The nib pen slides pretty good on the paper. I thought the tooth of the paper would make harder to draw the lines in some orientations. Nice paper.

And a couple of images of the process. On the left, a very quick sketch without details. On the right, the main lines are drawn in ink. As usual, click on every image to enlarge.

   

The drawing is inspired by a graphite sketch in the book Drawing & Painting Buildings by Richard Taylor, a good book with lots of tips for drawing buildings.

Pencil grades

Just a quick sketch. I was comparing several pencils on Canson 180 gsm drawing paper. I have only used this paper for tests and watercolor palettes but I never drawn using graphite. Although it is supposed that the paper admits wash techniques, it is mainly recommended for graphite. On the pencils, the Staedtler HB feels softer than the Faber-Castell HB, and the shading also looks different. I was also checking how the pencil grade and the pressure affect the darkness.

Locomotives (II)

I had already used nib pens on Moleskine sketchbook paper. And it works better with fountain pens or fineliners. I have used other papers and the nib flows perfectly over them. On the other hand, the ink goes thought the paper. It had already spoiled some of my old drawings and I watched videos where it also happens. It is a 160 gsm paper. Surely I will be buying new sketchbooks soon.

Locomotives (I)

I was testing the Moleskine sketchbook paper with different media. I was reviewing the sketches and basically I used ink and watercolor so I have started the series with graphite. The paper is smooth enough and it gets the graphite particles very nicely. I used Faber-Castell pencils (from 2H to 6B). I had to use a kneaded eraser only because I got in troubles with a vinyl eraser in my latest sketches: it erases the graphite and the yellowish paper color. There are several techniques that involve erasing in graphite drawing, therefore it is an important drawback.

Back to basics

Holy cow! I am absolutely rusty! We bought a set of 2 mm color leads and I was checking it out. I was warming up with some simple blocks. Did you see those spheres? They look ugly and completely dented… I was able to do it much better two years ago!

On the other hand, I am starting to consider different papers. Does anybody use Moleskine sketchbooks? I like the book design with its ribbon and such, it is very easy to find in each store around the world but I guess there are better papers in the same price range. It is quite expensive! I will be testing new alternatives. I will keep you all informed.

A different kind of painting

I have changed my old kolinsky sable brushes for a new synthetic roller. And I have also changed the medium and support, we might say acrylic on wood. I am painting a wardrobe. I was sanding the last week and now I am applying the primer. I will keep you all informed. By the bye the title is a reference to the documentary about Davis.

Feb 2013 – A Little Tune

This year I was using one of the pieces that I study each month for my Loring Art Calendar 2013. February is for Dmitry Kabalevsky. I was working on one of his works, the first piece of 24 Pieces for Children, op. 39. Very easy tune. After I started to play it I was listening other works by Kabalevsky, he wrote wonderful works.