Keep on truckin’

Well, it’s a good excuse to do something other than those soft, flowing, organic lines in the flowers. Here we have some good old, sturdy, straight lines and sharp angles, and plenty of hatching.

I liked the look of this 1920s style truck and thought it deserved sketching. It’s not quite old enough to have moved the Clampetts* to Beverley Hills, that was, apparently, a customised 1921 Oldsmobile 43-A roadster. I added a loose background for a little context. Completed with fine liners in my sketch book.

What do you think?

(*As in the ‘Beverley Hillbillies‘ American TV sitcom, 1962-1971)

A Rose … by any other name

This is, again, from my sketchbook. I have reverted to stippling for this one. I felt that hatching could be a little harsh for such soft shapes and shading.

It reminded me just how slow the stippling process is. It is a very mindful process, inasmuch as I can lose myself in the actions – just watching the form appear before my eyes. I think this one took may be 10 hours.
I start (after laying out the shape in pencil) by laying down mid-tone areas, leaving the highlight areas untouched. After that, I gradually add more dots to increase the tonal value – working one area/petal at a time.

Once I’ve finished all areas I review the whole piece and add any more if required. As with most art, the secret is knowing when to stop.

The sketchbook is a cheap one and the paper does not lend itself quite so well to the stippling technique. It is soft and quite absorbing – almost like blotting paper. This does give a soft, etherial look to the rose, but I felt a little lining was needed just to define the edges.

The leaves were a learning exercise. In order to make them fit with the rose they had to be more life-like.

Let me know what you think.

Note to self: Invest in a better quality sketchbook!

Architectural Scroll

Another page from my scrap book, an architectural scroll. I started by shading the outside with stippling.

Usually I would complete the whole picture with stippling, but this time I used hatching. The lines follow the contours and enhance the 3D effect.

I wasn’t sure if the mix of stippling and line was going to work, but I am pleased with the finished work.

Using the hatching technique is very different from stippling, even though the final aim is the same – to have a tonal finish that gives the impression of highlight and shadow, a convincing 3D effect.

With stippling the varying tone across an area can be built gradually until the desired effect is reached. Hatching and cross hatching requires more planning, but is quicker to execute. Stippling has a softer appearance overall, and different subjects lend themselves to a particular finish.

I used UniPin 0.05 fine liner.

What’s next, I wonder?

Hatching … a plan?

Continuing with my sketchbook at our Tuesday art gathering, I experimented with hatching, as opposed to stippling, for creating shape and texture in ink drawings.

I took my inspiration from old school techniques, as found in illustrated text books of the 50s and 60s, and a couple of modern ink artists.

The basic idea is for the lines to accentuate the form, creating the illusion of three dimensions, shading, and texture. One layer is called hatching, but the more layers added in different directions – called cross hatching – the more the shape is defined.

I chose to draw a peony this time. I used a 0.05 fine liner by Uni Pin.

I started with the flower. The difficulty here was to show tone, yet still have sufficient variation to give form. The leaves were simpler as they are not the main focus for the drawing. Lastly I added shadows. The principle is that shadows are darker the shaded areas, so hatching in four directions was necessary to get the required definition.

I am pleased with the image, it is dramatic with plenty of contrast. I shall be using this technique again. What do you think?

Scotney Old Castle – again

Back in March of 2023 I drew part of Scotney Old Castle, from the front. This view is from the other side – the lake side.

Scotney Old Castle, in Kent, was built around 1380, as a fortified house with a tower at each corner, but it is believed it was never completed, and by 1558 only the south tower remained. In 1580 the south wing was rebuilt in Elizabethan style. It, together with the New Castle in the same grounds, belongs to the National Trust.

Drawn with fine liners with graphite shading.

Wedding card – a bit different

Well, the wedding was a huge success. The dress, the suit, the ceremony, the event location, and the people were all great. The whole thing was organised by the bride, and she excelled over what a wedding planner could have done.

Of course I needed to come up with a handmade card for the occasion, so the couples attachment to the macabre made it easy. So, here is the design for the card – to compliment the table decorations …

Slack water at Bude Harbour

This time we have gone nautical. This small fishing boat was left high and dry as the tide ebbed away. At low water we can walk along the harbour shore to the breakwater, passing all the marooned vessels along the way.

A4, Bristol board, fine liners and graphite

Cotehele

Cotehele is a medieval house with Tudor additions, dating from the mid 15th century. It is situated in Cornwall, the grounds reaching down to the river Tamar, which is the border with Devon. The estate is now in the hands of the National Trust.

This drawing is of courtyard detail, drawn with fine liners on A4 Bristol board, with graphite shading.

Birthday challenge

I haven’t done a ‘wonky’ house request for some time, so this birthday present commission was a bit of a challenge. I didn’t realise how different to drawing a ‘real’ picture it was.

The reference photos showed a well developed garden, with shrubs, tall flowers, and bushes. My mission was to get all the special features included, with the house – so this is the result.

A4 Bristolboard, landscape, ink with graphite shading. Of course I will take commissions for other occasions, not only birthdays. Just ask.

Trerice House

Here is a view of the rear of the house, a much more interesting aspect.

Trerice is described as an Elizabethan manor house, built around 1572 and for many years owned by the Arundel family, now in the hands of The National Trust.

This picture is from my own photograph using various pens and ink with graphite shading. A4. I am open for commissions.