Drawing branches and twigs – to hatch or not to hatch that is the question..
Today I explored the branches and twigs of yesterday a bit further. Also I played with my drawing tool to find out what kind of lines the Pentel Gel-pen might produce.
I took a break between two sessions of 20-30 minutes and returned about an hour later to the same place. As the sun moved the shadows in the drawing are not consistent or strictly “true” representing one particular situation or moment.
There are two main methods to represent volumes and/or shadows in a drawing. Hatching which is a kind of abstract method that neglects the material properties of the subject. The other method, that I admire so much in the works of Piranesi, is to use thicker and thinner lines in the representation. Piranesi never uses hatches or even cross hatches to establish dark shadows. You can study his technique with the magnifier device in the incredible KAMEI-collection.
While establishing the outline of the branches I also noticed that the Pentel Gel-Pen can produce a vivid line if not much pressure is applied.To imitate the fine structure of the bark I applied no pressure other than the light weight of the plastic pen, moving it around to create a hubbub of lines or parallel lines.
I always liked my Ink pen because of the lack to give a uniform,dead line that many of the ink pens produce. (see also “How to draw with a pen“) A similar effect can be achieved with the Gel-Pen, but a very gentle treatment is necessary.
How to draw a tree- Publication on Blurb
Forest diary- the sketchbook re-print on Blurb
Buy Print on Redbubble
on 27. February 2010
I really love what you are doing here.