This is about a drawing I am currently creating. (I don’t like to use the term “working on” because it is not work at all).
This week I have been drawing in my lunch breaks. I usually draw for about half an hour. This is the result at the end of the third day.
I took my watercolour pencils and A4 size University paper (I believe it is produced by St Cuthberts Mill in the UK). I sat at a table next to these law reports and started drawing. These are at eye level and all the shelves are full of books. On the shelf there are books either side of these and they are neatly and tightly shelved.
DECISIONS TO MAKE
I did not really think before I started drawing and now I have some decisions to make. I thought I would share my options with you now and would love to hear any suggestions anyone has.
Current drawing on A4 page
I only have a limited space on the paper to use. This is what is looks like on the A4 page. I have photocopied the drawing and experimented with HB pencil for potential composition. I realised one of my first ideas would not work as I did not have room on the page to draw a few books lying down on the right side, stacked up.
I have the options of adding more books of different heights and thicknesses and/or have some books leaning.
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I could try this
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Or this, or a combination
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- How to finish the sides – I have the choice of fading the colour and lines at the edges to have an unfinished look OR finishing each book and having solid colour to the edge of each book.
- How to finish top – The books are on shelves and the books disappear into darkness of the shelf. I don’t want this is dominate the page.
- How to finish the bottom – The books are sitting on shelves. Do I finish at the base of the book or include the shelf line.
I am looking forward to any suggestions and will share the completed drawing when I have finished it!
ABOUT THE DRAWING
These are the colours I am using. There are 120 watercolour pencils in the Faber Castell range. I carry and use 26 colours in my pencil wrap and they suit me perfectly. I can usually create the colours I need by blending. This is done on the page or off the tip of the two pencils on the waterbrush.
The pigments can be completely dissolved, and will then behave similar to watercolour paints. The paint becomes permanent when dry, enabling other layers of colour to be built up without causing it to dissolve again. Or they can sharpened to a fine tip. Great for broad brushstrokes or finer detail.
However I have to keep remembering to sharpen my pencil. They get blunt very easily when using the waterbrush to take the colour off the tip of the pencil.
I build up the colour gradually. However, as you can see, I also draw in darker areas early as it gives me a sense of where I am going and what the drawing is going to look like when complete.
Here is a previous work in progress library drawing https://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaduke/15429144837/in/set-72157648983342201
and other book and library drawings
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaduke/sets/72157648983342201/, some of which you can purchase on my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/AlissaDuke
Hi Alissa
I think it is a good idea to explore your potential composition this way. I really like the composition with the leaning books it seems more dynamic. I remember my life drawing teacher suggesting that I only needed to focus on drawing what interested me, so I prefer to leave the surrounds fading off. I think this is what Marc Taro Holmes calls gradient of interest. I think some shadow implying a shelf underneath could be sufficient. I certainly don’t think that you need to do anything to the top – which would work with the fading out approach.
I’ll be interested to see how you decide to proceed. Have fun!
HI Leonie – Thanks for your comments. I like the term “dynamic” for the leaning books. I think that describes them well. I have decided to go with that concept and am so glad that I explores the option yet.
As I read your comment I realised that the ‘fading away’ look is often my style and I should go with what I am comfortable with. I have had another few short sessions with this drawing and will post an update soon.