Ferns. I love them, they are rich in texture and would be a great addition to wooded scenes. They've been elluding my pencil though. In Mike's book "Drawing From Line to Life", he suggests disengaging the subject by drawing the space around it, or what is called negative drawing.
So I ignored the leaves, focused on the dark spaces between the leaves. I also did not outline anything, again the focus on only tonal shapes "between the leaves".
This is so exciting!!!! Ferns appeared for the first time on my paper! Very fresh, spontaneous and organic.
Here is the small incomplete sketch, but expresses a major milestone....one step closer to the negative world.
So I ignored the leaves, focused on the dark spaces between the leaves. I also did not outline anything, again the focus on only tonal shapes "between the leaves".
This is so exciting!!!! Ferns appeared for the first time on my paper! Very fresh, spontaneous and organic.
Here is the small incomplete sketch, but expresses a major milestone....one step closer to the negative world.
A talented convert! What more could I ask for :)
ReplyDeleteI find this way of working produces the best understanding of the form you are portraying.
Instead of your mind being cluttered with thoughts of what you believe a fern should look like, you're free to explore the negative shapes that it creates. And as both positive and negative share a common border, drawing one creates the other.
This is looking so natural and alive!
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and your workshop! There is nothing like working with you in person to help understand a technique. You totally enlightened me with this approach. Add your book in for reference and I'm equipped with some powerful tools! :)