Did I forget to mention that it takes me forever to sketch out a subject? For me, it’s a long process before I shade and blend. I draw free-hand and find that if I take my time during the first stage of sketching not only will I get an intimate feel for the subject, but I found it will make all the difference with the finished drawing.
So with that . . . looks like you’re seeing the same image as last week. It is the same subject, but only redrawn to 12×9 (the initial test-sketch was 7×5). The subject is a lightly drawn on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper (smooth side). I see several areas to be worked on before next Thursday, so when Thursday rolls around I can spend the allotted 30-minutes only shading and blending. The image is light (sorry about that) but I needed to keep the lines light so I can erase them as I work the drawing. My tools will be graphite pencil, charcoal, torilliums, chamois, felt pad and kneaded eraser.
Why this subject? I wanted to show the gentle nature of a horse while illustrating compassion through touch, thus the title “Gentle Compassion.” In the end, I hope it evokes a positive emotional response. Lets see where it goes. . . below is my Thursday’s drawing. Next week I’ll begin to shade and blend.
Drawing Horse 1
Oil Pastels by Mary 
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Can’t wait to see how this will turn out. I was kissing the nuzzle of my boy today. It was fun, he kept going back and forth for more. 🙂
They know right? Isn’t it amazing – it’s that spirit of connection that I’m hoping to capture in the first drawing. Thanks so much – I can feel your love for your horse.
Looks good so far Mary, can’t wait to see it finished 🙂
Thanks Madhu! I’m anxious to get going – appreciate your feedback!
I think it is good, that you need a lot of time for sketching. If your base is good, then your drawing will be better. If your sketch is not good, your drawing will never be good. 😉
Hi Petronette, thank you and you are spot-on!! Yesterday I went back and played a bit more with the sketch and it’s looking better. Will do a little more before Thursday and then I can’t wait to start shading.
Great subject, Mary and it already has a gentleness about it.
Thanks Pat, love hearing from you. I fret so with the sketching part of drawing – there are several areas I need to go back and work on, but I can’t wait to start shading and blending – for me that’s the fun part.
Wonderful to witness talent in action. I can’t wait to see the next episode. 🙂
Thank you – you’re words are so nice to read this morning.
The rendering is so much fun:)
Thanks Elena – I love this part of drawing.
Mary! It’s great to witness your unrushed approach, which reflects your maturity as an artist. when we study our subjects, we get to know them very well, unlike how a fast shutter-click with the camera freezes that same subject.
thank you for the discipline of sharing this each week; is it hard for you to stop after thirty minutes? i am not too good at limiting myself to thirty minutes.. like when i sit down to paint when there’s something cooking, and later the aroma of burning food reminds me that i’ve been in my ‘fog’ too long!
z
Thanks Z! Part of my unrushed approach is because 1) I’m not confident in drawing and 2) it’s very hard for me to draw what I see whether it’s a straight line, curved, what have you – it’s very strange and I don’t know why my pencil goes one way when the line actually goes another. So the initial drawing is hard for me, but you’re right that I do get to know the subject real well. 30 minutes? Ha, when I get into a painting or drawing hours can go by and I won’t notice. Do you know where I spend most of my time as an artist – figuring out what to paint, while I have hundreds, upon hundreds of images or live scenes to work from – it’s that “something” that happens when I look at a subject. Is that feeling there or not. My current painting I’ve just started had that feeling (and this drawing too) and I can’t wait to get started today. The actual process of painting and drawing relax me, how about you?
watercolors are true work for me. the attention to detail and the ‘exactness’ of nailing those unforgiving darks demands a lot from my muscles and eyes… drawing is like taking a nap!
i learned to decipher those puzzling drawing challenges by imagining the ‘face’ of a clock, and i’d ask myself which number is that line pointing towards.. although my mind thought it was pointing towards the number three, my eye realized it was pointing first toward two and then curved a bit towards one… that always helps me.. hope that made sense!
gotta get ready for the tour then dash to the bus, which is an hour’s walk!
back online in a few days!
z
Really good advice Lisa and I’ll use it. You make me laugh with your comment about drawing – I feel like that with oil pastels. I hope you enjoy the tour!!! Have a great day!
Fascinating process……
Thank you Cindy – I’ve had to brush up some, so I hope I can bring this one home and do justice to the theme.
Great subject, Mary! Looking forward to see the progress .
And also :
❤🎶Happy Birthday to you dear Mary . All the best 🎶❤
Have a great day!
Good Morning Violet – you are so kind. Thank you so much for the b-day wishes, it means a lot!!!