It’s Thursday and finally we have rain here in North Texas, a real soaker – hope it puts a dent in our drought. It’s also time for drawing and a new subject been selected!
I’ve wanted to draw a landscape for a while and recently saw several graphite seascapes and thought yes, the sea will be my next subject. I’ve never drawn the ocean so this will give me the challenge that I’m looking for.
Strathmore Bristol Vellum is the paper of choice for “Waiting” (9×8) my newest project. It will mainly be drawn with graphite for its reflective qualities, except for the sky (I want it flat) has been done with a #2 carbon pencil. Frisket has been used covering the two main incoming waves and the pelican keeping those areas clean while I work the water. Once the sea is completed, the frisket will be removed and those areas drawn.
The background water was started using #B and #2B graphite pencil. After the first layer of graphite was down, a tortilium was used to blend the graphite giving a bit of a blended but rougher feel to the water. The horizon needs to be straightened, as well as the tail end of the back incoming wave (too symmetrical) and as mentioned before, I want to finish all the water first because it will give me an opportunity to adjust value ranges depicting water depth properly before working the foam and bird.
I was so excited about starting a new project that I forgot to take a photograph of the initial sketch. I apologize for the quality of the photograph we don’t have the best quality of light today. Here is Waiting, thanks for checking in ~
Waiting #1
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Now look at the nuance! And that ‘white-space’!
For this, I’ll wait. 🙂
Thank you
Undaunted by frisket-good for you! You are braver than I;) A great start!
Thanks Elena – I know, can you believe frisket again? It’s a bit of tenacity, lol!
What a challenge Mary … pencil drawing >>> capturing waves … I know it’s going to be quite something … watch out with the frisket 😉
Hi Poppy, yes can you believe that I’m fooling with frisket again! I’m excited to see how waves can be developed with graphite, this is interesting for me.
I’m excited to follow this one! Is it a heron? Good luck, Mary! 🙂
Hi Calee – thank you for your encouragement on this project. I’m not sure what type of bird this is, but it does look like an egret, but could be a type of heron as well.
Your seascapes are always phenomenal, so I know I’ll love this new venture of yours. Can’t wait to see the finished piece. 🙂
Thanks so much Elizabeth for your generous and enthusiastic comment – appreciate your support. I’m excited to get going on it!
I admire your inspiration and energy. You seem to pick up all the topics so spontaneously and gratefully like they were there waiting for you to paint them! Instead I would wait for the ‘one’ that would be probably invisible, that is why its so hard to start painting for me. Enjoy!
Thank you so much Kha! Drawing is one of the most relaxing exercises that I do, it’s also the most enjoyable medium for me to work with – but I only draw on Thursdays so it’s always a slower process for me. But selecting subjects to draw is a lot of fun and usually feel an immediate connection, whereas I know “this is the one.” Thanks again ~
Exciting!
Thank you!
I’m excited for this, Mary, especially since I’ve seen your completed by-the-water artworks. Keep us updated!
Hi Millie, thank you so much – appreciate your compliment. I’m excited to work this scene and surprising to me I felt just as connected to the sea drawing this as I do when I’m painting it. Will be working on it again next Thursday – I concentrate on drawing on Thursdays.
Exciting, I’ll be checking back for the finished product!
An ocean scene is quite a challenge, so I’m really looking forward to see your journey getting developed in front of our eyes! A promising start and I know we will see a beautiful finished artwork!
Thanks Eva – I feel the sea when I paint it and this was no different, really was in that zone while drawing yesterday. I’m looking forward to work those values from all the different aspects of this scene. Hoping the graphite gives me the reflection I’m looking for with the water. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend!
Can’t wait to see what comes of this Mary! I so love the sea.
Thank you Dorann!
Shit, mary ! – you’ve done TONS already ! – even the egret is identifiable (if it is one) !!
Slow down; you’ll be finished by next week, otherwise … 🙂
Thanks M.R., I know – I got carried away once the sketch was done, couldn’t stop myself. It is an Egret. This drawing excites the artist in me ~ stay tuned.
i laughed; yes, i often forget to photograph the progress as well…
the internet has been too slow to upload/load photos… i walked a few miles to use a stronger tower service, and now everyonee is watching me work and talking.. and the battery is running down!
i fear the timeout for zeebra is going to be very late or lacking images!
that might be fun.
great start.. i can already visualize the light bird (egret.heron) popping w/the darker background…
z
Thanks Z! Incredible the difficulties you have with internet connections that we take for granted and get frustrated when a connection might take longer than 30 seconds – you do have patience! Can’t wait to see your time out. This project excites me, it is very different drawing in waves rather than paint – although the management of values is the same. You are right the bird is an egret, I called it a pelican above (geez). Can’t wait to work the waves and sea foam.
I can tell I’m going to like this one already 🙂
Thank you Jo!
Really nice so far, Mary. I love seeing other artists’ work as they progress. I think maybe I should start doing that.
Thank you Kerry for your thoughts. I hope you do post progress photographs of your work would be interested to see.
Enjoy & good luck with it!
Thanks very much!