Grand Slam has been a really enjoyable project to work on these past five weeks – it was a first for me to combine charcoal and graphite in a seascape and was surprised to find how easy the process was. I’m happy to present the final workout of Grand Slam ~
Grand Slam, charcoal/graphite drawing (9×12) on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper was completed today with making a few minor changes and additions to the crashing waves, darkening the left-side and foreground rocks where the splashing water is hitting them, working the incoming water and putting some finishing touches on the background trees.
My goal with drawing this scene was to give the viewer a sense of the seas power and energy – a place where natures thunder quiets our voices and takes us down a path that is greater than ourselves.
Thank you for checking in and following along with the project ~ check onto the image for a larger view.
The reference image was taken by Ron Ford of pmp.
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Oil Pastels by Mary 
I never would have thought to tackle this subject matter in charcoal BUT, you realized a really interesting and successful piece-congrats!
Thank you Elena. I thought that the flat charcoal would push the trees back from the splash (done in graphite), appreciate your feedback. Thanks so much, have a great rest of the week.
Looks fantastic. Awesome waves, large and small, poetry in motion. A Grand Slam indeed!
Cool description Beth, thank you so much!
It is wonderful, Mary! Have a nice Easter, you creative soul you 🙂
Thank you Christy for your beautiful comment – hope you had a lovely Easter.
This is a nice painting – and exactly what I think! I also tried charcoal recently and its amazing how good the tonal values can be worked out in a really short time.
Thanks so much. It’s pretty cool right? I’ve only just started to explore charcoal, drawing portraits recently during December and January and also was amazed with the effects you can achieve with the medium from edges, tonal values, to erasing for highlights or making changes. It’s different, but a lot of fun.
It turned out great!
Thanks Janell!
Great to finally see the final product! Now for the next one. I eagerly await it 🙂
Thanks Mark – stay tuned!
Extraordinary painting, my dear Mary! Your waves are brilliant! 🙂
Thank you so much Marina! B&W in graphite or charcoal can limit the power of conveying crashing waves, I may try a scene where there is very little else to the scene except the wave and sea to see if I can generate the same energy with more clarity. Thank you for staying with the project, means a lot. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
Wow! What an impactful drawing! You are amazing Mary. From your patience and methodical working and planning to your technical skills. It’s been so fun watching the progression climaxing to the “Grand Slam”! The title fits so well.
In my humble opinion I don’t think this one would lend itself to tinting as it would take away from the star of the scene… The beautiful wave!
Have a lovely weekend Mary. Looking forward to your next project.
Hi Rhonda, thank you so much for your generous feedback and comments on the final results. I agree about the tinting, perhaps some future scene – but for now this drawing is complete. It was a great subject to use for this project and now time to select the next one. Have a great weekend – thanks again!
Most beautiful, Mary! I can almost hear the waves crashing on the rocks 🙂
Thank you so much Patrick – it’s a compliment for me to have a viewer feel or hear the effects of a drawing/painting. The crashing is what brought me to the scene – the graphite gave it life. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks again ~
I have no idea how you do this, Mary, even if I follow you step-by-step! 🙂
Thank you Jo! Have a beautiful weekend ~
I can hear the crash and boom of the wave. 🙂
Thank you Gallivanta – such a compliment!
Well Mary … you took me right there …. ” a place where natures thunder quiets our voices and takes us down a path that is greater than ourselves.”
You’ve finished your 5 weeks with a fabulous flourish . One mighty Grand Slam !!
Hi Poppy, thank you so much! Thrilling for me to read that the wave had that effect on you – so glad you enjoyed the piece. Have a wonderful weekend.
Fantastic, I loved it. Thank you dear Mary, have a nice day and weekend, love, nia
Hi NIa, thank you very much for your kind comment! Have a wonderful weekend too!
Great work 🙂
Thank you Leyla!
Wow Mary, this is absolutely fantastic, so powerful and filled with energy! Love the focal point, so very concentrated. That massive splash is magical, the motion and direction of it is so well, beautifully executed, absolutely stunning view! What a wonderful journey we had with this master piece, 5 weeks of decision making, layering brought us and kept us excited all the way to the end! Thank you Mary for this fabulous Grand Slam!
Hi Eva, thank you for your generous comments – love your description and analysis of how the journey came together. It was a wonderful scene to get fully engrossed in, many times I totally lost track of time, as the waves and splash pulled me in – I do think that the splash was so fascinating I just had to see if I could replicate the force and grace of it with pencil. I’m looking forward to selecting my next drawing project – will begin in two weeks. Have a beautiful weekend, thanks so much. Take care ~
Thank you Mary, wishing you as well a wonderful weekend!
Now do some hand-tinting …
[grin]
Ha – I get it M.R. Thanks very much ~
Hi Mary,
Somehow my comment meant for grand slam number 5 came out on this post! Ah computers! Sorry about that.
In any case, this drawing came out terrific! What a wonderful finish. I am glad to have seen it in progressive steps. Its really amazing how you do this! ~Rita
Hi Rita, thank you and I understand! Thanks so much, I’m glad you enjoyed the process – it was a fun and exciting piece to work on. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks again ~
Well done, Mary. The final result is outstanding. The huge crashing waves look so real. You’ve done a great job. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia, really appreciate your feedback and thoughts – it was a great scene to get lost in and work on each week. Have a beautiful weekend.
Beautiful! I love the detail on the rocks, and I can definitely feel the energy of the water.
Thank you Simla – I love drawing rocks, I can easily get lost in each crevice and rough angled-surface.
Coming along nicely Mary! Looking forward to seeing the finish. ~Rita
Thanks Rita!
I love this! It was interesting to see it come together, bit by bit, each week. Fabulous!
Thank you so much – I’m glad you enjoyed the process. Time now to select my next project, have several exciting scenes to consider. Thanks again ~
I can definitely feel the sea’s power and energy, Mary. I think of the times I’ve vacationed in places on the water and can still hear the waves breaking over the rocks (maybe not as big as your’s in your painting…..) 🙂 Powerful yet soothing. Your painting reminds me of those times.
Thanks Geralyn for your beautiful feedback. Very cool that the drawing takes you back to great memories of your time at the shore – nothing like great thunder from pounding waves! Have a wonderful weekend.
you too!
You certainly hit a grand slam with this, as well as the entire series, Mary! Well done, indeed!
Thanks so much Jill – love your comment, appreciate it!! Have a beautiful weekend.
Grand slam, indeed! That’s what this drawing is!
Thanks so much Cynthia – you’ve made my day! Have a wonderful weekend ~