Thursdays drawing continues with project, Takkakaw Falls ~
Takkakaw Falls, a graphite drawing (12×9) is being drawn on the smooth side of Bristol Vellum paper, using 2H and HB graphite pencils. If you recall my goal is to utilize as much as possible sfumato technique which is to minimize details and create a fog (smokey-like) atmosphere. One of the techniques I’m also utilizing in this is to keep the values down to two (2H and HB), which is a bit of a challenge for me as I like to utilize as many as possible within a drawing. But for this drawing, it’s the illusion of smoke-like atmosphere that I’m trying to create – I have to stay focused on what I’m doing. That also means on the outer edges of the drawing details needs to be kept to a raw minimum – so once I was done drawing today I took a sable brush and gave the left-side a good brushing so as to blur some of the rock details. There is still a good deal more to be drawn on the left-side, but for today it was a good start.
The main question I’ll have to answer every week during this project, is how much rock detail to draw in and when to push the values for shadows and lights – get this right and I’ll be half-way there in working towards my goal.
Thanks for checking in. Click onto the image for a larger view ~
Takkakaw Falls #2
Oil Pastels by Mary 
interesting, step by step…
robert
Thank you Robert!
Are these the same Takkakaw Falls in Yoho National Park in Canada?! If so, I love these falls and your piece has done them justice.
They are! I just saw your intro to #1, where you explained it. Beautiful falls. They’re relatively thin which makes them kind of elegant, don’t you think?
The thinness and dance of the water coming down off the rocks is so spectacular, with steam rising from the frothy water hitting the rocks below – very cool scene.
Yes, they are – I see that you found them online. It will take me a couple more weeks, but I think you’ll see the piece unfold and hopefully demonstrate the Falls sheer sense of awe.
Hi Mary,
This seems to be a very well thought out and planned piece. I look forward to seeing your progress. Have a great day!
Hi Janell, thanks for checking in on the piece and your feedback. I’m hoping it progresses as I hope, you never know. Have a wonderful weekend – love your new jewelry creations!
Another magical ride as we watch you at work. Awesome beginning already. Have a great weekend.
Hi Rhonda, thanks very much for your beautiful comment – I really appreciate it, especially since you are dealing with such extreme weather conditions. I saw your note and hope that last night was uneventful. You are in my thoughts – take care and stay safe!
Naturally I think it’s perfect the way it is. Yes, it’s a little more mysterious this way (slightly unfinished), but it’s so unexpected and therefore brilliant. But go ahead, add more smoky atmosphere if you like–I have an open mind.
Thanks so much Prospero – your comment amazes me and how intriguing! Hm, leave undone, as if on purpose, allowing the concept to be labeled as brilliant – do you think art critics would applaud the audacity? So funny, but thought-provoking none-the-less, but you know – I guess I would miss the challenge of the sfumato concept. Thank you my friend – hope you are enjoying the weekend, hello to Princess Ariel.
Mary, you could be a 21st century Marcel Duchamp and present the ‘art’ world with bold challenges (for example, M. D. presented in 1917 a urinal as a interesting objet d’art and had the critics puzzling over what art is and is not.) You could do the same (under my guidance, of course).
Seems like Marcel was thinking out of the box on that one! Giving the critics something to surely think about and under your guidance, quite the challenge Prospero – I’d have to give your proposal some consideration (not too serious of course!). But in today’s world, I’m entirely sure that we would know what is over the top to stun the art world ~
Wonderful brush work!
Thank you Fiona!
Awesome, looking forward to more!
Thank you Nicodemas!
Wow, looks like this’ll be another stunner. Looking forward to it, Mary!
Thanks Laura!
Hey Mary – was just discussing the importance of “concept” with my artist friends last night. Your concept here is well-conceived, well-defined, and well-planned. Intelligence and discipline – wonderful attributes in an artist. Appreciate you posting the stages of execution with your notes – Tom
Thank you for the encouragement Tom and supportive comments. I don’t know if I can pull off what I would like to do in this piece, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I can totally relate to what you guys were talking about “concept” but also for me, I have a challenge in defining in my pieces focal points – this is an area that I am learning about and working on. It is a difficult technical aspect for me to see, grasp and visualize – not to mention demonstrate within one of my pieces (drawing or painting). Let’s just say it’s a long term project of mine ~
I love to see the progress and this one is looking excellent….fantastic work. janet:)
Thanks very much Janet – appreciate your feedback and nice comment!
YOu are most welcome:)
Looking good.
Thanks so much Elena!
Each one of your piece is unique…. this one looks amazing, too… 🙂
Thank you Maniparna for such a lovely comment – very much appreciated.
Love the effect you’ve created with the sable brush. Well done, Mary. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia – more to go, but it’s coming along. Best to you for a lovely weekend – try to keep the alligators at bay!!
I’ll do my best. 🙂 Happy weekend to you. xx
Thank you my friend!
You’re amazing.. always practicing, pushing yourself and creating great works. Lookin’ good!
Thank you my friend – means a lot to receive your feedback. As always I owe you much gratitude for encouraging to pick drawing back up. I really haven’t a clue if I can pull off the effect I’m after, I think it will all depend on whether I started with too light of a value – we’ll see. Take care and keeping my fingers crossed that you continue to heal – love your latest watercolors.
Even if a new technique lets us down, we learn from it. It’s been interesting tackling the studies at the museum and knowing there will be people (staff) looking/critiquing at the end of each day… today’s subject was a big challenge, and i just finished for the day.. whew, i’m exhausted, but it’s turning out well.
Yes! I see the falls! Don’t stop. I think this will be a real winner (among your many). 🙂
Hi Dorann – thank you for your enthusiastic endorsement of the project. Still a long ways to go, but you give me confidence that it’s headed in the right direction – this one might keep me up at nights worrying details or no details. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend.