Today I was able to spend a good two hours drawing and made nice progress on the big slabs of rocks of Takakkaw Falls ~
Takakkaw Falls, a graphite drawing (12×9) is being drawn on Bristol Vellum paper – using only 2H and HB graphite pencils, and a tortilum for blending. My objective is to use Sfumato technique (giving a smokey appearance, for this drawing it would be coming in from the sides), but I’m finding this takes a great deal of focus and discipline to not over do the rock formation details on both sides of the drawing – I hope I’m able to stick with the plan and not go overboard with detail. But darn I do love drawing rocks, for me it’s a relaxing and mesmerizing process building the character of the rocks (cracks, crevices and water stains) that I could do for hours. Which is what could also get me in trouble, again working in too much detail.
I see several areas that need more buildup of shading for the shape and form of some rocks that play a more significant role in the over all scene that I’ll take care of next week. In addition the other work will concentrate on the middle rocks immediately surrounding and are behind the falls.
Do you see the wolf head? Didn’t realize that the point I left off today, ending up looking just like a wolf looking down into the Falls – how funny! Thanks for checking in ~ click onto the image for a larger view.
Takakkaw Falls #3
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Love the wolf 🙂
robert
Thank you Robert, an interesting surprise – don’t you think?
This looks amazing! I love the rock textures.
Thank you very much – I love drawing rocks because of the textures – cracks/crevices and bulk.
I see the wolf head, too. Funny how unplanned things show up in our art. He definitely should stay in your drawing. 🙂
Thanks Janell! You think he should stay too, well it looks like it may happen – we’ll see what happens when I get back into the drawing. It really was the funniest thing – never noticed until after the photograph was taken. It happened on one other painting I did a while back called, A Rough Sea (https://oilpastelsbymary.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=743&action=edit) that I painted back in 2013. The whole time I was painting the scene I never noticed the cross in the sky, literally saw it after I posted the final painting in a blog post. I agree, you never know when something will show up. Thanks so much Janell!
Love how this developing Mary
Thank you so much – appreciate it!
Hey, I can see the wolf head.. great one… (y) 🙂
Thanks Maniparna!
🙂 …
Mary, thanks for sharing your love of drawing rocks. Your description of your relaxing and mesmerizing process really spoke to me. When I’m in the writing zone I can feel the same way (almost NEVER happens though). 🙂 Look forward to seeing more of your drawing over the next few weeks.
Hi Geralyn, thanks very much. Interesting and I’ll bet as a writer your mental process is similar. It usually happens when drawing rocks or water – there is something about the process of looking and discovering patterns within the subjects. Just love it. Have a lovely weekend up North!
You too, Mary!
Really nice Mary. I saw the wolf head right away!
Ha, you are good Catherine! Thanks so much – have a beautiful weekend!!
It amazes me how you can produce such beautiful work and so quickly!
Elizabeth can’t thank you enough for such a beautiful comment. A few more drawing sessions and we’ll be able to put it to bed.
Looking good, Mary, and I see a little monkey head!! :))
Thanks Laura, so funny – oh no a monkey head – what have I done!! Hope I can pull this scene back to some level of reality. My best to you for a creative weekend!
Thanks so much, Mary!
YES! I see the wolf head!
Doesn’t surprise me Resa, you have a knack for seeing what others would pass by – thanks so much! How is your gown creation coming along? Have a great weekend.
Mary, you are so lovely to ask about my next gown!
Well, I just finished my job, (w/Kim Cattrall) and have been putting my life in order. It was crazy, 14-16 hour days!
I should be working on it next week. The gown has been partly draped on Judy since April!
I am very excited to get back to it!
Looking forward to see if the wolf head survives the falls!
Alright … now you have to keep the wolfhead in the final product. 😉
Interesting right Frank? Okay keep him in, hmmm, we’ll have to see – now I see nothing but his head!! Have a great weekend and a good golf game ~
By seeing a wolf head in the rock you remind me of Cynthia with her pareidolic tendencies–seeing today some eidolon in my ginger and now a wolf head in your rock! Poets!
Oh come on Prospero you do see it too, right?! But of course you do, come on admit it!! Ah Cynthia, but you know her pareidolic tendencies is what brings a bit of intrigue and mystery. Thanks so much and hope you have a very creative-writing weekend, head-pat to Princess Ariel.
Oh yes, I too can see that wolf head. 🙂 You’re doing a great job, Mary.
Fun right Sylvia! Thanks very much and glad you could see him – it’s an interesting scene to develop that’s for sure.
love your waterfall and rocks, and I nearly always see ‘faces, figures, shapes’ in rocks and mountains 🙂
Hi Debi, thanks very much – who knows who else might pay us a visit! Have a wonderful and creative weekend.
you’re welcome Mary; and hope you have a lovely summery weekend as well 🙂
Oh Boy! This is going to be a joy to watch it unfold!!!
Thanks Rhonda!! Will probably take several more drawing sessions to finish it out – keep the wolf or not, what do you think?
Nice Wolf
Cool Derrick, so you saw him! Unintentional, but hmmmm the question is does he stay or get erased out.
I wait to find out with bated breath 🙂
I am one who loves detail, but depending on the drawing, it can feel like I’m bogging myself down. I don’t see the wolf head. Darn! This is going to be lovely, I’m sure, Mary. 🙂
Hi Patsy, thanks very much and I can understand. It’s very hard not to draw in a lot of detail especially with this scene, but that’s a goal so I’m trying to stick with it. Oh you have to look closely, but he’s there – by mistake, but none-the-less he has showed in the drawing and will be hard not to keep him in the scene.
You’re welcome! Currently, I am going to be drawing fantasy characters like what and who you would find in a Dungeons and Dragons game. I have drawn some dragons in the past, but plan to do more. I don’t think I’ve ever posted them on my blog, but I won’t be able to post anything for a couple of weeks since my husband and daughter took the camera on their trip. My phone won’t do it. I will look for him again in your drawing!
Hey, Mary! I found your wolf! That is so awesome! 🙂
I like that wolf head….I often experience pareidolia so it’s easy for me to see….maybe next week a saint will appear, with a message from heaven… 🙂 Keep up the good work, Mary…
Pretty cool right Cynthia – I didn’t see it until after I had finished taking the photograph and thought don’t change it, it’s interesting element. Ah a saint, never know what might appear – thank you my friend. This scene might take a bit longer to develop, I’ve a few ideas to try as I near the end of the project. Have a lovely weekend.
looking good Mary! Waterfalls are one of my favorite subjects! Can’t wait to see this when its finished. ~Rita
Thanks Rita – water falls are a great subject to draw, takes a bit a time and hopefully in the end it will show the beauty of the actual scene.
It’s coming along beautifully….Janet. 🙂
Thanks Janet – slowly but surely the scene will come alive. Thanks for checking in ~
I love watching this happen….thank you. Janet
I do see the wolf head, Mary. 🙂
Thanks so much Jill – very cool, so it wasn’t only me!