“I step onto the path and as my feet sink into the first grains of sand I can feel the salty sea breeze hit my face, the smell of the sea water and screeching call of the gulls – it’s at that moment a sense of quiet solitude comes over me like a soft warm wrap.” by Mary
Seeking Solitude, a graphite drawing (10×8) was done on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper using loose graphite powder and graphite pencils (2H, HB, B, 4B and 6B) as the medium, and tortilium, Mono Zero Tombow’s and kneaded erasers to bring magic to the scene. This was one of those ocean scenes that I could feel before I even began drawing it ~ a sense of peace fills the air.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, perhaps I can finally catch up with everyone’s blog posts. Thank you for visiting ~ click onto the image for a larger view.
Inspiration for this drawing came from a wonderful artist and photographer on pmp, Rose Herczeg.
Please don’t take my images – my art is copyrighted.
Please don’t copy or use the image without receiving my permission first – see disclosure on the right panel.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Amazing drawing! I can’t help but feel peace and solitude when looking at it. I hope that I can draw like you one day!
Thank you Sigmund for your very generous comment and compliment – it means a lot and is appreciated. Drawing relaxes and challenges me at the same time – I’ve learned a lot from this medium.
Love this! The techniques you used work really well with the atmosphere of the picture! Can’t wait to see more from you 😀
Thank you Tiff, nice to meet you – I appreciate your feedback!
I positively love your quote. Just yesterday I was driving near the coast and I savored the lively, saline air. You’re poetic description captures the vitality of that sensation beautifully (and your sketch is great too!).
Thank you Russel and for taking the time to visit my blog. Glad you enjoyed the drawing!
I love everything about this. It reminds me of when I was a kid & getting ready to go swimming: “Last one in is a rotten egg!”
Sometimes seeking solitude brings us to the ultimate in getting refreshed in soul and thought. Thank you love your comment and imagery – kids and grownups alike have a kinship with the ocean.
Loved this one, Mary…. solitude is blissful…
Thank you so much Maniparna for your kind comments. I know you can relate to the solitude. I haven’t been around much but hope to stop by your blog soon.
You keep giving me new favourites, Mary!
Hi Cynthia, thank you – love your response!! Hope you are enjoying your gardens these days ~
I can almost smell that sea breeze!
Such a compliment Fiona, thank you so much ~
The peace is palpable in your drawing Mary! And your treatment of textures is masterful as always.
Thank you Madhu for your response to the drawing – it was a wonderful scene to work out with dry medium. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Oh Mary how I wish I could walk that beach with you! Your description of your feet sinking into the sand and the smell of the salty breeze makes me want to go to the beach so badly! I wish it was so much closer but it is a half a day’s drive away from us so we don’t get there often. Love your beautiful artwork, my friend! 🙂
Thank you Patsy for your generous thoughts on this drawing. The beach would be a great reprieve for you, you could leave at 5:00am – get there by noon have 4or 5 hours at the shore and pack up and be home by midnight. A long day, but one that would energize your spirit.
5 a.m.? Yikes. I am not an early bird anymore Mary! And you are welcome.
it is agreat pleasure to see your magnificent drawing.
Thank you so much Dsaquarelles for your beautiful reaction to the scene – glad you enjoyed it!!
We all should be able to find a piece of solitude like this. It’s beautiful, Mary! 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much Jo – your seascape photographs provide the same feeling. Hope you have a lovely rest of the week ~
This drawing is wonderful, Mary!
Thanks Jackie – glad you enjoyed the scene!
Gorgeous. I was sure I had already liked this wonderful piece. Hmm, maybe I saw it in an email notification, but wasn’t logged in. I totally feel the solitude in this sensual work!
Thank you my friend for your wonderful comment – glad you enjoyed Resa!
Great job, Mary! Graphite powder is an exciting medium. Did you use it for the underground and then lightened it with an eraser? However, I feel the magic of the scene and can smell the salt in the air!
Thanks Alexandra, I enjoyed your response to the drawing. A good question. The powder was used for the undertones as a first layer for the whole scene (w/the exception of the sea foam that I kept cleaned and worked each individually), then I used a combination of pencils and the loose powder to develop the scene. I really enjoy working with graphite powder as well, I do so with charcoal as well – but this scene I wanted a more soft atmosphere and went with the graphite. Do you use the powder in your works?
No, unfortunately not often, only for abstracts so far. I have to get it out again! But I like to work with charcoal powder in combination with charcoal pencil.
Good morning, Mary! I am just so honored you chose my photo again to do another fantastic drawing. This is very sentimental to me now because Hurricane Matthew took this boardwalk away, and we still do not have a replacement. I’m so glad I spent a lot of time photographing my beach back in 2012-2014… I have lots of great memories. You have given me such a gift today with this drawing! God bless you, Rose
Hi Rose, thank you so much for your lovely comment and providing such inspiration in your photograph it was perfect for what I envisioned for the scene. Hopefully one day you guys will be able to see a new boardwalk built so you all can enjoy the wonderful spot again. I am so glad you enjoyed the drawing and more so that it brought back very special memories. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Beautiful words and image…capturing a sense of quiet and solitude….a place to contemplate. Thank you Mary and wishing you a beautiful and creative week ahead…janet 🙂
Hi Janet, thank you so much for your special words – they are always a source of encouragement. I’ve been absent from blogging but will be able to spend some time today to catch up to see your latest posts. Hope you are well ~ have a beautiful day!
Thank you Mary…we all need time out every now and then – enjoy the day Janet 🙂
Fabulous painting! I can smell the salt spray!
Thank you so much Fiona – so glad you enjoyed the beach scene!
A perfect spot for serenity and solitude. Love this piece, Mary, and it reminds me of my former home in South Carolina.
Hi Jane, thank you so much for your wonderful response to the drawing – it’s such a compliment when a scene that I’ve done becomes a reminder of a special memory. SC is a beautiful State.
Options as I walk across – do I turn left or right. 🙂
Short, simple – just loved your response!! Let me know what turn you end up taking and what you surprise you might discover Judy. I’m hoping to catch up on your blog postings today. Here is to a wonderful summer with warm and sunny days for you New Englanders!!
Hi Mary, Your beautiful drawing gives a sense of quiet solitude. A wonderful feeling. 🙂
Thank you Amy for your gracious words – they mean a lot and so glad you enjoyed the scene. Yesterday I tried three times to post a comment to your blog post and for some reason nothing would write out, with the exception of the first letter and then all the rest would disappear. I will try again today and see if I have some success – it was really weird.
Thank you for letting me know the problem, and apology for the trouble. Thank you for keep trying😅
I finally had to give up, did anything come on to the posting at all from me. There was one other blog post that this happened to as well. I’ll be stopping by later today to see your latest posts – love your photography.
Thank you for your praise, Mary. It’s frustrating when something like this happen and you can’t do much about it.
Magic was the right word Mary…. your rendition is magical!
Thank you so much Dorann! Glad you enjoyed ~
Since the ocean is a special place for me, your drawing is so soothing. I feel like I’m at the water’s edge. I love it! Beautiful quote too.
Beautiful words Jill, thank you so much – I’m glad that the drawing took you to a great place. Thank you – I do owe you something too, hopefully an email will be sent out to you by the end of next week. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead ~
More magic, Mary!
Hello my friend, thank you for your kind words – I have been thinking about you. I have been absent for two weeks and hope everything is well. I’ll head on over to your blog for updates ~
The cataract operation was highly successful, I’m glad to say. x
If that isn’t fantastic news Sarah! I know you must be thrilled ~ it’s about time that things went your way health-wise. Awesome news my friend!!