Graphite studies (Patreon)

Hi everyone,

I hope you are happy and well. 

Before I started painting, back when I was at high school and in my twenties, I used to draw in graphite a lot. Colour scared me and I told myself I couldn't paint so I never bothered to try. Instead I drew all the time. 

Recently I've picked the pencils back up again and I'm using them to draw little studies before I start my painting. They only take about an hour or so to do and I am finding that they are very helpful. I can use the studies to work out tonal values and edges.

 I make my reference photo black and white and then I sit down with some relaxing music on and I start to draw. I can simplify the areas of the subject that I think might give me trouble when I paint it. I can reduce contrast in the areas away from my focal point and increase the contrast around the focal point. I can soften outer edges where they may appear hard on the reference photo. I can also play with the background and see where to put some colour if I want to. I did this little wren yesterday and I used the drawing more than the reference photo when I was painting. I mainly used the reference photo for my colour choices.

After I have done the graphite drawing I can decide whether I want to do a colour study as well - in watercolour. I generally do a colour study on subjects I'm not familiar with or not feeling confident about. I'm sure these little graphite studies would be very helpful to those of you who do pet portraits. I think you could simplify fur patterns and make it easier for yourself when you start to paint.

When I start to paint I use both the drawing and the reference photo to help me paint. I  look at the graphite drawing and see how I've simplified areas when the reference photo gets a bit confusing. I am going to continue to do these little studies because I am finding them very helpful. I'm excited to try more. I ordered myself some new drawing paper and some soft graphite pencils and they arrived today! I remember when I was younger I used to love using the softer 4b, 5b, 6b pencils so I got a few of them.

I'll make a tutorial of this Wren for you when I can. I'm currently working on the Budgerigar tutorial.

Louise

💕