Self Portrait and Landscapes

[J Schmo]

Thought I'd contribute a few drawings to this section. All drawings are a couple of years old, and more in the vein of experimental / technical excercise.

The first is a self portrait, done reductively with graphite using a grid system.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/dj_ellis/self_portrait.jpg

Next is a landscape. I was pretty fascinated at the time with street lights; they seem somewhat alien to me. This was done using a grid system as well, but with pencil directly applied.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/dj_ellis/scape.jpg

Lastly, another landscape. As with the self portrait, this is done reductively with graphite using a grid system.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/dj_ellis/parking_lot.jpg

[Donut Mahoney]

it looks like you just edited photos in photoshop. If you diddn't, then take that as a HUGE compliment.

[Bradart]

i dont know what you mean by "Done reductively". once you tell me what that means, ill try and see what i have to say.

[J Schmo]

Originally posted by Donut Mahoney
it looks like you just edited photos in photoshop. If you diddn't, then take that as a HUGE compliment.

No... not edited in photoshop. If you look long enough, the drawing becomes more evident.

[dusty imp]

i dont know what you mean by "Done reductively". once you tell me what that means, ill try and see what i have to say.

I think he's trying to say that the way it was done is the page is covered evenly with charcoal, and then you erase back into it to expose light areas.

[Bradart]

thank you, yutani. wow, im very impressed. that seems like it would be much more difficult, and it turned out very well. It does look like a photograph. Please post more.

[J Schmo]

Originally posted by Bradart
i dont know what you mean by "Done reductively". once you tell me what that means, ill try and see what i have to say.

I take of piece of 'Lanaquarelle, Hot Pressed, 140 lb, Watercolour Paper' and with a cotton pad work up the surface as dark as possible with graphite(I apply graphite to a seperate piece of paper, and pick it up with the cotton pad). From there it's a matter of erasing down to the areas of value that I want(I generally use a kneadable and the 'Sanford Tuff Stuff Eraser Stick' sharpened to a point). When I'm left with the areas of value that I want, I reapply graphite up to the next value in the scale that I'm working in(I generally manage to keep it within five values). If I need to add graphite I just apply it to tortillons, in varied sizes and sharpened to a point if need be(Using a tortillon allows for diffused edges, without a great deal of hassle, when needed). The great thing about working this way is that the edges, with a bit of practice, tend to blend themselves. Because the drawing is constantly being burnished and blended, all evidence of the 'hand' is generally invisible(which is good if that's what your after).

[Donut Mahoney]

Ah yes...I see now...

*jaw drops*

[J Schmo]

Originally posted by Yutani


I think he's trying to say that the way it was done is the page is covered evenly with charcoal, and then you erase back into it to expose light areas.

Thanks Yutani! I was trying be as specific as a possible; but if you replace charcoal with graphite you've pretty much summed it up.


Best,

Darrell

[n69n]

wow, you're incredibly talented!

[Ubatuba]

Truly Amazing! If these are 2 years old I would love to see some recent work.Just curious about the time involved for each piece?

[J Schmo]

Originally posted by Bradart
thank you, yutani. wow, im very impressed. that seems like it would be much more difficult, and it turned out very well. It does look like a photograph. Please post more.

Hi Bradart,

I've posted some sketches in the 'SKETCHES & IDEAS' section, though there quite a bit different.

Darrell

[J Schmo]

Originally posted by Ubatuba
Truly Amazing! If these are 2 years old I would love to see some recent work.Just curious about the time involved for each piece?

Hi Ubatuba,

I'm not really doing work like this these days, so unfortunately I don't have anything recent to post. I'll see about getting some of my slides scanned though.

As for time involved in each piece, it's hard for me to say. It would depend on complexity and scale(these drawings are posted at 1:1 scale). I also tended to put drawings a way unfinished for a while, then come back to them with a fresh eye. Then again... is a drawing ever really finished.


Darrell