I've begun exploring new techniques in graphite drawing. I never thought this specific type of art has so many different styles and techniques that one could use to create realistic effects. My latest craze has been blending with ear buds and "painting" with graphite powder. In the end I have realized there's very little usage of a pencil to actually "draw" something. Most of my drawings these days are requiring a higher usage of erasing, brushing and blending. It has resulted in a much smoother and nice finish on the drawings which give a more realistic feel to the whole drawing.
What's the point in drawing from a reference photograph just to make the drawing look like another photograph? I don't know. The sheer pleasure and the end result I guess. The fact that a human can make use of 'tools' and his eyes to recreate something on paper as exactly as possible, is something we have to appreciate. Nobody put a sensor or any kind of device in us to be able to read highlights, midtones and shadows and replicate them with our hands. It's all in the brain and eyes and we must be proud that we can tune our them to observe such details. I bow down to some of the artists' realistic sketches i've come across on deviantART which are detailed to unbelievable levels, down to the texture of the skin. It's something I still need to develop patience for, but I'm slowly getting there.
So here are some of my more recent creations. My friend gave me an orange colored paper and asked me to draw something feminine. I picture a scene on a desert with sunset orange lighting and a girl looking away into the distance. I found a reference that matched the picture I had, so I started off. I tried drawing with a charcoal pencil and it created a pretty interesting vector style effect with a good amount of contrast. I'm sure i'm going to do more of this kind of work.
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| Abstract Vector Girl charcoal drawing (reference internet) : 04-Oct-2011 |
After listening to tracks by the fresh and upcoming band VersaEmerge, I became a fan of Sierra Kusterbeck's singing style and her unique photographs. So i chose one such brilliant photograph to draw.
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| Drawing of Sierra Kusterbeck of VersaEmerge : 14-Nov-2011 |
My attention then turned to the Internet's favorite model Susan Coffey. I've seen hundreds of drawings of hers, and I felt kind of left out. I wanted to be in that league that was lucky enough to live in the same era as Susan Coffey and have the pleasure of drawing the fine features that she possesses. This was my first drawing in 2012 and I used quite a lot of eraser and blending tools like ear buds to get the image I wanted. Still haven't perfected that technique though. More Susan Coffey drawings to come for sure. One can hardly suffice with a single work!
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| Susan Coffey drawing: 15-Feb-2012 |
My next project come in a sudden dreamy flash sequence. Here I was, an Aerospace Engineering - with lofty dreams - drawing pictures of models on the internet. No. I had to draw something that was related to what I was planning to pursue. And the picture popped in my head like how a blub suddenly glows over the head of a cartoon character. I saw a rocket taking of in the distance and the hand of a passionate watcher pumping his fist in excitement. I saw it more like a photograph, with a distinct depth of field. I sat down to draw that next. Here's when I found out this new style of "painting" with graphite powder. I took a nice dark 9B pencil and used it on a sandpaper to get graphite powder. It wasn't the finest but it did the job. Almost the entire drawing was quite literally painted. It wasn't very easy but I tried my best. I hope to be able to create more of such original art inspired by my life's progress.
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| The Hand that Launched a Dream : 10-March-2012 |
More of my works are featured at my
deviantART page.
