- Advice on drawing water needed!

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Subject: "Advice on drawing water needed! - Finished(?)"

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Study and Teach Fine Art Techniques Charcoal and Pencil Drawings - Techniques by J.D. Hillberry Topic #342

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Rebecca

Member since Jan-4-03
62 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Jan-06-03, 08:33 PM ()

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"Advice on drawing water needed! - Finished(?)"

Hello there, this is my first time here and I've only recently started drawing again (used to draw when I was a kid), so I'm looking for advice and tips! I've really been inspired by the excellent work you.
I copied this picture of my sister from a few years ago from a photo (see below for source) and really enjoyed doing it. However I had a sticking point - I can't draw the sea! Does anyone have any advice on how to tackle this?
Any other feedback/advice on my pic would be much appreciated:*
Thanks everyone!

Rebecca

Member since Jan-4-03
62 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Jan-06-03, 08:45 PM ()

1. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Here is the source photo (couldn't get on same message)

srivarey

Member since Aug-22-02
93 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Jan-06-03, 08:57 PM ()

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2. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

This is terrific. Awesome !!! On drawing water you may want to visit john gibbs artwork. I have a link to his website on my webpage. It's www.committed.to/carbon

srivarey

www.committed.to/carbon

Marc Forest

Member since Aug-23-02
285 posts, 14 feedbacks, 27 points

Jan-06-03, 10:03 PM ()

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3. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Hi Rebecca. Welcome to the forum! this piece is wonderful!! I think your close to getting the "water look". I think you have to much contrast in the ripples, (I hate saying that because I LOVE contrast!) which is creating a plastic wrap look to the water. If you soften and blend the shadows into the highlight, it will look closer, they seem to look like little mountains. Same with the coat, the sharp contrast is creating heavier folds in the raincoat. You may want to blend with a softer material like a cotton swab or chamious.

Hope this helps! Great Drawing.

Marc Forest
http://www.marcforest.com

mike sibley
Member since Nov-19-02
237 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 12:14 PM ()

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4. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Quote However I had a sticking point - I can't draw the sea!

Hi Rebecca, I'm sorry I couldn't get bac to you on drawing water. But now that I see your drawing I don't think I've much to add! It looks just fine.

I was going to suggest that you need to look at the source photo and decide what it is about the water that tells YOU it's water. Then draw to incorporate or even exaggerate this aspect.

In this case I think the reflections do the job. They tell the brain "this is water"... and the brain just loves to understand things. You've fed it the right food!

The only thing I might mention is to offer the brain just a little more help by marking the division between post and reflection. My personal trick here is invent a speck or two of foam (or sunlit water drops) at the division. It doesn't matter what it reads as - just pop a few white dots and dashes along the water line at the bases of the posts and this will establish the horizontal plane of the water more markedly.

MIKE

www.SibleyFineArt.com
www.Starving-Artists.net

Rebecca

Member since Jan-4-03
62 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 12:53 PM ()

5. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Thank you all for your comments - this is great - just what I was looking for. I'm going to try and use your advice - just worried I'll go too far and ruin it! I'll keep you posted on my progress!

MHK

Member since Sep-28-02
353 posts, 9 feedbacks, 16 points

Jan-07-03, 12:57 PM ()

6. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

The little stone in the air is very excellent! So is everything else but somehow this tiny stone catches my attention all the time when I look at this piece

http://www.mattikataja.com

Bella

Member since Sep-13-02
347 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 12:59 PM ()

7. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Hi Rebecca welcome to the forum!

I love your drawing it looks exellent!

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
St Fancis of Assisi

Melissa_M

Member since Aug-23-02
326 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 02:04 PM ()

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8. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

Welcome to the forum, Rebecca!
Your drawing is really cute and well-done! I wasn't sure what that black thing was at first, and it was only after looking at the photo for a while that I realized it must be something she had thrown (then I read that it was a stone). I'm probably just thick-headed not to have realized what it was....However, the shape is more triangular in your drawing, so I don't think it looks as much like a stone as in the photo. It also seems slightly darker/sharper in your drawing. The water looks good for the most part, but I agree with Marc about the contrast and the coat. The coat looks too spidery and not soft enough (at least if it's supposed to be the same kind of coat as in the photo). That's just my opinion.
I like the pebbles on the beach, the far shorelines, and the posts--they're quite realistic! The girl's face is good, too.
Keep up the great work!

- Melissa (aka: Honey Bee)

Rebecca

Member since Jan-4-03
62 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 07:46 PM ()

9. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

I've followed your advice - I've toned down the contrast on the water, and I've tried to do the same on the coat. I've also added some slight definition to the part where the posts meet the water. I'm much happier with the result now - I think I'll leave it. I realise the water still isn't perfect, but this is something for me to work on in the future!

Melissa - I know the stone's not exactly the same, I used 'artistic license'!! I quite like the idea that someone might mistake it for a UFO or something. It doesn't really look like she's thrown it, even in the photo - I think she did one of those cool kiddy throws by letting the stone go early and slamming her arm down quickly! Thanks for the advice on the coat - I've toned it down and am happier with that too - what do you thinK?

Melissa_M

Member since Aug-23-02
326 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Jan-07-03, 09:07 PM ()

10. "RE: Advice on drawing water needed!"

I think it looks a lot better--excellent!

- Melissa (aka: Honey Bee)

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