Plane tree, Westersingel Rotterdam - a pen drawing

 

Once again, the large plane tree we saw in Rotterdam last week. This large tree inspired me to do more than just painting, this is the second drawing I made using my own reference pictures.

For this work I used line markers/fine liners on a white paper, different nib sizes for the difference between the huge tree trunk and the smallest little branches.

These smallest branches and the fruits hanging from them are in the drawing this time, it was as if this drawing asked for them to be present.

This last week I wanted to find out how different techniques can influence the way I depict the same subject, in this case a tree of impressive proportions. Impressive for being in the city and for growing in such a wet environment, many trees can't handle that well.

There are differences between the watercolour, the pencil drawing and the ink drawing that are not only explained by the different papers I have used. To be honest, I have no preference between the three of them, all are works I am happy with.

In the future I will probably be doing this again, when a subject inspires me to find out how it can be depicted with different techniques.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.

Plane tree, Westersingel Rotterdam - a pencil drawing

 

This is the same tree that I painted and wrote about in my previous post, this time on paper with a different size and with pencils. This very large tree deserves more than only one watercolour painting.

For this drawing I have used only pencils and I did not even need to use water and a second layer of pencil to make this 'portrait of a tree'. My reference pictures do not show much more of the height of this plane tree so I can only hope to be believed when I write that it is much higher than my drawing shows.

For this drawing I did not add the smaller branches and the fruits hanging from them. These are of course part of the tree, but as there are so many smaller branches and fruits they might 'take over' this drawing and that is not what I wanted to happen. Only the main structure of the tree is here and for me that is impressive enough. 

Maybe in a next drawing, when I am using other materials, I will add these smallest branches and fruits again.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.

Plane tree, Westersingel Rotterdam

 

In the city of Rotterdam some very old trees are still standing. Yesterday we passed by this impressive plane tree on our way to an museum and I had to use the 'panorama' setting om my camera to make a picture of it.

In fact the tree is more than five times as high as I have painted here, with several huge branches growing from the trunk that has 'turned' while growing, but I wanted to show the width of it, using one of the lower branches as my main subject and leaving the rest to the imagination of the viewer.

The tree stands close to the water of the 'Westersingel' on a lawn that stretches along the water. Just at the roots of the trees no grass is growing, only dark earth is visible. On the opposite side of the water there is another piece of lawn with some smaller trees, a street and large houses. These houses and the trees on the opposite side of the water reflect in the water. This all is only suggested by using one diluted layer of colour.

The tree is my main subject and it is painted in several layers of dark brown colours and where needed a touch of green for the algae on the trunk and large branches. Also the lawn the tree is standing on and the fallen leaves on the opposite lawn are painted in more than one layer of paint.

By doing this I wanted to make a portrait of the tree, showing the width of the lowest branches and still placing it in the surroundings it has been growing in to this impressive size.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.

Nest - a pencil drawing

 

Today's prompt in the Sketch A Day app is 'Nest' and I really liked the idea of drawing a nest.

The scene is imaginary, a bird's nest in a fork in a branch, surrounded by more branches and the beginning of foliage.

I enjoyed using my new pencil set on another shade of coloured paper.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.

Paint - a pencil drawing

 

This month the challenge of 'Goed Gezien - Goed Bekeken' is about professions, work, labour. The meaning of the challenge is to depict a profession and I decided on the (house) painter. That profession is/was 'in my family' and if needed I can also do the paintwork in my home.

I wanted to keep it simple, only one open tin of paint (the Dutch 'verf' means paint) and a brush with the paint on it.

This time I have combined Graphitint an Metallic pencils, using water to 'awaken' the Graphitint colours and adding a layer of pencil on top of that for depth.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in m y original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog. 

Park Noordhoekse Wiel

 

This month there is a contest about 'the most beautiful spot' in Papendrecht, where I live. To enter the contest you have to describe your favourite spot and/or make a photograph. As I am not a photographer (I do not have nice equipment, just a phone with a good camera inside) I went out to make a nice reference picture for a watercolour painting. As I have to make a picture of the painting to enter it to the competition I still am following the rules a bit.

I chose this spot, a 'meadow mill' in the park that is very close to my home. 

I made several reference pictures, different angles, different distances, but in the end this one was the best. Of course I was lucky with the clouds on the left. My reference picture was made this month, so in winter and the large trees are still bare.

The little windmill was taken in backlight, but even in full sunlight it would be very very dark as it is painted almost black with some white spots.

The result of my work is what I hoped for and I submitted this work for the contest, hoping for....

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.

Peacock - a pencil drawing

 

A few days ago the prompt in the Sketch A Day app was 'Peacock' and after looking for some references I decided to draw the head and neck of a peacock with my watercolour pencils on a black background.

As I did before, after the first layer of pencil I used a bit of water to 'awaken' the colours and after that had dried I added another pencil layer for depth.

I still have the idea that I am not really good at drawing animals, but with a reference for the proportions and overall shape I get nice results. 

My to-do list for the coming years is about getting more practice and building confidence.

The information about the materials I have used, the size and availability of this work and - if you are interested in my original artwork - my contact information can all be found in my Tumblr blog.