Project 2 - Exercise 2, Observing Shadow using blocks of tone

Exercise 2 Observing shadow using blocks of tone

For this exercise I chose two very simple objects: an ornamental jug and a small clay flower pot; they were arranged on my dining table near a window with natural light. Although both of them had painted florals as decorations on them, I chose not to include them as I only wanted to focus on the contrast between light and dark. Similarly, I omitted the pattern of my tablecloth and the background that was rather busy as I felt they would detract from the outcome I wanted to achieve.

I started by drawing the outlines of the objects first. I added their mid-tones followed by the darker ones, ensuring that the lightest areas were left untouched. I smudged some of the areas very lightly and added a bit more detail with the tip of the conte stick by increasing pressure, ie: to highlight the handle of the jug and the darkest values of the cast shadows.

I slowly started to add some shading around the objects, (table top and background) using the wide side of the conte stick. I think I applied the shading in 3 or 4 layers and did it gradually as I wanted to achieve the right balance. In my opinion the whole picture came to life when the reflections of the objects were added on the tablecloth along with the curved lines on the bottom right that added more perspective and visual interest.

A2 sketch with black conte on smooth cartridge paper-220gsm

I repeated the same technique using two different objects: a pestle and mortar and a small clay pot. I used willow charcoal on mixed media paper.  When smudging the charcoal with my finger, some of it would lift some on my finger and therefore I kept having to add more and more layers to create some of the darker values.

I know that if charcoal drawings are sprayed with fixative and then reworked, new layers of charcoal can be added to increase the darker values but it then becomes harder to remove or lift any previous markings; I decided to keep reworking my image without 'fixing' it.

A2 sketch using willow charcoal stick on mixed media paper-250 gsm

For a lighter overall effect I used charcoal and pencil together and removed some of the charcoal with a putty, (picture below).

Block shadowing with pencil and charcoal on smooth cartridge paper 220gsm-A2 size

My conclusions about using black conte stick and willow charcoal:

• The black conte stick creates more vibrant tones whereas the willow charcoal comes across as 'softer'.
• Charcoal is easier to remove with a putty, unless the drawing has been fixed with spray, in which case it becomes harder to lift any unwanted marks.
• Drawings with conte can be smudged but overall it is a lot harder to remove markings with putty once on paper.
• The conte stick seems to last longer and easier to draw broad marks with since it's 'harder' and more compressed than charcoal.
• I found it tricky drawing long, straight or elliptical lines on A2 paper using both charcoal and conte.
• I would like to sketch a picture combining both mediums; charcoal for the lighter tones and conte for the darker values.