I’m so excited about this project. I even finished my lesson one homework last night.
A couple of comments. Mine will be 11 x 14 so that I can use standard size matt and frame. To do this I will have an extra 1/2 water on the left and right sides. I’m using 300# Arches hot press paper. If I could only use one paper, that would always be my choice.
Most importantly, “tracing” is my preferred way to get the drawing on the paper. In this case because of the complexity, I even added a little shading in areas that will be dark (on the deck) to help keep me from getting lost in all of the lines. Since the ink line drawing will be first, I can easily erase after that is good and dry.
Hope more of you will share your progress here too.
Terri Robichon
Terri w2r @robichon, your tracing looks wonderful. I also prefer tracing, I’m too impatient and measurement challenged to do a grid that small, plus enlarging image saves time. But before my homework which includes the whole beginning process, I must do the sepia bird from getting sketchy.
Great job Terri! I’m looking forward to this one. (im)Patiently waiting for the video to be uploaded. I’m assuming that it’s done in the video using the grid system. I don’t own any hot press paper, will use cold press instead.
After hearing the discussion about where the image was from I did a reverse image search. According to Pixabay it’s from Lake Baikal in Russia. This happens to be the deepest lake in the world, a very beautiful part of the world.
My line and wash live lesson “Boat on Water”
Beginning of nib pen application. Lost a lot of my traced lines on the wood deck thingy, I’ll work on them some more
Never used a nib pen before, it’s so fun!
My version so far. I left out the second man as well as quite a few details on the side of the cabin. I can always add as I go if I decide I need or want to.
I have plenty of nibs and the one I’m using is working really well on the 300# hot pressed paper. Very smooth, and it seems I’m not having to reload my pen as often.
Finally, my new nibs arrived. I finished the contour lines. Then I was having trouble - I was getting “lost” in my drawing. (I wonder if any of the rest of you were getting confused too.) So many lines on the dock and I was concerned with adding more lines with the hatching. Starting on the part of the dock that was farthest away, I pulled out my Zebra Rubber 80 ballpoint pen to define the shadows and textures. I love this pen and ended up doing the rest of the ink work with it. Okay, it’s not a “loose” drawing any more, but I’m liking it. Next step will be adding the watercolor washes.
Another thing I wanted to mention. When I printed the reference photo for the initial tracing, I first put the reference photo in photoshop elements and lightened the shadows. That made it a lot easier to see the construction of the lower part of the boat, and determined how I would add the darker values there. So here is what my drawing looks like now.
Just catching up ahead of the next lesson. As it’s a Russian scene, I’m using my Russian White Nights paints, it’s a super granulating set of muted shades.
I only have cold pressed paper and started it but did not like the linework at all.
Will hurricane Helene and my nerves a bit messed up I decided to start over on the back but only have the drawing as of now. If it turns out when I can get some hot pressed paper I will try again.
Thanks Terri w2rs, for the tip re paper sizes. My efforts (under Matt’s guidance) have surprised me with their beauty - if I do say so myself. I would like to start framing a few.
I just want to let you know that I spell my name as Terri and you may see me referred to as Terri with 2R’s. That’s because there is another Teri that is active here and she is sometimes called Teri with 1R.
