Monday, June 6, 2011

Illustration Friday: Shadows

Prismacolor on black paper


My entry for Illustration Friday this week is a companion piece to one that I did last February for "Reverse". These two drawings are my humble attempt at a bit of trompe-l'oeil, which often relies on the use of shadows to "fool the eye".

Drawing a paper bag, or a crumpled piece of paper, is the kind of exercise one always does in Drawing 101, but I find it fascinating—and it's great for practicing shadows and shades. And taking it a step further, drawing with white pencil on black paper forces you to think "backwards". We're so programmed to drawing on light paper and letting it showing through where the object is the lightest. (Unfortunately, the bit of black pencil that I used to deepen the paper's shadow didn't scan well against the black paper...I must fiddle around with the settings a bit more.)

School's out for the summer (does everyone my age hear Alice Cooper when we utter that phrase?), and there's something so exhilarating about the start of the season. When I was a kid, the beginning of summer meant two things: the opening of the outdoor swimming pools, and the Summer Reading Club at my neighborhood library—once a book geek, always a book geek. This year, summer means more time to draw (I'm determined to participate in every week of IF, and I'm excited to start my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project, too) but I still plan on lots of reading. I keep my latest reading list on that little widget in my sidebar, if you're interested. And if you have a good book recommendation, add it to your comment.  

Happy Summer!
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25 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 7, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    cool!! love the pencil, and the paper looks like it's really crumpled!

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  2. barbaraJune 7, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Wow!
    This is great, and using the white pencil is genius!

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  3. LaurieJune 7, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    I love this! Great work.

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  4. Melissa MackieJune 7, 2011 at 6:12 AM

    Great work Sarah!

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  5. TimareeJune 7, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    I never took Drawing 101 so I didn't know. This looks terrific and challenging. I may have to try it myself. I see your black shadows quite well.

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  6. Cathy HoltomJune 7, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    I like your idea of working backwards for the shadows, an interesting take on the theme. I love the Protea in the previous post too!

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  7. jenniferJune 7, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    That's challenging and it's beautiful! I love the pencil in the drawing too. I once had a teacher who would draw an amazing piece like this and then rip it in 1/2 and it was hard to tell which was drawing and which was the rip.!!

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  8. AnonymousJune 8, 2011 at 12:57 AM

    Wow - beautifully done! (And yes I hear Alice Cooper too ...)
    Sue

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  9. AnonymousJune 8, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    I like your work on dark papers. I have never attempted this technique before but maybe it's time I give it a try. Wonderful shadow falling from the pencil!

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  10. Nancy BeaJune 8, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    So delicate and accurate! Beautifully done!

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  11. CoreopsisJune 8, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Yes, I suppose that is a good exercise, but I can't imagine having the patience for it. You've done a lovely job with it. I should try it. And yes, summer seems full of possibility. Hope you get lots of drawing in....

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  12. Amanda DilworthJune 9, 2011 at 2:33 AM

    Hi Sarah, great illustration. Who would have thought crumpled paper could look so good:) Like use of the pencil to give it perspective too.

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  13. Elizabeth Rose StantonJune 9, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Oh this is great. Wonderful rendering and texture. Love it!

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  14. SUZANNE LEWISJune 9, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    what a brilliant idea. You are so talented. I love it!

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  15. AtelierBrigitteJune 9, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    It is lovely!

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  16. Sarah MellingJune 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    Thank you all for your kind comments. I've had a topsy-turvy week and haven't visited many blogs...hope to make up for it next week!

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  17. PenelopeJune 10, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    You did it again! Amazing illo this week! It's truly wonderful— I feel the wrinkled paper, I can feel the flattening of it like to read the note someone wrote in class then balled it up and threw it across the room when the teacher's back was turned... and speaking of teachers...Yes, schools out for the summer, school's out forever. Enjoy! Can't wait to see your work.
    P

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  18. ShirleyJune 10, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Happy summer, Sarah! Yay, we finally have some sun! This is a great piece...wow..you really are fantastically talented. I hope all is good in your world. I have a book recommendation, but lost the title...my friend will remind me and I shall be back. Take care!

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  19. Susan CharlotteJune 11, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    The textural effect of shadow. I like it.

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  20. Laurie A. ConleyJune 16, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    Really nice drawing. Your images are always so interesting!

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  21. PenelopeJune 17, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    Hi Sarah,
    Thanks for visiting and commenting on my kitty cats! And let's hope we're inspired this week! xoxo, p

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  22. Paula PertileJune 18, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    This is really cool. I'd have worked it to death - love how you let it 'breathe'.

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  23. Yen Vy VoJuly 4, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Love the idea so much!

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  24. crem-bru-laaJuly 25, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    this is amazing, i remember using white pencil on black paper, it was very tricky! you've done it perfectly. I may have to try the scrunched up paper exercise, would help my shading alot! :)

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  25. Canvas Art PrintsSeptember 7, 2011 at 3:29 AM

    Awesome, you definitely fooled my eyes!

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