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!

25 comments:

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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.!!

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So delicate and accurate! Beautifully done!

    ReplyDelete
  9. 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....

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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

    ReplyDelete
  15. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The textural effect of shadow. I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Really nice drawing. Your images are always so interesting!

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  20. 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! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Awesome, you definitely fooled my eyes!

    ReplyDelete