Prismacolor colored pencil on Strathmore charcoal paper, "Golden Brown"
I love drawing nuts. They're such interesting shapes and textures, inside and out. I also love samplers and swatch charts, color charts, botanical charts, it doesn't matter what the subject is, really—I like their visual organization. The illustrations that the
John Burgoyne does for the
back covers of Cooks Illustrated magazine make me swoon. So, this is my nut "sampler", but it's a work-in-progress. There will eventually be at least 2 more rows, a walnut and a Brazil nut. I may add some hand-lettered labels, but that remains to be seen. I'm also using it to illustrate this week's
Illustration Friday topic, "zoom", as I really had to get out my magnifying glass to zoom in on these. (Okay, that may be a stretch, but I've missed participating in IF lately, and just
had to enter something this week!)
Drawing on toned, textured paper seemed to help capture the colors and feel of the almond and hazelnut. The only drawback is that it's not as easy to digitally clean up stray background smudges and pencil dust, so that hasn't been done yet on this piece.
I've got another couple of pieces (one with a very personal story attached to it) that are almost ready to share; I hope you'll check back on Thursday for a special Thanksgiving post!
These drawings are wonderful! I like how you group a set of similar poses on the paper. It's so charming and they are so meticulously rendered, they are fun to study. You should be submitting these to publishers that do books like that cookbook, or to greeting card companies!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting page of these nuts. They are interesting things to sketch. You really have a good eye to get the details!! Like you, I am really taken with the illustrations on the back of Cooks Illustrated. I find myself picking up an issue to look at when I'm in line at the grocery store -- and the FIRST thing I do is look at the illustrations on the back cover!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the T-giving post! Meanwhile...NUTS! FABULOUS! I am especially looking forward to your walnut (one of my favs).
ReplyDeleteSpectacular work, Sarah! Bravo!
Great texture on the almond, your attention to detail is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI especially like the almond too. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteI love these. And I swoon over JB's Cook's illustrations too!
ReplyDeleteI thought of you again today as I was tempted to pick up another copy of Cooks Illustrated today!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawings! You know, one of the coolest things about your blog is that you always have such great posts to go with the drawings! I wish I could do that; I always say I'm verbally challenged. I do admire those who can write!
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