Rain stops play!
As I mentioned in my last post, our annual Art in the Park exhibition is starting soon and Entries have to be submitted by Friday. I also mentioned that I had an idea of what to do but that it was ambitious (for me). Well, here it is.
I've called it "Rain stops play" and it's an image I've held in my mind's eye for quite some time, just waiting for an opportunity to have a go at it. I have been working on it for many hours every day for the last 4/5 days. Unusually for me, I haven't had a photo to copy, but I have used a number of photo's of rain for reference. I find with those raindrops that I can keep tweaking and fiddling ad nausium and it's hard to put the pencils away and call it finished.
My main reason for hurrying to get it posted is to invite constructive criticism from my blogger friends, especially those of you who work with pencil. I still have time to make a few adjustments and fine tune the picture. And I'm aware that pencil drawings don't fair too well when up against watercolours and oils so I want to make this as good as I can get it. It's also worth mentioning that I don't consider it to be a very commercial subject matter, so I'm under no illusions with regards to the likelihood of it selling.
Any comments, good or bad, will be very much appreciated. ;-)
I think it is wonderful! And such an incredibly tricky subject to attempt! One of my other bloggy friends (Pointy-Pix, link on my side bar) has been doing an entire series of rainy windows in acrylics. They are absolutely amazing! You should check them out :0) I think to do it in pencil is very hard indeed because you have to rely on tones alone. Great job :0D
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Sandra. I'll check out Pointy-Pix as I've become quite fascinated by rain drops over the past few days.
DeleteHello John:) I can not give you constructive comment. I've only made two drawings with pencil and there was no rain involved:( I can give positive comment: the look on the face of the boy gives you a sad feeling. I can hear him thinking: I can not play outside...
ReplyDeleteThe raindrops are perfect. Do not change to much. Good luck!
Thank you Renate. The boys face almost caused me to name this after the children's poem "Rain, rain go away, come again another day".
ReplyDeleteJohn, what a great idea to draw a rainy window! And very skillful too! I love the little boy's expression!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Judy. The original idea involved a forlorn ladies face gazing sadly out of the window. I'm glad I switched it to the boy.
DeleteHi John
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely drawing.
I'm not sure if it's the repro but tonally it looks very even to me. What about going in darker around the boy (than you already have) to push back the background.You may need a different grade pencil to get a real tonal difference. Hope this helps.
Sue, it's partly the reproduction but you're right that the tones are fairly even. This is something I've been struggling with because I've looked at many photo's of faces behind glass and there is a degree of reflection back from the glass. I always wanted the face to be partially lost behind the glass yet still obvious. I'm concerned that if I darken the background too much I may lose that. But it's certainly something I'm pondering over. Thanks for the input. ;-)
DeleteLovely drawing, John.
ReplyDeleteI might consider adding an even darker tone on the side of the raindrops, to make them stand out more, and to push the boy back into the bg a little more. At this moment his eyes are the main focus and they seem more "in front" than the rain to me.
I know just what you mean Pat. I wanted the eyes to be the focal point but they are perhaps a little too bold. I also find it very interesting that you're suggestion involves pushing the face back and Sue's is bringing it forward. Both together will probably give me the right effect but with a greater tonal range. Thanks very much for the suggestion. ;-)
DeleteWonderful work John, best of luck in the show.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Joan. I've just arrived back from handing in my Entry Form so I'm committed now. lol.
ReplyDeleteCrickey John, all those raindrops must have kept you busy!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing about this work that hits me is the lack of contrast. Also, if you really want to complicate things, looking at a window pane from the outside, it will have very contrasting reflections, where the darker areas will allow the boy's face to show through, and the lighter areas almost wiping out his image.
Good drawing though nonetheless.
Yes Frank, it has been keeping me busy. I take your point about the reflections but I think that would be a step too far for me ... this time. ;-)
DeleteA very beautiful drawing, John. He reminds me of my Grandson when he looks out of the window when its raining...He looks sad hoping that the rain would stop. It definitely looks like rain falling on the window and you did a wonderful job on it!! Good luck with the show!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Hilda.
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