Welcome! It's been a while since I've had time to work on this blog--the "real job" kept getting in the way. I've been working on a sketch from a trillium photograph that I posted HERE several weeks ago, and I've learned a few things on this piece.
- I don't like hard lines on white flowers. If I did it again, I might still use a gray multiliner for the perimeter lines, but I would leave off the internal lines. They distract me when I am shading, especially when I want to change my mind on something and am stuck with the original pen line.
- Darker-valued greens can be almost as tricky to work with as reds. I think that the die particles in the darker greens must be larger, as the darker reds are. This means that you can't fiddle with several coats of color without risking that shiny build-up layer--the point of no more color adding.
- My son probably gets his attention span, or lack thereof, from me. . . and we'd better stop there!
I began with a pencil sketch from my photograph. (Click on any picture to see a larger version.) I was working in a Copic Sketch Book, the 5" x 12" one. And, yes, I should have left more room on the left. . . Also, if you compare this photograph to the one that I inserted in my previous post, it printed quite a bit darker in value and cooler in color temperature than it looks on screen.
Here I have inked with a Copic Gray Multiliner over the pencil lines that I wanted to keep. If you read my previous note about things I learned from this piece, you will realize that I wish I had left some of those lines un-inked. That's okay--experimenting and learning are all part of the process!
Pencil lines have been erased here, and I am ready for my Copic Sketch markers--the fun part! By the way, my two favorite erasers are a white rubber eraser (not a pink one, which can discolor the paper), and a gum eraser, the crumbly kind. A kneaded eraser (gray and malleable) works too. I generally use those for pencil pieces where I need to shape the eraser and pick out highlights from a pencilled area.
Here is what I have finished so far. I think that the lines around the white bloom would not bother me as much if I added background. Hmmmm. . .
These are the Copic Sketch markers that I have used so far--as many blue-violets as greens! The pale BV's were used on parts of the bloom, while the darker BV's were used to deepen shadows on the greenery.
The second bloom seemed more colorful to me than the first. Maybe I was just getting tired of playing with gray though. ;-)
These are the colors that I used in the bloom above.
Moving on down to the leaves: by this time I've spent at least three hours sketching and inking, and another six or seven rendering my image. I have to confess that my attention span gets s t r e t c h e d when a project takes me this long!
These are my leaf markers for the bottom leaves.
Woohoo--finally finished--or at least for now! I might like it better with some background, which would help with taking attention away from those stark lines in the white blooms, especially the top one. But for now, it stays. . .
Thank you for stopping by,
Debbie Olson
P.S. To anyone in the Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee areas, as well as the U.P. of Michigan: I have a Copic Intermediate Certification class scheduled for August 20 in Appleton, Wisconsin (about half an hour south of Green Bay). That class is filling slowly enough that it is likely to be cancelled unless some applications come in very soon. Any interest? Check <<HERE>> for details. Thanks!
Well, I think it's gorgeous! I especially love the shading of the leaves in the background as well as the delicate front petal of the top flower. White petals are not easy!! I'm still hoping that you'll design your own rubber stamps someday. Perhaps some hydrangeas? :D
Posted by: Jessica Canham | 07/09/2011 at 11:27 PM
Wow!!! I think it's FANTASTIC!! I LOVE the way the green leaves really pop!
Posted by: Farmer's Wyfe (Pumpkin Pie Painter) | 07/09/2011 at 11:56 PM
Beautiful! Thank you so much for bringing inspiration :) It seems to me that the 1st flower and leaves give a "romantic" appearance. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: gaby | 07/10/2011 at 12:14 AM
OOOOOOOH so amazingly fantasticly beautiful. Love the leaves in between the two flowers. so much character and movement. Heavy sigh......lovely!
Jenn Dove
Posted by: jennifer dove | 07/10/2011 at 12:14 AM
Love this Debbie! Glad to see a peek into your sketchbook.
Posted by: Bianca | 07/10/2011 at 12:56 AM
Those are beautiful. They are so authentic looking, the woods are full of thousands of those flowers here in the Spring. Can't believe the shading you are able to reproduce, even the shadows.
Posted by: peggysue | 07/10/2011 at 02:43 AM
STUNNING!!!!!!!!!
LOVe it!
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 07/10/2011 at 03:16 AM
thank you for mentioning the "shiny build-up layer." it has happened to me many times and for the life of me i couldn't figure out why. it happened to me on some dark brown colors, too. i actually like the lines in the flowers and leaves since they always help me when shading (if i can call what i do as shading). =) it's always a treat to see your art work with Copic. thank you for sharing, Debbie!
Posted by: Alice W. | 07/10/2011 at 03:36 AM
Oh goodness! This is, as everyone else has commented, STUNNING!!! I especially love the green - your shading is so beautiful. Amazing art.
Posted by: SueB | 07/10/2011 at 05:53 AM
I think that your triliums are beautiful. Wish I could sketch and color like you do. So talented.
Posted by: Trisha | 07/10/2011 at 06:55 AM
Amazing coloring and shading. I enjoy seeing the process, and love this blog, as well as your other one!
Posted by: Tanya C. | 07/10/2011 at 07:23 AM
Stunning Debbie! I am always amazed by your shading!
Hugs,
True :D
Posted by: True :D | 07/10/2011 at 09:00 AM
Wow!! Your painting is absolutely awesome!! Love, love, love it! The step-out and your thought process are so helpful. Thank you!
Posted by: Cindy H. | 07/10/2011 at 10:31 AM
Oh Debbie... please teach me!!! I'm always so inspired (and in awe) by your stuff! Amazing! Absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: colleen | 07/10/2011 at 11:33 AM
Gorgeous and so life like. If only!!! I am lucky enough to tackle coloring techniques, but I wish I were able to sketch and draw like you. I am just not artistically inclined like that. I sure admire those of you who are. My son is an artist and has actually had his artwork shown in museums. He definitely did not get his talent from me. I love how detailed this is. Like the petals that are almost translucent and you can actually see a hint of the foilage beneath. Superb.
Marcie
Posted by: Marcie Smith | 07/10/2011 at 02:38 PM
Fab-U-lous Debbie. I love you taking the time to show the step by step process.
Jan Marie
Flourishes
Posted by: Jan Marie | 07/10/2011 at 04:04 PM
Absolutely breathtaking - thoroughly enjoyed the walk through of your steps!!!!!
Posted by: Cindy Lyles | 07/10/2011 at 05:04 PM
Absolutely in AWE. I need work oh leaves more. I need to work on petals more. I need to work on shading . . . shadows . . .
You INSPIRE me!
Posted by: Deb Zachrich | 07/11/2011 at 09:55 AM
So stunning Debbie! I love reading all about your creative process and you do a great job of communicating that and inspiring as well!
Posted by: Sherrie | 07/11/2011 at 10:04 AM
Debbie, I'm inspired! I have been working on realistic botanical sketches for a bit now and have enjoyed your blog posts so much. I decided to veer away from my "go to" whimsical illustration style a bit to practice and master realistic botanical art. Getting back to old school graphite renderings, colored and watercolor pencils, alongside my copics, etc. I have been struggling with fading to white on the edges of my flower blossoms and retaining the distinctive 3D quality of the blossom shape. Shading and shadows...always a challenge for me. I love how you share your color mixing tips for leaf rendering. You are such a generous artist. :)
Posted by: Lisa Hetrick | 07/11/2011 at 12:10 PM
To echo the others...awesome, but what else could it be when you are the artist. Thanks for spending so much time sharing your knowledge and talent.
Posted by: Moi | 07/11/2011 at 12:48 PM
You should design your own stamps, girly! You'd make some real beauties that WE could color in. (hint, hint) ;)
Posted by: Kim | 07/14/2011 at 01:35 PM
So beautiful... thank you for sharing your process and your talent.
Posted by: Karen | 07/15/2011 at 04:20 PM
Debbie, I've looked through what I think is all of your sketches this morning. Just amazing work - truly. I'm so captivated by how you put it all together. Do you think you could just come on over to my house for the weekend, and give me some one-on-one lessons?? *laughing* Nah, didn't think so. This just inspires me to do what my heart has always loved to do. Draw and color! You're never to old to start again, right?
Secondly, I love all the wonderful ideas and creations you've done for Papertrey, Ink. I shall keep coming back for some on-line study. I have to ink my first digital image today using only grey scale. I'm so nervous. I'm going to practice more than once before I attempt to lay down color on the original. I would love to see you show us something that only uses sketch greys.
I have my beginning certification and would like to take the Intermediate, but ... not until I have a little more practice and understanding under my belt. : )
Sincerely,
Susie ~
Posted by: Susie Lessard | 07/16/2011 at 01:12 PM
Debbie, this is just beautiful! you never cease to amaze me! Your work is amazing! Love this site!
Hugs,
CindyB
Posted by: cindy burgess | 09/10/2011 at 08:01 PM