Last weekend I only managed to find time for this unsatisfactory sketch, done in the late afternoon in the local wood.
It is done in conte crayon on heavy white textured paper (Stillman and Birn beta sketchbook). I was trying for a composition that showed the depth of the layers of foliage through changes in light and tone.
Irritated with this field sketch, I later poured water on it. It beaded and scattered across the crayon resist, carrying some of the pigment in swirls of floating dust. I threw on sepia, yellow and green ink. This was now spilling over the sides. I put thick card under the page to isolate it from the rest of the sketchbook. The inks threatened to leave the water repellent surface so I trapped them under a crumpled acrylic sheet and left this to dry.
The next day, the paper was lifted from the card by sharp dissection. I had to glue it to a new sheet to effect repairs where cuts and rips had penetrated to the surface. Now looking at it, I wonder whether to work back over this surface.
Neat! I really like the texture created by the ink. 😀
That’s quite a difference, clearly taking a radical step payed off. Thumbs up!
Ooh, I like this! You may have stumbled upon a technique that will take you on a new avenue for a while. It will be interesting to see if you do more with this but I do like it very much 🙂
Don’t you just love this sort of art play!!!! Exciting effects. So textural. I have been playing with dilute, watery, acrylic on colour fix pastel paper….. with sumi ink, often using the stick directly, and charcoal, and pastel…. yes mm. So I find this of your’s today so exciting. Will post a pic of mine to my blog when I have a daylight hour at home to photograph. Tuesday perhaps if time between classes
I think you achieved what you set out to do. The tangle and forest over growth is beautiful, with the light ahead to find a way out. I live the layered texture.
Very cool, and I really liked the original too. Now I think just a few dark touches over the new surface will be just the thing.
Oh I like this. It’s evolving. Maybe a hint of lowlights and highlights but nothing too much?
I like the original….. and I like the new one!