"Wilderness" - for lllustration Friday

Here is my latest submission for www.illustrationfriday.com
The topic this week is "Wilderness".

In order to complete this sketch I took a field trip to one of the most awe inspiring locations in Los Angeles. The Getty Center is an exquisitely designed museum and garden perched high above and overlooking all of L.A. The view extends all the way to the ocean. Simply being there was a delight! But alas, I can only sit still for so long before that itch to draw overpowers me and so...

This sketch is a study of a piece by Herman Van Swanevelt in the Dutch drawing and painting exhibit currently on display in the west pavilion. The original piece was masterfully accomplished with a mixture of ink washes and and line. It had a wonderfully aged and classic appeal.

Those of us who show up to a museum armed with drawing supplies and anxious to learn need an effective way to study the techniques of our heroes on the fly. If that sounds like you, read on!

How to accomplish this effect the fast and easy way.
1. Start with brown paper

2. Lightly and loosely sketch out the boarder and simple basic shapes of the composition in graphite. I used an "F" lead here. It's light enough not to show up too much as I progress the drawing.

3. Begin laying in tonal areas with a brush pen. For this sketch I used two Tombo brush pens. #990 (middle tone), #992 (dark tone)

4. Continue to build and define your tonal areas by putting down layers of tone with the brush pens.

5. Allow the ink from the brush pens to dry for a minute and then add loose ink lines to accentuate areas, add volume and strengthen tones.

6. Beg your sweetie pie to take photos of you for posterity (thanks, Lauren).

7. Have a blast!

Now look how easy that was!


P.S.
www.illustrationfriday.com is a website that posts topics each week for artists from around the world to interpret, illustrate and post.