SACHA GROSSEL ART

In this section, Smagula (Creative Drawing guru) points out that as artists mature, their work tends to evolve into distinctive styles that reflect their choice of themes, materials, ways of using space and textural patterns used. In this activity, it is encouraged to explore your own distinctive style that integrates a variety of textures. The brief for this activity was extremely vague to say the least, though it managed to waffle on for four paragraphs and nearly put me to sleep !... nonetheless, I tried to choose a subject that I thought could incorporate both smooth and rough textures in the same drawing. I found some celery in my fridge and could visualise the drawing that could be done using both pencil smooth sections for the stalk and rough, scratchy paint for the leaves.

The most coherent thing Smagula says at the end of this chapter is that drawing is an evolutionary activity that over time can sharpen our visual capacity and heighten our awareness so that we can return to familiar places and see things in new ways with new understandings.... so ends chapter six on texture.. onwards and upwards !

So, as I explored rough texture drawing last time, now I'm practising achieving a smooth textured drawing. This type of drawing is more tightly controlled and invokes feelings of tranquillity and calm.

So the exercise this week was to choose a still life subject that had smooth and perhaps slightly reflective surfaces. I also wanted to choose a subject that had a sense of calmness attached to it. What could be more calming than a cup of tea? I've used smooth drawing paper with a 1H (fairly hard) drawing pencil. This exercise took about half an hour. The three dimensionality is achieved with subtle tonal gradations with the pencil and has been blended with my finger to create a very smooth finish. Am actually quite happy with the outcome of the teapot, I think smoothness has been achieved and am even happy with the proportions of this drawing...