Exposed roots - A study work on Canson Mi Teintes paper

I came across this tree when I last visited Karnala Bird Sanctuary. It is a fairly simple 

composition and I have used a beige coloured Canson Mi Teintes paper this time for a 

change. The colour of the paper acts as the mid tone value. The brightest shade is achieved

by using the white pastel pencil and the darker shades are obtained by scribbling with 

Camlin and General soft charcoal pencil.

I have done little blending at places but mostly used the pencil strokes to achieve the bark

effect. I do these works very often and call them study works because everytime I do one of 

these I try out some different stroke or effect in an attempt to evolve my technique and to learn something further.

Charcoal and pastel study work.

Size 5" X 7" 

In my last post I wrote about having purchased the water soluble graphite sticks by Camlin

I am posting an image of the same below ( Courtesy google.com )

The pack has three graphite broad diameter sticks. I would have preferred something thinner as creating strokes can get difficult with these. So the next better option was to sharpen the tip of 

one of these. I have used it to create few thumbnail sketches which I will be posting soon.

When I see a new product such as this, I buy it off instantly because if it works good with

me and my kind of works then I know I can incorporate it along with some other medium later.

I think I can combine this with my normal graphite pencil to create small forest sketches. It is

a THOUGHT PROCESS which may eventually work out. Trying out new materials and techniques is a great way of challenging oneself and I truly enjoy doing these things.

Thanks for browsing.

Two small sketches using General charcoal pencil

Charcoal and white pastel pencil sketches 

I have had General's soft charcoal pencil since long. Wanted to give it a try in my latest charcoal works.

Charcoal pencil by GENERAL

I never get tired of sketching new still life subjects. Drawing and sketching , I personally feel play a key role in the growth of an artist. This time I have used the grey rough surface of ordinary chart paper to create charcoal and soft pastel work. In some of my earlier works I have made constant use of CONTE charcoal pencil, however in these two sketches I finally tried out the GENERAL charcoal pencil and I loved its smoothness and rendering. The whites in the sketch are created using white chalk and white pastel pencil.

1.Lime and steel bowl

2. Two tea cups

Two small still life sketches using

General's soft charcoal pencil

and white pastel chalk and pencil.

Most of my still life paintings are done by referring to the simple day today objects which are lying

 around us in the house. The light that falls on them creates beautiful shadows and the composition when set right can help create beautiful pieces of art.