Rabindranath Tagore - A portrait study using white pastel pencils

In September 2015 I posted about the Strathmore Artagain 400 series black paper. It is a
fairly new paper in my collection and was recommended by a friend who is also passionate
about art. I used it just once to try out a tree sketch as given below and loved it. It has a
fine grain textured surface which works fine with white pastel pencils.

The idea of using Strathmore black paper for sketching a portrait was working on my mind
since long and therefore I finally decided to start off with study sketch. Study sketch because
its a new paper and it will take me a few portrait works to understand what technique will
work best. Will I have to blend a lot or just create scribbling and strokes ? There are a whole
lot of questions in mind which get answered only when I actually sit down to sketch.

The subject I selected for my portrait study is Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, philosoper and an artist. ( Photograph courtesy : Wikipedia )

Sketching on black paper, I realised is a lot different as all the tonal values have to be
created using only the white pencils. The colour of the paper acts as the darkest tone.
As always sketching a portrait is more challenging than doing a landscape or still life work.
It is challenging but a very satisfying experience too. I enjoyed my step by step
involvement in creating this work and would definitely work more towards it.

Portrait study of

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore 

on black Strathmore paper

The three different pastel pencils that I have used for the above portrait study are as seen in the 

image below. I have been using these three brands frequently for my other works too.

1. Conte A Paris white pastel pencil

2. Cretacolour White pastel pencil

3. General soft white pastel pencil

The other tools used apart from the above pencils are a kneaded eraser, normal eraser and 

blending tools. The pencils as above are available at ART STATION, Andheri West OR

the next best thing which I find easy and it saves time too is to check it out on online stores

like FLIPKART, AMAZON or SNAPDEAL. These days many art products are easily

available online and at discount too.

Some time back I had ordered CRETACOLOUR water soluble graphite pencils from

AMAZON. I received it and I have used it in combination with Camlin water soluble

graphite sticks to create some beautiful study works. Will be posting about it soon.

Thanks for browsing and I would love to read your comments if any.

Step by Step - The Exposed roots of a tree, a Charcoal sketching

During my last visit to Karnala Bird Sanctuary I made it a point to click some beautiful photographs of trees. All kinds of trees. I was particular about the composition and also was interested in the light source and shadows. From my previous experience and having created so many artworks in the last two years, I knew what exactly I was looking for.

The Charcoal sketching as below is with reference to one such tree which had these beautiful
exposed roots spreading out in different angles. The roots that keep the tree grounded.

Once again I have photographed the painting during its various stages of creation. This time
around I made use of my General charcoal pencil and made a few observations about it
as compared to Camel charcoal pencil.

General charcoal pencil is more soft, darker in tone/value and spreads more uniformly on the
paper. From now on I plan to use this pencil on a regular basis to create my charcoal works.

Grounded

Charcoal and white soft pastel sketching on Canson Mi Teintes paper.

Size 5" X  7"

This sketching suddenly reminded me of a soft pastel painting which I did last year

with reference to my COORG photograph. This tree was part of the coffee plantation

near our homestay.

Soft pastel painting from past.

Step by Step - Charcoal sketching of a tree my way

I had this image of a tree trunk on my ipad since very long and I finally decided to create a charcoal sketching of the same on FABRIANO ACADEMIA paper. It is an acid free paper and I already mentioned in my last post that I use it for both charcoal and pencil medium. It has an amazing texture and it adds to the character of the subject especially if I am creating a tree.

Also I made a deliberate attempt to remember photographing the images as my work progressed.

1.     The size of the paper is 5.5" X 7". I did a very rough outline of the tree trunk in the first 

        stage as shown below using a HB pencil.

2. Next I used my charcoal tools and pencils to add the tonal values and the darkest tones to 

    establish depth. I also blended the strokes at places. The background was kept hazy and I 

    used a soft cloth to cover the distance. The foreground was similarly created by using

    cloth and blending tools.

3. At this stage I used more of my charcoal pencils namely Camel charcoal pencil and

    General charcoal pencil to create the details like small outgrowths, barks and other 

    twisted shapes, bark strokes etc. I also added few strokes in foreground to create grassy 

    effect. The source of light is from the right direction so I used eraser and kneaded putty 

    to create the highlights.

4. In the final stages I keep the sketch at a distance and evaluate. I keep it aside for a day 

    to look back at it the next day with FRESH MIND and EYES so I can redo the fine 

    touch up ie adding few details, the dark and light values, creating wild grassy growth 

    in foreground etc. At some point then I decide to call it an end as overworking, I have

   realised can cause more harm than good.

The Knotted tree trunk

Charcoal sketching on Fabriano Academia paper

Size 5.5" X 7" 

I have a big collection of charcoal pencils of different brands which I picked up from different 

in an attempt to try it out for its darkness and quality. I have not had the time to try

all of them but among the ones that I have given a try, I find Camel , Primo and

pretty satisfying for my work. Very soon I will try and photograph

the other tools as well and write a post about it.

The dappled sunlight on the tree trunk

When the rays of sunlight hit the forest they filter gently through the leaves and the dense branches, creating patches of warm glow on the tree trunk. The light and contrast play creates beautiful abstract patterns on the tree and I have tried to capture the magical glow through my Charcoal sketching as given below.

I have used Canson Mi Teintes paper for the art work and the following tools,

• Camel charcoal pencil
• Conte a Paris white pastel pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• Blending tool or tortillon

Canson paper has a sandy surface and charcoals and pastels work good on them.They are available in many different shades but somehow I have got stuck to using the dark grey one.

The dappled sunlight

Charcoal and white pastel sketching on Canson paper

Size 5" X 7"

My love and fascination for drawing and sketching trees continues to grow. It all started in the year 2014 when I was beginning to get into landscape paintings. I needed to study tree anatomy before getting to paint them. The best way to understand them was to do tonal study. I started it then and do it even now as I find it very relaxing. 

Sketching out a tree using charcoal pencil.

We were at Karnala Bird Sanctuary recently and it was early morning hours. The sunlight falling on the tree trunks created great light and contrast. It was a good opportunity for photography. Using one of the photographs I created the charcoal and white pastel pencil sketch as below.

The paper I have used is Canson Mi Teintes and it has a sandy surface which helps to fix the charcoal and pastel to fix on it well.

The Sunlit tree

Charcoal and white pastel pencil sketch on Canson paper

Size 5" X 7"

I started the  "TREE STUDY" sketches somewhere in the beginning of year 2014. The intention was to get a better understanding of the tree anatomy. Later it became a passion. The more I create tree sketches, the more I love them. Each one is so different, with its own individuality.

Browsing through my earlier posts I came across initial tree sketches as given below.

Tree trunk study works done in the past.

Tree sketching in charcoal by Manju Panchal

Created another tree trunk using different charcoal pencils and changed the technique a bit. Partly blending and some scribbling to get the depth and different values. Used willow charcoal in the background.

Added KOH-I-NOOR soft charcoal pencil to my tool list this time. It is a bit rough and grainy in use and gives an effect more like the compressed Camel charcoal.

The paper used is CANSON LA GRAIN which has a beautiful texture of its own.

Grounded

Charcoal sketching on canson paper

Tree sketching using charcoal and white pastel by Manju Panchal

Another Charcoal and Pastel work on coloured Canson paper

Using beige coloured CANSON MI TENTES paper created another tree trunk using CONTE charcoal pencil and white soft pastel pencil and white chalk. Every tree trunk is so different and has its own identity, the bark, the textures. 

Upright

Charcoal and white pastel work on Canson paper

Planning to do a two days ART WORKSHOP in charcoals and soft pastels after the 21st of this month.

If interested you can register the names for the same by writing at manjupanchal@hotmail.com

Another tree sketching in charcoal and white pastel - by Manju Panchal

Using coloured sheet of CANSON MI TENTES paper, created another charcoal sketching of a tree using CONTE charcoal pencil and white pastel pencil and chalk.

Branching out

Charcoal and white pastel work on Canson paper

Other details regarding the tools used can be found on my earlier post wherein I have posted an

image of pencils and pastels used in creating a similar work.