Classically correct (LOL)

[loulou]

OK, time to show off a little

Here's last week's production: red chalk on gessoed watercolor paper
I've included a picture of the cast inspiration & 2 of the drawing with a closer look

Description of the technique:

1) prepare paper by gessoing twice; depending on the level of perfection you want to achieve, you can gesso both sides to prevent rolling or warping, or just 1 side if just for practice. you can use a paint brush of any softness you like, I prefer using foam roller, as for my oil painting surfaces for instance.
you can also sand in between layers of gesso or not. I like to, to save on elbow grease later on in the final sanding which is the most important since your finished work will retain whatever brush strokes you choose to leave in.
In my example below, we didn't spend much time on prep in order to get to the actual drawing

2) rub red chalk all over the prep paper, making sure to push it into all the little crevices if any; use a medium amount, you want it to be dark enough to be able to carve out your figure.

3) draw using 3 methods: massing, rub-out, and re-drawing or accenting with a regular red chalk pencil. You can even dip your pencil in water for darker lines. At this stage you want to use an oily-er more permanent red pencil.

4) now you try it

Loulou:angel:

[canvasjockey]

Wow, I love that!

A few questions - is the red chalk you use pastel? And when you say "to use an oily-er more permanent red pencil", what kind of pencil would that be? Prismacolor, china marker, or some kind of pencil I've never heard of (of which there are many, I'm sure :rolleyes: ).

I have a huge roll of wc paper, pastels, prismas, and some gesso; so this is something I can almost do without a huge purchase at the art store!

Carole

[loulou]

Wow, I love that!
Glad you like it, thanks.



is the red chalk you use pastel?
Nope, simply natural chalk, a piece of rock, it comes from Germany, Italy, France (in the hills)
But I guess it might also work with soft pastels, as long as they're chalky enough, meaning no oil content
The oil makes it difficult, if not impossible, to remove



use an oily-er more permanent red pencil
You have the Conté as a happy balance of chalky and oily, but I find it still too chalky. I used Derwent Terracotta for the final definition (they have several grades of orange/red/brown to suit individual taste & need), it's rather oily, therefore more permanent.

Other materials: kneaded eraser and click eraser for removing enough chalk to obtain totally white areas. Select a hard enough type, though (I think Pink Pearl or just Pearl ??)



I have a huge roll of wc paper, pastels, prismas, and some gesso; ... without a huge purchase at the art store!

On you're on your way, Carole, you've got half the supplies already
Happy drawing, or rather carving

It's like beconning the shape you want out of darkness, you see it slowly come towards you like a ghost.

Loulou:angel:

[Classical Vince]

LouLou,

What a great technique! I am so comfortable with this process; the slow development of the image. Rather than work with edge or line the process allows you to "feel out" the image through atmosphere. I love it.

How long do you think it will take to complete? You have a great start there. :D

[bjs0704]

LouLou,

Great technique! And a very good explaination about the gesso preparation.
:clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon :cat:

[bdswagger]

[QUOTE=loulou]
Nope, simply natural chalk, a piece of rock, it comes from Germany, Italy, France (in the hills)
But I guess it might also work with soft pastels, as long as they're chalky enough, meaning no oil content
The oil makes it difficult, if not impossible, to remove[QUOTE]

I'm still confused on the chalk. Is there a brand name/product name you could give us? Don't think I'm gonna be able to get to Europe any time soon for chalk gathering. I wish! (g).


[QUOTE]Other materials: kneaded eraser and click eraser for removing enough chalk to obtain totally white areas. Select a hard enough type, though (I think Pink Pearl or just Pearl ??)[QUOTE]

Sorry, what is a click erasure? Are you talking about those pencil type erasures you peel down?

This is a neat technique and I'm definitly going to give this a try.
Leigh

[loulou]

Natural chalk:

Try KREMER in NY,
http://www.kremer-pigmente.com/englisch/homee.htm

(this is a Germam distributor with stores all over the Western world)


Erasers:

The pencil type erasers you peel off (Pearl) are no longer manufactured because originally they were type writter erasers, & since type writers are no longer in use ......... you guess the rest.......
but you might locate a store with overstock from a bygone era ... perhaps in NY.........

The click erasers are like the pens with a graphite lead inserted, and you click on the end to move the lead out --in this case a white gummy eraser stick. They are softer than the previously mentioned typewriter eraser, they come in 2 selection of diameter.

Hope this answers your question

You might want to check out my teachers' work on WC (appearing as Montreal Painter)

Here's another drawing I did using the same technique. I'm unhappy with it because it is overworked ...... a common beginner's mistake .......
and perhaps the subject matter wasn't quite suited to this technique .....

BTW, the Pièta face is a finished piece ...............

Loulou :angel:

[bdswagger]

Thank you for the clarification. Appreciated!

Mmm, That's odd--I bought one of the Pearls not too long ago at Hobby Lobby. I love the things, I cut a flat edge on them, and use them for erasing in reeaaally thin highlights. Works great.

And I will certainly check out your teaching site here on WC. Thanks!
Leigh

[loulou]

Mmm, That's odd--I bought one of the Pearls not too long ago at Hobby Lobby.

Did you buy the typewriter eraser that you unravel, the pink colored one ?
They may be still available in the U.S., but not here in Canada .....

Loulou

[loulou]

I forgot to say, Leigh, if you don't want to go to all the trouble of ordering via the Net, spending $$ not knowing whether you're going to like working with this technique, you can also obtain a satisfying grade of red chalk powder by simply grating a Conté square (or your favourite brand) on a piece of medium grit sand paper, you'll get very fine powder that you can rub onto the gessoed surface, which incidently could be other than paper.

BTW Hobby Lobby does sell click erasers

Happy experimenting

Loulou

[bdswagger]

I forgot to say, Leigh, if you don't want to go to all the trouble of ordering via the Net, spending $$ not knowing whether you're going to like working with this technique, you can also obtain a satisfying grade of red chalk powder by simply grating a Conté square (or your favourite brand) on a piece of medium grit sand paper, you'll get very fine powder that you can rub onto the gessoed surface, which incidently could be other than paper.

BTW Hobby Lobby does sell click erasers

Happy experimenting

Loulou

Thanks for passing this on. Yeah, I do want to try this, but moneys in short supply.
Yeah, it IS the pink ones you unravel. Do you need some of them? If you want to send me the money, I'd be glad to pick you up a couple and mail them to you. Or are the Hobby Lobby's up there still selling them?
Leigh

[bjs0704]

My favorite eraser for this sort of technique pencil eraser called the “Pencil Partner”. It smaller in diameter than most click erasers. It is made by Kokuyo. I believe I bought it from Cheap Joes Art Supply.

It is great for things like erasing out highlights on eyes in portraits.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[loulou]

Do you need some of them? If you want to send me the money, I'd be glad to pick you up a couple and mail them to you


Thanks Leigh for your kind offer, H L is not listing them
I'll bc you on that


Thanks Barb for the tip, of course I haven't got the foggiest notion about that product

Loulou