Hello Again..Coral Drawing

[Stoy Jones]

I have had a lot of family issues, primarily health issues, but life in general got in the way of drawing and painting yet again. Things seem to calm down now (I think), so I'm trying to get back into practice again. I don't know how much drawing I will get done while trying to divide my time between painting and drawing, but I'm trying to keep my projects small. This is a 5x7 drawing and I'm posting a painting of a bird in the animal forum that is an 8x10. Things seem easier to do in a day or two as opposed to several weeks like I use to.

I've been gleaning subject matter from the interests of friends and family. Inspiration can come from unusual places when you least expect it. This is a piece of coral. I got the idea from my wife's friend who grows coral in a tank, called a "nano-reef". Very complex hobby, but interesting. I cropped a photo and got caught up in the tones more than the textures when drawing the "branches". I'm not entirely crazy about it and I need more practice. Getting something like coral to look like coral isn't easy. However, it still feels good to accomplish something! Critiques are always welcome.

Stoy

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/13-May-2009/18715-coral.jpg

[bgreenaker]

:clap: Very nice! Is it graphite? What king of paper?
My husband and I have 2 saltwater tanks with several corals and fish, drawing them is fun!
Betsy:wave:

[SparrowHawk7]

Hi Stoy .. welcome back! I'm glad your health issues are resolving themselves ... with all I hear I've decided I'm not growing any older starting NOW. Somehow I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be.

Looks like coral to me. No fish? :p Nicely shaded.

[jyvonne]

I think you did a wonderful job capturing the coral look! What a great study in texture and shading.

Glad you are getting back to drawing again. I'm not here too often myself lately, but its good to see you again! May God bless you.

Jyvonne

[*Deirdre*]

Hiya Stoy old friend!:wave: You have done a good job with this...your usual high standard...and I can appreciate it's therapeutic effect!:thumbsup:

[jacquip]

Hi Stoy, I really like your drawing. The shading and moulding on the coral is really good. It certainly looks like coral to me. I am glad to hear you are finding drawing is helping you feel better.
Nice to meet you, Jac

[SILKNSATIN]

Stoy i just made my way back to.know how you can get caught up in life and no time for personal time.you did a great texture on this and captured the detail very well.So good to see you and big or small art is better then no artwork.Very nice piece.:clap: :wave:

[Zarathustra]

Hey Stoy, it's been a while - really nice to see you back, and back with style. The soft edges and modelling are sensitively done. It's a beautiful piece and I'm glad you went with strokes rather than blending - those subtle pencil strokes give it texture and life.

[michaeleric]

Stunning :thumbsup:
Looks a bit like Medusa's hairdo ;) .

[Stoy Jones]

So good to hear from you all!

Betsy, it is a mix of 2b-6b pencils on Canson Drawing paper. It comes in a large pad, "bleached" white and not the off white or natural. For me the whiter, the better to get those subtle shades to show better. I guess you would know much about the subject and be at home with it than I would. It is beautiful to look at and hard for me to duplicate. It was worth a try and a good challenge.

SparrowHawk7, I earned a few gray hairs these past two years, but still have some steam left in me. It's good to be back and I hope to stay and play much longer this time.

jyvonne, thankyou! Very glad to hear from you! :wave:

Deirdre, it's better than therapy! It keeps me from going "coo-coo" :D Good to hear from you!

Jac, glad to meet you!..and thankyou! :thumbsup:

SILKNSATIN, good to hear from you too! Seems like ages. You are right, something is better than nothing at all. :wave: back at'cha!

Zarathustra, thanks! I tried to keep the background smooth to get the foreground texture to stand out better. The scan isn't all that great, but the directional strokes in the darkest shadow below the rock seems to show best. I may need to tweak the scanner settings. What I didn't get is the "knotty" effect of the branches. It's a start and glad to be back. Good to hear from you!

Stoy

[Stoy Jones]

Stunning :thumbsup:
Looks a bit like Medusa's hairdo ;) .

Just missed you Michael, I thought the same thing! Tons of wild shapes and negative spaces to contend with. Kept me busy!

Stoy

[jennaboo88]

I love the depth and dimmention of this drawing! And the way that the distant branches are slightly out of focus adds some great realism! I like it!:clap:

[kennychaffin]

Welcome Back Stoy! Nice drawing to come back with!

[Stoy Jones]

Jenna and Kenny, thankyou! Since it had a good reception here, I may put it in a frame and mat and give it to my wife's friend who keeps a nano-reef. Thanks again!

Stoy