Weekly Drawing Thread – December 19 – December 26

[WovenGlass]

Welcome to the Holiday Weekly Drawing Thread for December 19 through December 25! :clap:

Each week a new thread with a reference and suggestions for that reference will be posted for anyone to draw and post their results throughout the week. You may follow the weekly suggestion which will be a loose guideline to try or draw and experiment on your own and post your results. Some people look on it as a challenge… but that's the great thing about these 'challenges' - they aren't against any other artists...the challenges is to you....to do YOUR best against yourself! So it doesn't matter what other people do, as long as you do your best!! Better still - do it consistently, so that no matter what is thrown at you, you attempt it...that's the challenge!

When posting you should consider adding information such as medium, support, dimensions, whether complete or not, so it will be easier for others to comment on your work.

The goal of this thread is open-ended. This means you decide what it is you want out of a weekly challenge. Do you want to just sketch or do you want to become more proficient at drawing, or do you wish to break into other drawing mediums or just play around? It is entirely up to you as the artist. You know your own strengths and weaknesses and you can find them in each reference we are faced with. Practice is where it’s at, just think of this thread as your personal motivator.

Any level of drawing is encouraged to join in!

Two Reminders: Different mediums are fine as long as we post preliminary drawings, sketches, and "under-drawing" of the painting, so the discussion on the thread stays relevant...and be sure to post the final painting for comparison of your drawing. Drawing can be crucial to the final product of a painting and we would like to see how!

We accept submissions for reference photos! Feel free to PM reference photos or links to one of the moderators or guides of images out of the image library that you would like to see here or upload your own photos...but be sure to keep in mind photo quality and size and choice of reference. We put all submissions in order of their arrival in our PM In-boxes. If you have anymore questions regarding this, feel free to PM one of us. Thanks!

As the year is coming to a close and the holiday week is here, let’s get into the spirit!

Still life by Dewi
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3364/medium/Christmas_Still_life_2009_020.jpg

Santa Ornament by lisilk
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3364/medium/santacarving.jpg

dsc02689e (:)) by mustcreate
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3364/medium/9879dsc02689e.jpg

Christmas ornaments by Trudance
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3364/medium/PB280001.JPG

For those that do:
Christmas Spirit by oldrockchick
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3416/medium/Christmas_Day_2009_031.JPG

And for those that don’t:
Hot Cocoa by Dewi
http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data2//3696/medium/Hot_cocoa.jpg

[WovenGlass]

And in Black and White:

Still life by Dewi
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Christmas_Still_life_bw.jpg

Santa Ornament by lisilk
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Santa_Carving_bw.jpg

dsc02689e (!) by mustcreate
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Chistmas_candles_2_bw.jpg

Christmas ornaments by Trudance
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Ornaments_PB280001_bw.jpg

Christmas Spirit by oldrockchick
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Christmas_spirit_bw.jpg

Hot Cocoa by Dewi
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2010/81552-Hot_cocoa.jpg




Happy and safe holidays to all!

[SparrowHawk7]

Very seasonal, Alex. Glad to see you remembered this week. :)

[WovenGlass]

Of course I remembered, Ken! This is important to me! I know I haven't been around much :o, but that is because I've been drawing like crazy - working on a series of 40 portraits for the Sketchbook Project (link in my signature). I am finishing #39 right now, and the whole thing is due in two weeks.

But the important things, I put them in my schedule and they don't get dropped :).

[luicre]

Great picks Alex!!!. I think I am going to try one of them...

Saludos

Luicre

[WovenGlass]

Hi Luicre! Good to see you! Glad you liked the references!

[luicre]

Hi Alex. I am enjoying the wdt. I am drawing the ornaments by Trudance with pastel pencils. Boy, those colors are a tonic.

Saludos

Luicre

[LittleBear]

Ok I'll go first.

This may be a WIP if I feel like getting back to it. The shading on the hat isn't right because I made most of it up. :o But otherwise I'm pleased to have mimicked the rough, woody look. I think!

[WovenGlass]

Ok I'll go first.

This may be a WIP if I feel like getting back to it. The shading on the hat isn't right because I made most of it up. :o But otherwise I'm pleased to have mimicked the rough, woody look. I think!

What a great Santa, Alex! This drawing would make a wonderful holiday card! It may be too late for this season, but perhaps for the next? Every year around October I get thinking that I would make holiday cards for the season, and every year some other project takes over :o. So I selected these references with this thought in mind - perhaps people can use them.

I love how you abstracted the Santa from the background in the reference, he became self-sufficient as a composition in your drawing. I also love how you resolved the distribution of values, the drawing has a nice rhythm to it.

I agree with you that the hat may need a little tweaking. Do you want to add some darks to it to give it more 3D feel, make it curve?

[Godzoned]

wonderful references.
I did just paint a different angle of the one by mustcreate.
so I think I'll do a different one.
May have some drawing time tonight. ;)

[Godzoned]

Alex you really captured the woody Santa well.

[Godzoned]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Dec-2010/41633-dec20-26.JPG

thank you so much loved drawing this.
2B pencil on cartridge paper used a touche for blending and a kneed-able eraser for highlights.
size - A5
40 min

it is more whiter than this in real life photo taken in evening.

[LittleBear]

Thank you, Alex (my name's Alexandra too, btw :lol:) for your considered critique! I really appreciate it. It inspired me to return to the drawing and work on it a little more. That always makes me nervous... that I might ruin what was an ok piece. :eek:

I never thought of drawing my own christmas cards. I agree, I'd never get around to it until it's too late in the season. But then again, I always buy my christmas supplies a year ahead of time (wrapping paper, etc), the week after Christmas when it's all on sale. So maybe I'll save this for next year. :D

Debbie - Thank you! I like your ornaments. You definitely got the glassy texture with your great reflections. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[WovenGlass]

thank you so much loved drawing this.
2B pencil on cartridge paper used a touche for blending and a kneed-able eraser for highlights.
size - A5
40 min

it is more whiter than this in real life photo taken in evening.

Wonderful ornaments, Debbie! Glass and colored glass can be mind-boggling sometimes, but your reflections and highlights are bright and real, they make the ornaments believable. The mirror reflections on the metal bowl are excellent, they show the off the metal very well. I also loved how you prioritized your still life. The ornaments and the shiny bowl are important and detailed, the lace dolly - less so and it takes a step back and does not overload the eye with too many textures.

What could be done better next time is gradation of values on round objects to show form. The spherical ornaments could be made more round if your values vary more. Same goes for the round bowl. Also the outlines for the ornaments could be closer to a circle. But all this applies if you were going for a detailed realistic look. At it is, a 40 minutes loose sketch is excellent. It gets the mood.

[luicre]

Alex, here is my try at the Christmas ornamentsv by Trudance. Asyou can see I have taken some licenses . I have done this with pastel pencils and it has been quite a challenge . I have learnt a lot and enjoyed the colors.

It is floating in the air because I have not yet decided what could be the table or...well you Know.

Happy Hannukah, Alex!!!!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Dec-2010/152682-alwxnavidad_wdt.jpg +



I should have erased more those stains on the paper.

Saludos

Luicre

[LittleBear]

Nice colors on your ornaments, Luicre, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the background! :)

Here's my finished Santa. I deepened the darks, especially on his hat (as you suggested, Alex).

Happy holiday to everybody!

[WovenGlass]

Alex, here is my try at the Christmas ornamentsv by Trudance. Asyou can see I have taken some licenses . I have done this with pastel pencils and it has been quite a challenge . I have learnt a lot and enjoyed the colors.

It is floating in the air because I have not yet decided what could be the table or...well you Know.

Happy Hannukah, Alex!!!!



I should have erased more those stains on the paper.

Saludos

Luicre

Your ornaments look very festive, Luicre! Lovely colors, it was a great idea to do them in pastels. I understand that they are not finished yet, if anything I would suggest lifting more color for highlight or adding bright white to make them stand out more. That way the glass will look shinier.

Merry Christmas to you!

[WovenGlass]

Nice colors on your ornaments, Luicre, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the background! :)

Here's my finished Santa. I deepened the darks, especially on his hat (as you suggested, Alex).

Happy holiday to everybody!

Your Santa came out great, Alex! Adding darks absolutely did it! It looks like you got yourself a holiday card for the next year :thumbsup:!

Happy holiday to you!

[luicre]

Your ornaments look very festive, Luicre! Lovely colors, it was a great idea to do them in pastels. I understand that they are not finished yet, if anything I would suggest lifting more color for highlight or adding bright white to make them stand out more. That way the glass will look shinier.

Merry Christmas to you!


Thank you, Alex!. I have thought the same , at the exact moment I have uploaded the image. Will try today. Those colors are therapy to me.

Saludos

Luicre

[Godzoned]

Alex - wonderfully done!

[Godzoned]

Wonderful ornaments, Debbie! Glass and colored glass can be mind-boggling sometimes, but your reflections and highlights are bright and real, they make the ornaments believable. The mirror reflections on the metal bowl are excellent, they show the off the metal very well. I also loved how you prioritized your still life. The ornaments and the shiny bowl are important and detailed, the lace dolly - less so and it takes a step back and does not overload the eye with too many textures.

What could be done better next time is gradation of values on round objects to show form. The spherical ornaments could be made more round if your values vary more. Same goes for the round bowl. Also the outlines for the ornaments could be closer to a circle. But all this applies if you were going for a detailed realistic look. At it is, a 40 minutes loose sketch is excellent. It gets the mood.

Thank you so much for your advice. much appreciated

[luicre]

Hi, Alex. I have been trying to give the Christmas ornaments a shiny look like the methal one but it is really hard.

I have yet not figured out what to do with the background and foreground.

Anyway, un update


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Dec-2010/152682-alex_navidad_wdt2.jpg


Critics and comments much appreciated.

Saludos

Luicre

[WovenGlass]

Hi, Alex. I have been trying to give the Christmas ornaments a shiny look like the methal one but it is really hard.

I have yet not figured out what to do with the background and foreground.

Anyway, un update


Critics and comments much appreciated.

Saludos

Luicre

Great update, Luicre! Love the bright highlights! The bowl and the ornaments are so much more 3 dimensional! Are you planning to finish the drawing or leave it as a sketch?

Happy New Year to you!

[luicre]

Great update, Luicre! Love the bright highlights! The bowl and the ornaments are so much more 3 dimensional! Are you planning to finish the drawing or leave it as a sketch?

Happy New Year to you!


Thank you Alex. I am going to finish it. Just don`t know now what to do with the bg and foreground. It`s a matter of colors, you know.

Happy New Year for you too, Alex.

Saludos

Luicre

[paintcrazy022]

I know I'm terribly late with this, but... I'm finding my creative urge coming back after a wee break of some months due to cancer and its treatments. Drawing feels good and is a great stress reliever!http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Jan-2011/104321-Winter_2010-2011_014.jpg

PS- Forgot to add that this is drawn on a very light weight(50lb) rather toothy Bienfang sketchbook paper with graphite pencils, I think in the range of F,HB, maybe 2B. Good practice! I have more pics I want to work on now from the next few WDT's after this. Better get crackin'!!

[WovenGlass]

This is a very good interpretation, Mary! I am so pleased this made you feel good and lifted some stress! Drawing has these wonderful meditative quality.

I don't know Bienfang sketchbook paper, but if as you say it has some extra tooth, perhaps you can strengthen the darks some more. Doing so will make the image stand out more and give it some celebratory brightness. See if you want to try it.

It is a very good idea to try doing more WDTs. You have experienced some benefits already :)! Looking forward to more drawings from you!