Tomatoes In Grass

[thevaliantx]

MY IMAGE(S):



GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Tomatoes In Grass
Year Created:
Medium: Colored Pencil
Surface: Other
Dimension: 11x14
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is my first piece done on drawing paper (Canson XL Mixed Media) rather than sketching paper. In starting the sketch I was lying on the bed with a 9H pencil, and having gone 27 hours without sleep. NOT a good combination, as you can see the 'scratches'. For the sake of seeing what colors would look like on something other than a sketch pad, I plugged along.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I am having trouble creating hi-lights, or where the sun is hitting the tomatoes. At this point it doesn't seem I can add any more layers, as I'm already seeing wax buildup (Derwent Studio CP). I do know my vision isn't that good, and probably need my eyes rechecked, but try as I might when I look at a photo of cherry tomatoes I can 'see' that they round, I just can't pick up any real clues that say 'how' they are round.

[La_]

i've found that if i can't get the lights light enough
i darken the darks ... and you've room here to darken those reds

la

[dgford]

You seem to be fighting shy of putting in a few things. Richer colours? --- those tomatoes should be proud to be RED! Shadows? --- tomatoes have 3-D form and therefore will show highlights and cast shadows. Grass tufts? --- I would hate my lawn grass to be as sparsely growing as this! Variations of tones? ---the grass blades (and are there tomato stalks in there?) show little, if any, variation in shades and remain a weak green throughout.
If I am seeming to be over-tough it is because I think you may need to be jolted out of a sublime complacency. Be bolder and get rid of those wishy-washy eyes!
Geoff

[Debzy]

Hi TVX ! I agree with La and Geoff, you could use some deep red colour and some rich contrasting green to begin with! Then, shadows, shine, and life!!!! As Geoff says, you appear to be afraid to get right into the colour and that is what is missing. Maybe you could wet your coloured pencils a bit to get this depth, I used to do that at school =)) I like the subject, I love tomatoes, but they appear a little bit like onions in this drawing. Some depth and substance is needed,.... It may be too late to change the shape, but I would practice with the colours and then do another one with rounder tomatoes when you can get the colours you want. Good luck and let us know how you go. Cheers =)) Debs.

[thevaliantx]

The reference photo showed cherry tomatoes laying on the ground. It appears they were cut from the stalk as a group and then just clumped together for the sake of a photo.

You guys are right, I am afraid of going TOO far and then making a mistake that I can't undo. Sadly, this is something I've struggled with my entire life. I really do not like repeating things. I'm always trying to do things right the first time, and then move on to something else. This is something that I've had to struggle with in learning how to draw. It's why, when you look at the different drawings I've put up on WC, they are widely varied in subject.

I'm going to pull out that tomato drawing, and use my Cra-Z-Art CP's on it. Derwent Studio CP's are terrible, IMO. I'm not sure if the paper will accept any of the Cra-Z-Art pigment, but I know that it won't accept the Derwent.

In another thread I was pointed to a thread here on WC that teaches how to transfer a finished 'sketch' onto a final drawing paper, and this is something that I'm going to try in my next drawing. That way I can do away with the lines.

[thevaliantx]

Here is the updated drawing. I somewhat got rid of the scratched lines by coloring in favor of the ambient (to the subject, in this case tomatoes) color.

I also really pressed hard with the Cra-Z-Art pencils (no more Derwent Studio for me).

What do you all think about this version?

[Debzy]

I don't see any image? =)) Debs.

[dgford]

Now you are on your way. Good vibes emerging. Now get stuck in to those deeper reds on the under sides of the tomatoes --- to give us the round shapes. Together we are going to make a really brave soul out of you yet !!!
Congrats --- we are already looking forward to your next amendment.
Geoff

[Debzy]

This is much improved! Well done and keep going! Now they look like tomatoes! =)) Cheers Debs.

[thevaliantx]

I can't go any further with this. I'm burned out. This drawing taught me a lot, and I can see a big difference in the way I draw now from even a month or so ago.

But, wait ... there's more. I'm not tired of drawing tomatoes, just yet, so my next drawing will be tomatoes. They won't be square-shaped or floating in outer space, I promise.

[Andrewcody]

I am glad the grass question was clarified. I thought these might have been vine ripened tomatoes and I was struggling to see the grass.
I think you did well on the skin of the tomatoes.
Definitely get some better coloured pencils if you can.
One other suggestion - get rid of the Canson XL mixed media paper - it is really terrible paper - useless for watercolour, and I suspect from what you say not much use for colored pencil either.
You should not have to fight with your materials. Nor should you have to be 'pressing hard' with your pencils and definitely you should not be leaving scratch marks on the paper using the pencil.
Good luck with the new tomatoes.
Regards
Andrew

[thevaliantx]

Andrew, thanks for the comment. Do you think that Faber Castell Polychromos CP's would be the best purchase for me, or am I aiming too high? What sort of paper do you suggest I purchase?

Was I pressing really hard with the CP's because of the paper itself, or because of the CP's?

[Andrewcody]

TheV
Buy the best quality materials that you can afford - it is false economy and frustrating when you have to fight with inferior materials.
I don't mean buy the absolute best, but buy artist quality (real artist quality), there is a range to fit budgets, buy the best you can though.

Aim high! It is no harder on your gun to shoot the feathers off an eagle than to shoot the fur off a skunk

Don't go shooting any eagles though

Regards
Andrew

[thevaliantx]

I appreciate the advice, and the analogies, but it really isn't helping. Sorry. Could anyone else here recommend a paper of higher quality than the Canson XL Mixed Media paper that I am using, for a beginning artist?