Stipples and Dots P.55

Stipples and Dots P.55

For this exercise, I looked around for an object that contained crater like features which would compliment the stipple effect and I initially thought of a sponge but then I came across this potato. Not only did it have small pits, it also had areas of shading that could be quite interesting when doing the stipple effect. 

I used a standard biro, along with a Berol Fine Tip and a Uni Fine Line 0.1mm, instead of shading the dark areas of the potato, I stippled with the Uni Fine Line, overlaying with the Berol fine line to indicate darker shading. I used the Biro to indicate shape and form of the potato. 

Check and Log 

Which drawing Media did you find most effective to use for which effects?

In terms of the vegetables, I found that oil pastel worked really well when used on rough paper, partly due to the texture of the vegetables I think. The leaf,  would of looked much better in watercolour, the delicate tones would suit that medium much better. Pen and ink can be very detailed, creating quite a striking sketch if that is what the artist wants to go for whereas the different shades of pencils available and its versatility, can create quite realistic sketches.

What sort of marks work well to create tone, pattern and texture? Make notes beside some sample marks.

Crosshatch is probably the most used form of mark to create tones, how closely spaced together can indicate the tones strength, while pattern and texture can be produced by many consecutive lines either going in one direction or at odds. As mentioned above, stipples and dots can give texture, soft curls can create the illusion of fur, hair or grass and Broken line adds subtlety.

Did you enjoy capturing details or are you more at home creating big broad brush sketches?

Enjoy is perhaps the wrong word, I am more comfortable with detailed work but that is probably more to do with a lack of confidence to try more bigger expressive work. I think if you go into something like Oil Pastel or Charcoal and not so much care about getting it wrong, then you will have fun with the medium. The opposite could said for Pencil or Pen work, if the piece is not as accurate or detailed as how you want it to be, this can cause frustration in the artist.