Texture Mediums

Pencil Practices

These four images are my initial pencil technique practices. They consist of a simple straight line; curved line; small short line in sections and a random squiggle exercise. In each exercise I had to adjust the pressure I was applying to the paper to give each line a differentiation in tone. I am pleased with these as I feel that although they were part of a simple technique exercise they went well and that I got a good grasp of these four techniques. I am very happy with my ability to use pencil regardless of it being one of the more basic drawing medias. 

 

These four were part of yet another pencil technique exercise. They consist of a small, vertical zig-zag; chevrons; random squiggle and a horizontal wavy set of lines. I didn't find any of these particularly challenging except for the chevrons. I found it highly difficult to keep them going in a straight line. I feel that the objective of this exercise was still reached however as I was able to change the amount of tone that each line of chevrons had.   

These images above are different methods of showing tone with pencil. They are comprised of general horizontal shading; diagonal lines; crosshatch and squiggle shading. I am pleased with the results that I achieved as they all show a clear and slow transition in tone. I also now have a better understanding of the many ways to create tone in drawings using pencil.

In these images I've used a rubber to change the way in which tone can be created. The first one was the most simple as I only had to erase some of the pencil to create a soft transition. For the second one I had to create a transition in tone then drag a rubber across it in straight lines to create these which sections. The third one I had to do the same as the second however I moved the rubber in a zig-zag pattern to create the pattern. For the last piece I placed a ripped piece of paper above another piece and shaded above them both. I then repeated so that the shading would slowly fade. I am pleased with these as I think I have got a rough hold of these pencil methods.

Charcoal Practices

These small pieces where created using charcoal and a rubber.  In the first one I simply shaded in a small area with the charcoal, The second one I Lightly shaded in a small area however I went back over It with the charcoal and created the small lines using the charcoal with mire pressure applied to create the differentiation in tone which is visible here. These last two where created using a rubber to give the lighter lines. I used the rubber to create the long white horizontal lines and zig-zag lines which can be seen on these last two pieces. I am pleased with my use of charcoal and find it to be one of my preferred medias.

Ink Practices

In these small boxes I have used stick and drawing ink as well as glue to create the resisting effect. In the first one I used the ink to create these short lines similar to the pencil ones I did in the beginning. the second one I used the stick to dot the ink in random places but making sure it got lighter as it progressed as to maintain a fade in tone throughout. The third one was similar to the first except I very quickly "scribbled" down the page to fill in more area with a slower change in tone. The last one was created using a resist technique. I put a small thin layer of glue in parts of the area I intended to use, once it had dried I Put the ink above the while area which caused the small white areas to appear since the glue resists the ink. I am pleased with the stick and ink technique as I feel I was able to create these samples with ease and effectively complete the objective.

Texture Practices

These two images where made using various techniques, specifically acrylic; brown paper; tooth brush and finger paint. To create the first one I glued a small piece of brown paper to the surface I was using. I then mixed white and black acrylic together on this surface using my fingers to intentionally create different types of texture. the second one I simply took a tooth brush and put some coffee grains mixed with water onto the end and slowly rubbed my thumb across the bristles so the paint would be flicked onto the surface. I feel that this went fairly well but not perfectly, I think that there is much room for improvement when using these texture methods.

The first of these two texture samples was created using coffee. I mixed coffee grains with water to create the solution for my exercise, I then used a large paintbrush to spread the coffee solution on the paper and create this rough texture. The second was created using coffee once again but once it had dried I put white acrylic paint onto one side of a sponge and dabbed the sponge in random places across the area. This caused the creation of this white dotted texture fairly similar to ceilings from the 1970s.

The first of these images was created using a small quickly applied layer of coffee. Once it had dried I dipped a cotton bud into the coffee and continued to dab it around the previous layer of coffee to create this dotted pattern. The second one was made using a layer of black acrylic paint and waiting for it to dry. When it was dry I used a sponge which had white acrylic paint on one side which I dabbed across the surface to create the finishing texture.

This first texture was made using a thin, diluted layer of tea which I applied using a paint brush. I the took a tooth brush and sprayed yet another thin layer of coffee across the surface to finish with this lightly, dark dotted texture. To create the second one I painted a later of black acrylic to begin with. I then used a tooth brush to spray white acrylic on top of the layer which led to this lightly sprayed finish. 

This first blending technique was made using a glue spreader. I applied white acrylic paint and painted one side of the area them did the same to the other using black. I then attempted to blend the two together in the middle. The second was a similar attempt however I decided to do I ton a diagonal angle using my finders to blend the colours. I feel that they could have been executed better but that may be due to a lack in practice when using these medias and methods.

The first of these two textures was created by gluing a small piece of newspaper which only consisted of text to a small area, this was followed by applying a layer of white acrylic paint above it to make the text in the background look faded. The second one was made by gluing a piece of brown paper to a small area them applying a thick layer of white acrylic paint on top using my finders. I feel that these two textures where successful as they both show out to be different textures. I think that my skill can improve in these two areas however.

Acrylic (Colour) 

This image shows my practices at creating different colours using only the primary colours red; blue and yellow. I simply painted two lines of the colours I was mixing them painted a small square of the colour they created next to them using a standard paint brush.

These small blending techniques where created using the primary colours and white acrylic. The dotted samples on the right where created using cotton buds, I dipped them into the given paint them dabbing the small squares which I drew out. As I got towards the middle of each square the colours began to mix into the colours purple; orange and green. The squares on the right where created by Filling each square with a primary colour then adding white acrylic to one end which lightened the shade of the colour. I feel that I was highly successful at both of these practices however more practice Is requires if I wish to continue using these medias.

Watercolour

The first sample of watercolour on the left was made by gradually mixing the primary colours as I progressed downwards. The sample on the right was made using a number of different colours. Once they dried I went back over them using the same colour but much thicker to create these small vertical lines. I am highly pleased with these two samples at I think the colours where very well blended.

These four images where made using watercolour and oil pastel for the resist technique. The first one I applied a swirl of white oil pastel which I painted over with blue and yellow water colour, blending them in the middle, the oil pastel resisted the watercolour which is why the swirl is visible through the paints. The same technique was used for the next one which I created however I used  a random squiggle for them. To make the third one I glued some pieces of string to the paper and painted over them. when the paint was dry I removed the pieces of string which lest the empty straight lines. The last one was made by putting small pieces of masking tape onto the surface then painting over them. The outlines of the masking tape show thickly because of this. 

Oil Pastel

These four pastel samples where made by putting a layer of one colour into the squares which I drew before hand. I then chose to put colours which contrasted the base colour and scratched patterns into the surface. By doing this the top layer of oil pastel was removed allowing the lower layer to show through the scratch marks. 

Landscape Samples

To begin with I used a small collection of landscapes to decide which I would like to create samples of. I decided to use multiple to begin with so I could find out which one I felt was the right one for me. I drew out the landscape from the image and used watercolour to add the colours to it. I wanted the colours to be fairly diluted to give it a simplistic feel. In honesty I think that it could have been done much better and if I where to re-do it I would add a larger variety of colour to it.

For this piece I decided to use pencil to go with the open landscape, as there is I am able to make many different varieties of tone. I tried to keep all of my pencil strokes going into the same direction to assist in the sketchy look which was initially intended. I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this piece as I think the sketchiness of the pencil matches the open grassiness that the fields have.

These two images where made using acrylic. I decided that this was the landscape to do the rest of my samples on as it was simplistic yet had many areas for detail. I used the different shades of orange as they are "hot" colours. This was to try and match the fact that it is a desert landscape. I used paint brushes for the upper one and my fingers for the bottom one. I feel that they both could have been done better at they are both rather patchy. If I with to do more acrylic work then practice is required.

I made this image using watercolour pencils simply because I wanted to try new forms of media. Given that I'd never used them before I am pleased with the way that it turned out. I think the detail in some sections could have been done better but that the main parts where executed well.

This image was made using the stick and ink method. It is evident that I have left large sections of the image empty. This is due to the fact that the image would look too dark which I feel would ruin its appearance. I am pleased with the way it has turned out and that the detail is successful.

I used charcoal in this image as I wanted to give it a dark faint feel to it. I feel that it went rather well apart from the general shape of each landscape component I.E the mountains. These could have been done better as well as some of the finer parts of detail.

For this sample I decided to re-visit pencil as I feel that it is my best form of media and wanted to capture as much detail as possible in this one. I feel that it went extremely well and that I've captured a large amount of detail and managed to keep a simplistic sketchy feel to it. If I was going to do this a second time then I would certainly do it on a larger scale as I feel that I will be able to capture even more detail that this smaller A5 version.

For my final I decided to do a larger version of my charcoal sample. I chose charcoal because I wanted to contrast the brightness of what a typical desert landscape would have by making it look fairly gloomy, which could be achieved with the charcoal. I am much happier with this than my previous charcoal sample. I have been able to capture much more detail and maintain the smoothness of the charcoal. I am also happy with the fact that I've been able to add the depth of the fore; mid and background of the image which this is based on. I am also highly pleased with the clouds as they are well integrated with the skyline. and aren't too bold and outstanding. 

If I were to do this again I would focus more on the small horizontal lines. I feel that that they could have been done better as they do not effectively show the roughness of the cliff face. I also feel that I could have made the flat face of the cliff more ridged and sharp to capture a larger portion of the detail.