Hi it’s Anna Mason and, in this mini class let's take a quick look at how I build up
layers of pencil to create this curvy little mushroom...
Fun facts I worked from a photo that I'd already made
black and white and began by making the outline drawing...
I did this freehand, aiming to recreate the curves and shapes I could see in the reference
photo.
I used the straight edge of the mechanical HB pencil I was using to make comparative
measurements and judge where key points in the drawing should be.
I used my mono eraser to make corrections where I spotted any lines I wanted to adjust.
Drawing at the same size as my printed reference meant I could easily cross-check any parts
I needed to.
Once I was happy with my outline, it was time to give the drawing 3D form.
You might be surprised at just how similar this process is to the method I use for watercolour
painting - even though it doesn't require any water, or any colour!
I switched to a 3B pencil, and held it low to the paper so I was using side of the tip.
With varying amounts of pressure, I applied an even layer to every area of the mushroom's
cap except for the lightest highlights.
In the exact same way I would when I'm painting in watercolour, I worked in the direction
of form, even though I'd be coming back to darken lots of these areas later.
It helped to start to give it some shape.
Keeping a light touch, I then gave the stem a similar treatment.
It was really satisfying to see the mushroom start to look three dimensional even at this
early stage.
Just like when I'm painting with watercolour, I now added in the very darkest tones in the
mushroom, to establish the other end of the tonal range.
These were the blotchy pattern on the cap.
This time I held the pencil at a higher angle to my paper and applied more pressure, to
create really dark marks.
I tuned into the angles, shapes and positions of these marks as they'd be important for
creating form.
If you're familiar with my watercolour method, you may know that I sometimes refer to this
disjointed point as the 'ugly duckling stage'.
And with a tonal drawing, it's no different, So the next step was to unite the tones by
applying another layer of pencil in the cap's midtone areas.
I continued working in the direction of form, making short, squiggly marks and using more
pressure than I did in the first layer, varying it where the tones were darker or lighter.
I made sure I didn't layer over the highlight areas I'd taken care to isolate at the start.
Looking back and forth between the photo and my drawing, I worked my way around the cap,
darkening and adding detail where I could see it.
With the tip of the pencil, I added extra markings and neatened up the edges around
the cap (PAUSE) and then I turned my attention back to the
stem.
Starting with its darkest parts, I used the sharpened tip of my pencil to pick out the
little speckly details.
With a lighter pressure and lower pencil angle, I layered over the top of these marks,
working into the main shadow (PAUSE) ..and lightly darkened the midtone areas to
bring them into balance with the rest of the drawing.
I was using a combinaiton of small dots and lines with the tip of my pencil to create
texture, combined with even layers with the side of the tip to gently darken wherever
I wanted to reduce the contrast or smooth the texture.
With the tones in the mushroom now looking about right, I could then move onto the last
step, which was to make some tonal adjustments - just like when I'm painting.
I began this stage by gently darkening the lightest tones, which were on the underside
of the cap.
I worked my way around the rest of the mushroom next, making sure all the tones looked dark
enough.
Wanting to take the darkest tones even darker, I changed to my 8B pencil and continued working
around the cap and stem, gently darkening with more layers and picking out more and
more details.
Lastly, I made sure my pencil was really sharp, and went around the edges of the mushroom
to give it a crisp outline.
And then, my tonal drawing was finished.
A full video class of this mushroom is available as part of a tonal drawing course
in my online School.
PAUSE If you’ve enjoyed this mini class, please
Subscribe to my Youtube channel, then hop on over to
"AnnaMasonArt.com where you can take full length video classes FOR FREE and find a whole
heap of resources to help you pick up your brush and paint the way you’ve always wanted
to.
Thanks so much for watching and I’ll see you soon to help you create watercolours with
“wow”. "