Friday 7 August 2009

A Few Simple Tools


It is what I really like about drawing. You find something that inspires you, in this case a really beautiful gull feather and then with a few simple tools you make a drawing, something unique.

Everyone has their own style, the way they draw and their own marks that they use. It is a dictionary of your own individual marks that you have collected, it is like your finger print. You use them without even realising they are yours alone, hence the uniqueness of your work.

Just like every feather, shell, leaf, acorn or natural object has its own lines, colours, shapes, and patterns which are unique. It is this variety that makes nature so fascinating, the same but different.

So with A few simple tools, my HB pencil (nice and sharp), a pad of lovely smooth bristol board paper and the feather I found in the sand. It had such a lovely clean crisp shape against the pale brown sand, just lost by a sea gull.
Lost, but not for long. It then found its way to my blog.
Press picture for close up.

9 comments:

Frances said...

Hello to you, Milly.

I do like the look of that feather that you've drawn. I also love the feel of an HB pencil against paper, and think that I've got a tiny sharpener just like yours, bought in London ages ago.

Sometimes I also like to have a very soft pencil that sort of melts onto the paper, when I prefer a smudgy sort of image, erase, draw some more, smudge it, erase, go on, etc.

I have managed a bit of drawing and smudging and erasing in my sketchbook this week.

xo

Joan Y said...

I've always enjoyed your nature drawings, which are always so precise yet delicate and gorgeously rendered. I love these feathers!

Mary Timme said...

Very cool stuff Milly. Feathers are something you can go into detail over or just do an outline of , and embellish a bit. They always look good.

Carolina said...

I find feathers such a difficult subject (well, I actually haven't drawn one in ages, but still, I'm afraid only of thinking on trying to draw or paint one), and you did this one so effortlessly... I love your art...

Ruthie Redden said...

Milly, i love this post, what a wonderful way of looking at things! it is amazing that pencil & paper inspire so many to producs such varied pieces. i would be lost without either. such a beautiful drawing, i love to collect feathers.

bubblemunch said...

Wowsers - the intricacy and attention to detail in your work never ceases to amaze.
Nature is beautiful and wondrous but even more so when drawn like this.

Michelle Palmer said...

Perfect words... FANTASTIC ART! I love finding art in everyday~ my sketch diaries are the best memories! Love stopping by your blog~ wish our backyards met...

Hope your day is perfect~
Michelle

Gary Keimig said...

you have some very nice work on your blog. I have had fun going through it and appreciate what you are doing.
God bless and keep up the good work

Gwen Buchanan said...

oh so lovely, one of my favourite things... you make beautiful lines!!!