Hand Jeans….seven

So….I brought the drawing outside thinking I could spot where I need to focus.



Then, I was told…. “just work on it upside-down”.  Amazing how this view helps.  We don’t assume so much when working this way.



Time to work on the nails.  Not as hard as I thought it was going to be…..just kept things in the same skin tone.



There are wrinkles in the wrist…which I have not duplicated well here.  The thing so challenging about hands is…not only do we have to show the veins but the tendons too.



Since I’m mostly done….I outlined with my very fine marker.



I’m so ready to get this off my plate.  Yes…it was a challenge….Yes…I enjoyed it…but after looking at this for thirty days….I stopped seeing it’s uniqueness.  I also became very aware of what I couldn’t change…couldn’t replicate well.

Hand Jeans….six

Six posts about the same drawing….I guess I have a lot to learn.



It was time to do more with that hand.



There is definitely something very wrong with that third knuckle.  It’s huge!  It looks a bit battered and bruised.  Ouch!



I see things so much better after…. I…walk… away.  This is so close to completion it’s not funny….but if I hurry thru the next few steps, I won’t be happy with the final product.  Best to just chip away….chip away.

Hand Jeans….five

I could not wait to get into my new box of prismacolors!  They look so nice and neat this way….trust me….it won’t last!



Needed to balance out the jeans. I knew it needed to be dark so I went straight in with the orange (opposite of blue on the colorwheel).  On top of the orange I used blue.  This will darken the area….neutralize it.



I was getting frustrated with my attempts at darkening my shadows. It just wasn’t going anywhere.



Apparently….I forgot a step….I was in such a hurry to use those pretty pencils that I forgot to use my w/c pencils!!  It’s the watercolor pencils that really helped me darken the darks.  Where was my head?

Still much more to do….getting to be a rather long blog-post series! Sorry

Hand Jeans….four

This little spot was bugging me, nobody knew why it was white here.  It was a good time to see how the colored pencils would work over the existing watercolors.  I even tried out my marker for the black outline on the floral pattern.  This entire floral print has a black outline to it.  FUN…I cannot wait to finish this because I will get to do my favorite thing at the end!  Mindless outlining! 



This is where I was at the beginning of class the other night.  I have to admit I was glad I was there…I needed to know my watercolor limit….I had about reached it here.  It was time to bring in the colored pencils for the rest.



This is a good shot to show you just how big this is.  It’s pretty big!



Not done….not even close. Must continue on with:

• the arm
• the hand
• the jeans
• the belt loops
• most of the top

At least I have a plan….always good to have a plan!! Haha

Hand Jeans….three

Continued with the hand a bit more.  Used colored pencils to get that thumb bend.  Reinforced some of the shadows in the 2 right fingers with watercolor.



It was time to work the top.  If I can get this top right, I will love it….but that’s a big IF.



Had to mix a brown to best match the picture.  Just lightly applied the first coat of brown watercolor paint.



Then I had to outline the rest of the floral image.  This required focus….so I had to be patient and clear headed.  Couldn’t doodle it in my “zoned-out” way.



Now, I have lots of color opportunities to turn to when things aren’t working as expected in a part of this drawing/painting.

Hand Jeans….two

I’m learning the plusses of each medium.  Watercolor helps create lots of contour if I can let it puddle in certain ways.  The way the pigment settles cannot be duplicated as easily with the colored pencils. 



Worked a bit on the belt buckle. A welcome break from all the creases with all the those blues in the pants.  I was getting overwhelmed.



Mulled it over…..Do I color pencil the hand or watercolor the hand…..I compromised and did both.  Here’s the watercolor base.



I only got to the 2 left fingers with colored pencils.  The big plus to colored pencils is the detail it helps me to mimic.  Of course….I can get bogged down in the details.  When that happens I force myself to work on a different portion….preferably in a different color. 

Hand Jeans….one

After all the wrapping and unwrapping and the going…going….going.   I needed to re-group with colored pencils.  I’m a bit bummed that I’m stuck on water interpretation so I’ve had to put my Fly color-sketch on hold until someone smarter than me can help.



I’ve been wanting to sketch BIG.  Like on a Big….Piece….Of …..Paper.  The dimensions here are 22x30, a definite challenge.



I like doing a watercolor base to my color-sketches.  It saves time.



Back to the hand!  What is it about hands?  I either love ‘em or hate ‘em.  There is no in between.  Possibly there is so much going on with them, that I either get it or I don’t.  We’ll see.

Figure 3….Strengthening Color

Sketching along and applying more and more color.  And….more folds whether the picture has them or not! Haha



Into my third pair of jeans here….becoming quite commonplace.



Personally, I like the jeans in this color….but the interest and skill level isn’t there to make these more realistic in this hue.



I have to laugh because of the variety of my indigo jeans.  I seem to be able to create a white-wash, an acid-wash, a dirty-wash and a faded jean….but ask me to create the same jean each time…and I’d be at a loss!!

And she’s done….Figure 2

I was quite happy that most of this hand was hiding!



Made way more folds than the actual picture….but I think it looks more interesting this way.



Realized….that if I’m ever to match clothing or skin…I have to sketch the pictures together…..(i.e. work on them at the same time).

Also realized, that when trying to draw complicated parts (like the hand)….it’s ok to hint at dimension, color and shading.  I don’t have to sketch in all the details.



Because the fingers aren’t showing, it allowed me to not “have to” match up the tendons and veins with the fingers….I was off the hook!



It was suggested that I use blue on the arms and such to bring in the shading/shadows.  But when I used blue, I hated it!!  It looked muddy to me.  After some erasing, I went back to my comfort colors….reds, pinks, fuchsia.

I’m liking this illustration board and the larger sizes. So far…so good  

Lets Finish….Figure 1

Went to class and it was suggested that I dull down the pants some.



I had to get the instructor to clarify what she meant by “dull down”.  Go figure…it’s to bring in the opposite color…you know…mute it a bit.  With blue I use orange cuz that’s the opposite on the color wheel.



Here ya go….the evolution of the jeans.  As you can see, it’s not true photo-realism because I get to embellish, change the color and shape.  I think that’s the fun part…the interesting part.  I think I’m liking how the jeans turned out.  More vibrant I think.



I’m getting more and more comfortable with my “wing-it” interpretations.  I had no idea how to portray the sleeve folds.



This is about as done as it’s going to get.  May go in and sharpen up some edges.  What a fun piece to work with.  I like the size.  I told my instructor…..I would like to go even larger…..Now wouldn’t that be interesting….doing a life size piece?

Lets Play Nice….Figure 1

Had my headphones on and listening to my current favorite song…and coloring away at a pretty good clip!



Adding my layers to my shirt.



Even getting brave enough to work on the hand.



I thought the shirt needed some interest…..endowed it a bit.  And that’s when I should’ve walked away.  For some reason….don’t know what I was thinking….I decided to erase with my exacto knife….since it worked so well on the hair from the previous sketch…..Well, I created a big mess!  Tore the paper up pretty well. 



I finally walked away…but couldn’t stop thinking about fixing it.  That’s when I wrote this note!…..cuz I really wasn’t fixing anything.



Live and Learn.  Hoping my art teacher has some magic cure.