I’m just getting slower and slower these days, but I admit I also am trying to push myself to try new things (or more complicated things).
I started this drawing a little while back, and ended up frustrated with it while in the blue pencil/sketch stage. I ended up working on another drawing, before finally getting back to this one.
I am still doing ink and inkwash, so my work is still black and white, which can sometimes drive me crazy trying to find ways to make the image pop a lot more than just a grey puddle. 🙂 I’m discovering I have some limitations, with what I’m using (waterproof ink) and the paper. I use smooth Bristol, which is a dream to ink with a brush on. Sooooo smooth, but can also buckle badly, and start losing top layers of paper essentially. If I keep going over and over a spot, especially before waiting for the paper to fully dry, I’ll end up with specks of paper that I can brush/rub off the next day when everything is dry again. Unfortunately, even if I mix a darker inkwash, I’m finding the paper is almost too saturated to accept more, and it becomes difficult to add more layers (something I like doing bit by bit, so I can build up an image as needed for depth and clarity).
I’m also starting to get a steadier hand again with inking delicate lines and marks. Even while using a #2 brush (which is bigger than the #1 brush I always used before and can no longer use because it’s starting to lose its point)! Since I probably need to get glasses, I tend to work really close to my paper and don’t realize how delicate my marks are getting, and if I keep going over those areas with inkwash, I start losing those lines or they fade. I finally had to go over a few areas with ink again, and the paper didn’t seem to like that even while trying to make sure it was smooth. A few tense moments! I could always go over them again with a black pencil, but I like the fact that the ink is waterproof for sections as important as main drawing lines.
Anyway! Here is the latest drawing I finished yesterday. I will also quote the text from the deviantART page. Some spoilers are in the italicized part, from the book The Hobbit, so careful if you’re trying to avoid those:
Slight spoiler below, from the book The Hobbit, if you have not read it. This is a rare time I was inspired to draw something that has not happened yet in the movies. I have a bad feeling the ravens will not be showing up, but I enjoy mixing things from the book and movies together anyway:
“Your own wisdom must decide your course; but thirteen is small remnant of the great folk of Durin that once dwelt here, and now are scattered far. If you will listen to my counsel, you will not trust the Master of the Lake-Men, but rather him that shot the dragon with his bow. Bard is he, of the race of Dale, of the line of Girion; he is a grim man but true. We would see peace once more among dwarves and men and elves after the long desolation; but it may cost you dear in gold. I have spoken.”
Then Thorin burst forth in anger: “Our thanks, Roäc Carc’s son. You and your people shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or the violent carry off while we are alive. If you would earn our thanks still more, bring us news of any that draw near. Also I would beg of you, if any of you are still young and strong of wing, that you would send messengers to our kin in the mountains of the North, both west from here and east, and tell them of our plight. But go specially to my cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, for he has many people well-armed, and dwells nearest to this place. Bid him hasten!”
Drawn on 11 X 14 Bristol, using Black Magic ink and ink wash, Winsor & Newton series 7 sable brushes (#2 and #3), and black and white pencil. Ended up rushing it towards the end with the background out of frustration (and nearly shredded the paper trying to add more layers of inkwash). My poor eyes! I honestly don’t even know if I’ve typed everything on here correctly, much less missed something important on the drawing.
I was also working from very small images of his new costume, and for my own space could not get all the detail correctly like the movie costume (for example, the trim is more simplified).
Link in the Scraps section to the blue pencil sketch:
cfgriffith.deviantart.com/art/…
View finished drawing here.
Sorry I’ve been so quiet lately. I don’t think I was necessarily getting tired of hobbies, but I have picked up a few more and I guess needed to give those a little time as well as cut loose and have some much-needed fun. I do need to start getting back to sewing, so I think today I might work on some handsewing for an accessory that’s been waiting patiently for me to finish it. I also would like to work on more dwarf fan art, but I know how slow I’ve been so hopefully I can at least plan those a little better so I can put out a few more than I’ve been doing.
Thanks for looking!
