Draw Great Landscapes With a Single Pencil
When drawing landscapes, it can be hard for an artist to create an impression of distance.
It can be annoying when you have finished a drawing, only to realize that the background mountain range appears to have moved forward, looking like small hills.
Detail of foreground items should look like they stand out from the background and middle-distance.
The usual technique to do this is to reduce the level of detail in the middle-ground.
And, for distance, you reduce detail even further...
often a single line can be used to represent distant hills and horizon.
Another way to give the impression of distance is to draw thin soft-toned lines for the background.
When gradually stronger and darker line-work is used for the middle-distance and foreground detail...
the lighter background drawing recedes.
The easiest way is to use a selection of pencils that range from hard to soft.
The hard lead pencils are great for distance and fine-work.
The softer pencils allow darker denser drawing that is more suited to foreground detail.
A better way to create a similar result can be achieved using a single pencil.
With plenty of practice, drawing skill and care you can easily accomplish a variety of line-weights and line thickness.
Many of the same effects can be achieved by using a single graphite pencil, applying more or less pressure to get the tonal variety as you draw.
To help you appreciate the results try the following exercise...
Draw a rough square, around 2" X 2" (25mm X 25mm) The aim is to fill the square with gradual shading that is light in one corner and darker in the opposite corner...
* Using a light touch, begin in the top corner * As your pencil moves away from the start point, gradually increase the pressure * You should create the heaviest line weight at the opposite corner of the square As far as you are able, the shading will slowly change from light to dark across the square shape.
If it isn't a smooth transition, you can return and retouch areas that don't satisfy you.
Continuing to practice this method of smooth shading will give you the high level of drawing skill required to draw anything you want...
foreground detail and distance will not trouble you.
It can be annoying when you have finished a drawing, only to realize that the background mountain range appears to have moved forward, looking like small hills.
Detail of foreground items should look like they stand out from the background and middle-distance.
The usual technique to do this is to reduce the level of detail in the middle-ground.
And, for distance, you reduce detail even further...
often a single line can be used to represent distant hills and horizon.
Another way to give the impression of distance is to draw thin soft-toned lines for the background.
When gradually stronger and darker line-work is used for the middle-distance and foreground detail...
the lighter background drawing recedes.
The easiest way is to use a selection of pencils that range from hard to soft.
The hard lead pencils are great for distance and fine-work.
The softer pencils allow darker denser drawing that is more suited to foreground detail.
A better way to create a similar result can be achieved using a single pencil.
With plenty of practice, drawing skill and care you can easily accomplish a variety of line-weights and line thickness.
Many of the same effects can be achieved by using a single graphite pencil, applying more or less pressure to get the tonal variety as you draw.
To help you appreciate the results try the following exercise...
Draw a rough square, around 2" X 2" (25mm X 25mm) The aim is to fill the square with gradual shading that is light in one corner and darker in the opposite corner...
* Using a light touch, begin in the top corner * As your pencil moves away from the start point, gradually increase the pressure * You should create the heaviest line weight at the opposite corner of the square As far as you are able, the shading will slowly change from light to dark across the square shape.
If it isn't a smooth transition, you can return and retouch areas that don't satisfy you.
Continuing to practice this method of smooth shading will give you the high level of drawing skill required to draw anything you want...
foreground detail and distance will not trouble you.
Source...