Exercise: Sketching an individual tree
It was difficult to decide on a tree for this task. I saw a lot of trees I liked, but they were mostly standing in a group of trees and I couldn’t place myself in proper drawing distance because I would have to look directly in the sun or they were in a group and undistinguishable as singular trees from further away. After an hours walk through Central Park, I finally decided on a tree to make the four structural sketches
– Simple outline
– Basic shapes in outline or shaded areas to indicate the masses of foliage
– Outlines of the trunk and main branches
– Scribbled outlines or shadings to indicate the texture of the foliage
Initially I thought these were separate things to do and so the first set of drawings responds to these as isolated tasks. I had chosen a sort of conifer and found it very difficult to indicate “masses of foliage”. I also struggled with uncomfortable seating and having to look towards the sun. I found my sketches not very convincing and decided to draw another set.
Luckily there was another suitable tree close by and I could sit there a bit more comfortable, yet still looking towards the sun. This time it was a broad-leafed tree which lend itself better to drawing “masses of foliage” although these were difficult to capture due to the light situation. I had something in mind of a green mass in different tones, but this tree presented itself with very light foliage through which the sunlight shone into my eyes.
This time I drew the set and built the sketches up in stages. First square simple outline only, next square simple outline plus some basic shapes, third square outline, masses and trunk, and final square again a repetition plus some scribbling marks to indicate the foliage.
I’m not very convinced by my attempts but at least the two different tree types can be distinguished, so I captured at least a bit of their characteristics.
Exercise: Larger study of an individual tree
I turned around and shaded my eyes off a bit to draw the third tree. I didn’t feel very comfortable with the earlier exercise because I would have preferred to devote more time to study some details rather than making quick sketches. So I was quite motivated to do this exercise, on the other hand already a bit exhausted from the earlier work.
The third tree was also a broad-leafed tree, I don’t know the botanical name. It was a huge tree and I was a bit too close. I started the tree beginning at the bottom of the trunk and then working my way upwards. This was a different approach to what the sketch instructions had asked me to do.
I like the overall result better than that from the sketches, but the method has the disadvantage that I could not fit the entire tree onto the A3 sized paper. Had I started with an outline sketch and worked through the stages of the previous exercise, the tree would have probably fitted on the paper in its entirety.
I found it difficult to draw the tree in isolation. There were trees behind this one which provided a darker background that looked interesting and gave depth. On the other hand it was easier to leave out context and focus on this particular tree.
For future tree studies I’d rather look elsewhere than Central Park and find a place less crowded, but this involves more planning and organization.
Exercise: Study of several trees
That same day after work I decided to tackle the next exercise, a study of several trees. I had hoped to see some appropriate trees during the lunch break in the UN area, but the trees present did not work for me. They were nice and large, but they stood in a row and the view had no perspective or depth to it. So I drew the statue instead, practicing an earlier topic (see: Some practice on my own)
The problem with working full-time is that it becomes difficult to reserve one or two hours for drawing outside. Daytime practice is only possible during week-ends, but if I can only continue coursework on weekends, I won’t be able to finish the course within the time limit set. There’s also the weather risk, I might not even be able to draw outside if it is raining. So I thought to give it a try after work. But autumn is approaching and the days are getting shorter. Currently it is getting dark at around half past seven, which leaves not much time because I work until 5 and have to go home and feed my cats before I can go outside again. Tonight I managed to be on my way at a quarter to 6. If I walk fast it takes me 15 minutes to get to Central Park. I was hurrying up to get there and then quickly find a nice group of trees, before it was too dark.
I did not want to draw a “flat” group of trees which stand next to each other and offer no depth in the composition. I was looking for a group of trees that would be composed of different tree species, different sizes, and with different textures from the combination of light and dark foliage, trunks and grass or bushes as the context. I walked around for another 20 minutes or so until I finally found a group of trees that worked for me. It was also important that I could place myself in sufficient distance to the trees.
Then I made two drawings. The first was in charcoal. It was a very quick sketch giving only a very rough indication of what I saw. I then made a more worked out pencil study. I’m not satisfied with both drawings, because I feel that I felt back into that scribbly, unsensitive style which seems to be my comfort zone. There’s maybe minimum progress in that I got a little more contrast than usual, and maybe in my perception because I began to see masses of foliage and areas of lighter and darker tones, and lighter shapes before a dark background. But the drawing does not capture much of this.
I think the main problem was that I felt very hurried by the vanishing daylight. Maybe I should have done only one drawing in pencil right away. I also lost much of the precious drawing time through searching for an appropriate place. So this was not a very pleasant experience, all in all. I did enjoy the late walk through Central Park, though. But I’ll make a new drawing, hopefully that’ll be better. I don’t want to work from photographs because I think I need that practice of drawing the real world. Am frustrated because I have these time restrictions.
Second try – drawing several trees
I went out again to the same location on the next evening and had another go. Unfortunately, the drawings were no better than those before. The first one was with Conté crayons, I tried to work with different green tones to include trunks and the different tones of foliage masses. Looks miserable. Second drawing was in 4B pencil. I began by just outlining trunks and foliage shapes which looked not that bad, but then proceeded by making scribbly marks and dark hatching to indicate shades. It did not work at all. In the end I hated the drawings and hated myself for not being able to produce nice-looking drawings. Felt very frustrated. Consoled myself with the thought that phases of deep frustration are typically those where one learns a lot because of the search for better ways of doing things. But I’m suffering and feel very stuck at the moment.
I took some photographs of the trees I wanted to draw. Maybe I should try drawing from these photograph, at least then I wouldn’t be constraint by the available daylight. I just hate the hurry I’m getting into when I go out to draw in the evenings, after work. Doesn’t seem to work for me.
Looking at the photographs I do get an idea why I had so many difficulties. The first photos which included more of the sky showed the trees as a dark mass without any noticeable internal structure. Then I made photos which took only minimal amount of sky, which led the camera to depict the trees in lighter colours, but due to the strong contrast the contours of the trees against the sky are feathered out. The scene is lit from behind and this result in difficult light conditions, for drawing as well as for photos. The problem was that I did not have much time and therefore gave this arrangement a try rather than spending the evening with searching a better location.
I’m not sure what to do about it. I was considering to make a tour into the outskirts of New York to see some trees uncrowded. But then again I had hoped to work on the assignment this weekend.
Later in the evening I made another drawing, this time smaller, an A4 study after one of the photographs. I’m doing the same again and feel that I’m not getting anywhere with my approach. I really don’t know what to do, there seems to be some kind of bad magic going on. I just keep repeating the same technique which produces ugly drawings. I’m in no hurry, still it’s not getting better. What am I doing wrong??