Foundations to Flourish: Drawing
Vol 11: Using graphite pencils to explore the scumbling/scribbling method
Hello!
Hi everyone! I can hardly believe we’ve reached the 11th Foundations to Flourish. Where are the weeks going!? This week, our focus will be on scumbling, often referred to as scribbling. We will look into the process of creating quick drawings using scribble-like marks. If you've been experimenting with the various techniques over the past few weeks, you might start to notice which drawing styles resonate with you and which ones you dislike or get frustrated with.
Scumbling / Scribbling
Let’s recap what stippling is when you are drawing.
Scumbling or scribbling - whichever way you would like to call it - involves creating small, circular or scribbled marks. This can create a soft, textured tone.
Time to Draw
Begin by positioning a still life object in front of you. For this drawing exercise, I am focusing on a very old Sooty ornament. Choose a 2H pencil and gently sketch the outlines and features of the object on your paper.
Using an H or 2H pencil, start to make light, loose marks in the lighter areas. Remember to apply gentle pressure. While my marks are somewhat tight due to the small size of my drawing, feel free to make yours as large or small as you prefer. I'm leaving the white areas untouched, allowing the paper to serve as the highlight.
After applying the first layer, switch your pencil grade to the low B’s. For my work, I used 2B and 3B pencils to develop the mid-tones. Build up the layers where the areas are darker in their values. For those really dark areas, use a 6B or a higher grade to introduce these tones. When shading my ears and the pad on the paw, I pressed harder and maintained tighter marks to achieve deeper shades.
As you near the end of your drawing, take a moment to carefully compare your object with your artwork. Touch up parts that require more depth or alternatively rub out sections where the highlights should be more enhanced.
After you have drawn your piece, journal or think about what worked well and think of one thing you could improve on. Take that step into your next piece of artwork to improve your skill.
See how you get on with your drawing and I’ll be back soon for the next Foundations to Flourish.
I will be massively overjoyed if you let me know how you get on in the comments. I love it when a comment pops through on my phone….it means I get to talk about art! ☺️
Enjoy creating,
