Sunday, February 22, 2009

Warm and cool value theory?


I've been told that charcoal and graphite can't be mixed? While in fact there are circumstances where the two are not willing to play well together it has not stopped me from exploring a theory. Long ago I was told about an artist that employed the two medium using graphite for cool values and charcoal for warm. I was very intrigued and experimented at first on paper then on to the gesso surface I now work on with exciting results. A good example of how effective this can be is seen in this detail of a great horned owl drawing. The wing is entirely graphite and it's quite obvious how it recedes behind the charcoal face. Make any sense? I'm certainly no expert.

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