The Fude of Pencils

2/13/19 An unattractive corner of our backyard sketched with a vintage
Derwent carpenter's pencil. All of these varying line widths and marks came from
its two ends sharpened with different points.

When I reviewed some vintage Rexel Cumberland Derwent Drawing Pencils, I wrote about how much I enjoy using them at life drawing sessions, especially the flat carpenter pencil-shaped ones. The soft, thick, colored cores are the same as those found in their round contemporary counterparts, but the rectangular cores in the carpenter pencils can be cut in different ways to provide a variety of line widths and marks. I’ve only just begun experimenting, and I’m still learning how to whittle the points at different angles.

A few days ago, a YouTube video about carpenter’s pencils was brought to my attention. Intended for actual carpenters, not sketchers, the video explains why carpenter’s pencils are flat, how their standard dimensions are useful in carpentry, and other fascinating information. Watching it being sharpened was especially informative to a novice knife sharpener like me.

Carpenter's pencils sharpened Darth Maul style!

Most exciting of all was when the video pointed out the very obvious (duh!) fact that a carpenter pencil can be sharpened on both ends! Eureka! I immediately sharpened the second end of each of my pencils with a different shaped point so that I could expand the range of line widths even more. (I had so much fun sharpening that I gave myself a small blister! That’s what made me realize I need to work on my knife skills.)

A couple of year ago I discovered a Uni Mitsubishi graphite pencil with a 10B core called a fude enpitsu (“brush pencil”). Sharpened to a chisel point, it can make a wide range of line widths, just like the fude fountain pen nibs that have been my favorite for years. But now that I’ve been using these carpenter-style drawing pencils, I’d have to say that the vintage Derwents are the true fude of pencils.

Pointy on one end. . . 

. . . blunt on the other.

I had so much fun that I gave myself a blister.

Here's the chisel point on one end of the pencil I used for this sketch.

Painterly

2/7/19 All sketches made with Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelles
in Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook (my typical approach)

The approach I’ve been using with watercolor pencils most often is the one I learned nearly two years ago from Suzanne Brooker. In her class, we used the water-soluble properties of colored pencils mainly as an enhancement to traditional (dry) colored pencil properties to intensify hues and soften visible pencil lines. In particular, we focused on using water activation of the pencil pigment to give – what else? – water body surfaces in landscapes a watery look. But in the limited time we had with her in that class, we didn’t really get into using watercolor pencils in a more painterly manner. In other words, using them more as watercolors than as pencils.

The techniques and approach I learned from her generally serve me well because they suit my drawing style – when I’m seated comfortably at my studio desk. But as has always been my motivation in learning to use any medium, I want to be able to take advantage of the water-soluble properties of colored pencils on location, too. And lately I’ve been feeling like my still life practice isn’t necessarily effective practice for that. I get too comfortable having consistent lighting and taking all the time I want.

2/8/19 Attempting a more painterly approach

So with that in mind, I’ve lately been making a conscious effort to use a more painterly approach and take better advantage of the pencils’ water-soluble properties. It requires applying a little more water than I’m accustomed to and working quickly once the water is applied so that I can blend in some dry pigment, for example, while the paper is still wet, which can yield interesting effects. Or mix wet hues on the paper. These techniques are difficult enough to do with watercolor paints, but since watercolor pencils require less water, they require working even faster before the pigments dry. This is also exactly the opposite technique we learned from Suzanne, which is to allow each layer of water application to dry completely before applying more dry pigment. So the need to think and act faster has blown my head open.

2/9/19 Another painterly attempt

You may have difficulty seeing the differences between my typical approach (the first still life at top of post) and the more painterly approach I’m attempting (the other two still lives) because, frankly, I’m still learning how much water to use and struggling to take action before the pigments dry. My goal with these still lives is not necessarily to sketch faster – these all took about the same length of time – but I’m hoping that with practice, I will become somewhat faster by using more painterly methods. (And being able to be faster when I want to is almost always a useful skill on the street.)

I’ll report back as my practice progresses.

I Heart Graphite

2/12/19 graphite

The idea for the drawing above, which I made for Greg’s Valentine card, is something I plagiarized from one I made five years ago. For that drawing, done with a fountain pen, I sketched my right hand from life, then mentally mirrored it to draw the left hand (you can read the post from 2014 to learn the surprising challenges I encountered).

My intention was to do the same thing this time, but working with graphite takes much longer than pen and ink, so my hand started cramping up. (The experience made me appreciate life-drawing models even more, especially their ability to hold poses for any length of time.) I had to resort to working from photos.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Snowing Again

2/11/19 Maple Leaf neighborhood

As of Monday afternoon, it was snowing again, with a “wintry mix” of rain and snow predicted for the evening commute and beyond. Sub-freezing temperatures overnight were then expected to freeze the slush, creating another treacherous mess. I am ever grateful not to have anywhere I must go.

This view is through the window in our back door looking out on our deck railings, the backyard and our neighbor’s yard. I’m enjoying all the practice I’m getting in sketching snow, but I’m running out of windows.

Snowpocalypse, Part 2

2/10/19 Maple Leaf neighborhood

On Sunday we stayed hunkered down, waiting for part 2 of our snowstorm of the decade to hit. Our neighbors’ cars across the street hadn’t moved since Saturday morning, so they were both still capped with snow in their respective driveways. I’m not usually interested in this view from our front window, but everything looks different, fresh and more sketchable with the snow.

As I was sketching in the warm comfort of our livingroom, a U.S. Mail truck drove up – on Sunday. At first I thought it was because we didn’t receive any mail Saturday, which was surprising but understandable, given the snow. But it wasn’t regular mail – it was an Amazon delivery! Say what you will about Bezos: Snowpocalypse may keep the U.S. Mail away, but two-day Prime stops for nothing.

Slow: Snow Ahead

2/9/19 Maple Leaf neighborhood

After morning flurries, the snow stopped, and the sun came out, so we went for a walk. The temperature was about 30 according to my phone app, so it was pleasant on the sunny side of the street. Every now and then, though, a harsh gust of wind would shake the snow from the trees and onto my sketchbook. When my fingers started getting numb, I decided to call it quits. After hot tea to thaw my hands, I gave the sketch a little more color from memory.

Splattered with snow.

Snowmageddon Arrives

2/9/19 Through our kitchen window, Maple Leaf neighborhood

Snowmageddon delivered the promised several inches overnight. We woke Saturday morning to a thick, magical blanket and the pure silence that occurs only when it snows.

After the sun came up, I looked through every window to see what I could sketch without putting on my boots. I settled on this view from the kitchen – our neighbor’s tree and patio table and our bird feeder. Even the birds were smart enough to stay in bed. (A couple of chickadees did show up toward the end of my sketch.)

I’m very grateful that we didn’t lose power overnight as many homes in the area apparently did. I hope you’re warm and safe, wherever you are!

Out the front door. . . 

. . . and out the back door! I'm not putting my boots on -- yet.