I like you thoughts on the grapes .. the colored grapes being the focal point.. You are always thinking about carrying it to next step.. I love it !

These are my grapes. It was a bit tricky to draw them...

What can I say Ernest? I'm a detail freak and love to seek out every twist and turn in a piece. Thanks for the additional closeup, I may tackle that one later if I can. Work right now is brutally busy as is my 'other' life in art.


The take on the grapes is unique Elena. I'd like to see you push your efforts into a more finished piece and really be creative. Take the grapes and put them in a unique place, add a background, have them growing, make them green with blue polka dots, etc etc etc. Creativity is limitless, but needs some guidelines to make it believable.


Angeliqa, I think you're doing well with the grapes, but the paper you're using is fighting against you. To achieve the smooth skin of the grapes and get that bloom on them, you'll need a smoother paper. Yes, you can get a good drawing with rougher textures and bolder strokes. Ultimately you must decide what final effect you're trying to achieve. Drawing is a lot about planning and observing long before you ever make a mark on paper.

Thank you, Islander, for the advice. I'll work more on this.

TExaslady and Jeanette thanks for the feedback. Yes, creativity is limitless and this a quick take on the grapes(what is one hour in the realm of art making?!).
What I would say is that creativity can stand on its own feet, doesn't need credibility necessarily. We all love to inmerse into the land of fantasy(I am thinking of 1001 nights or the art world of Hieronymus Bosch and I see only creativity pure and simple. Nothing is believable in these works, yet one can enjoy, love and dream in these worlds they created.Just my opinion.

kim,
Beautiful job on the little boy and the grapes on black construction paper...particularly liked that one!


An
Very nice....earthy feel to her...agree with Ernest!



Elena,
Nice use of color very painterly feel to the finished piece.

Carol,
Loved your belly dancer nice movement in the skirt!!! Excellent job on the little boy!



Here's just a simple study of the 3 grapes...about 15 minutes...they caught my eyed and helped to clear out the cobwebs
Laura

Thank you laura wow 15 min .. amazing

Jeanett I love your take on the dancer .

Wow so many drawings of grapes.... I love grapes.... may be should go and eat some....

My first attempts with charcoal pencils (just one pencil)

Great range of values, Laura. Charcoal or soft graphite?

1_8, thank you so much for drawing the bolts; I was proud of that photo and I'm happy someone picked it up. Your bolts also have a nice range of values and you can really feel the depth.

I thought I was going to be the only one daft enough to try these bolts. I just used copy paper, but should have used something better as it wouldn't take too much graphite, so I'd to use a charcoal pencil on the dark areas

Dear Mumwond! I join you. Better to be daft and not alone!
As you may notice, I've dated the drawing. Today is May the first!
(charcoal, light added by the computer)
An

Ernest,

to answer your question....2H, 3B, 5B, Ebony wood and 2HB mech pencil...and also blended with a tortillion...I really wanted to do the bolts...but if I do that I'll never get back to Nemo...hehehe You should be proud of that photo,btw, very nice

1_8,
Excellent rendering of the bolts...nice range!!!!

Mumwond,
Yes, paper makes all the difference!!! Copy paper is to slick for really dark tones, but good job!

NVA,
Excellent job with the charcoal!

Laura

Thank Laura. I believe Ernest is now happy with so many bolts (good inspiring photo, hey ?) As for Laura, please don' forget Nemo!

NVA,

Don't worry...Nemo is not forgotten! Have alot going on this weekend. Tonight I run karaoke...Tomorrow I actually have a night off, but I must go visit family and friends. Sunday I have my first art exhibit that I entered...am receiving an award for "Girl in water" which really surprised me so I have to be there...so not alot of free time for drawing, but I will fit some in. Hopefully will post an update by Sunday evening.

Yes I love the photo Ernest it really is interesting...

Laura

Ernest, I finally found some time this evening to draw one of your great photographs!
Click to view attachment

How wonderful it is! Is "Girl in water" the admirable drawing you have shown here in the DS ?

Beautiful balance of colors! You brought out the differences between the grapes very well.

Wow! Fantastic!

This was one of my favorite challenges .. the wide range of subjects made it so fun ...thanks Ernest .

bkluver,

This is absolutely gorgeous...right down to the reflected light on the outer edges of the grapes!!! Beautiful!

Laura

Bk I just went through your gallery again and wow ...your stuff always impresses me .. I love the apples in the wooden shelf . great work

Thank you all for your kind words. The grapes were fun to do.
Ernest, that was one of the neat things about your choice of photograph - the fact that they were all slightly different. A challenge is always more fun to draw.
Laura, I try so hard to teach the kids about reflected light - they have this strange idea that it is beside the object rather than on the object. I usually have to have some of them go back and work on that. Even when you show them on an actual object, some kids just don't see it.
Kim, the apple painting is actually another one I really like as well, but my daughter wanted it so I did give it to her. I have a miniature version that I did of the very same painting. That was fun to do and I have it hanging in my kitchen. I can't remember if I scanned it - I'll have to check and upload it to my gallery, too.
Barb

I decided to draw the grapes with charcoal, too.
Charcoal is so much fun although it can be rather messy!
Click to view attachment

Thanks to everyone who participated this week! You guys are the best. I learned something from every one of your beautiful works of art.

Sometimes I post a "gallery" of all the entries, but this week there are just too many and I'm too pressed for time. If I have a chance I will do it later in the week, so keep your eyes peeled for more action in this thread.