Having loved the stories my Grandmother told me about the “olden days” and life on the farm I just had to draw this picture. Trips into town were long and often started at daybreak and didn’t end until evening. Hence the long shadows across the road and the excitement at the gate, as little Kenny see’s his father coming down the road. The greeting committee on either side of the wagon and the thoughts of sitting down to dinner with the family combine to give this picture its essence.
STEP 1
Starting at the background and using an HB grey lead pencil I sketch in the key elements in this picture then using a 3B Graphite pencil set about adding the details. I had originally planned to put only Gum trees behind the shed and in the foreground, but a photograph I was given plus the fact that we have Willow trees growing in my own back yard gave me a new inspiration! As I worked on the Willow tree behind the shed I had a good feeling that this was the right decision.
STEP 2
Having worked on the background trees I then came forward onto the house and the yard and shed. (I always have a clean sheet of paper underneath my hand as I work my way across the picture to ensure I don’t smudge the drawing as I go.) I varied the tones by adding more pressure on the pencil and as I worked my way forward I switched to a 4B pencil. Using Graphitint Ivy pencil I added subtle colour to the leaves on the Willow tree in the background.
STEP 3
I was excited by the results and built up the tones on the Willow tree in the foreground. Working on the shading was critical in achieving a realistic looking tree. Willows are fascinating, the way the branches hang down in cascades of beautiful green leaves. I love it when in Autumn they change colour and eventually fall revealing the network of scaffolding underneath!
STEP 4
Once again I have introduced soft colour into the leaves using Graphitint colours Shadow for the darker leaves and Ivy for the lighter ones.
STEP 5
Working once again with my lighter 3B Graphite pencil I work around the grass areas and the road, plus shading on the dogs on either side of the wagon. Some Graphitint Chestnut was used for the hops growing wild in the bush.
STEP 6
I wanted to add just a hint of colour throughout the picture and have added some sky blue poly pencil to the father’s shirt and the Hydrangeas by the side of the house. At this point I have also extended the Gum tree in the foreground, then added some soft colour using Ivy Graphitint pencil.
FINAL STEP
I put some birds in the sky and worked on more ground cover in the foreground, cross-hatched strokes together with leafy shapes and small sticks make up the main areas of interest in this part of the picture. I then once again added Graphitint colours Chestnut, Cool Brown and Ivy for the balance I wanted to achieve. I enjoyed my trip back in time and was pleased with the end result. Happy Painting!
ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS
• For softer and a more dense foliage I use a lighter touch with my 3B pencil in a small swirling continuous stroke. As I work forward I change to a 6B pencil getting that darker tone to the shadows and allowing for a more
three dimensional effect.
• Shading is best done in stages starting off very softly making sure the shadows are in the right direction and then working them up to the darkest tone you want them to be.
• When a shadow falls across dry grass use shorter but darker upright strokes to keep the authenticity of the landscape.
