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GROWING A TROMPE L'OEIL DRAWING

9/16/2016

3 Comments

 
This is the first of what I hope will be a series in sharing techniques on this blog.

Yay? Nay? Interesting ? Boring? I value your feedback, so please comment!                        thanks - Susan
My Subject:  Lupinus argenteus, Silvery Lupine.  This Colorado native grows in abundance, though for a brief season, near my cabin in the Rockies at about 9200' above sea level

My Challenge:  To create a  drawing in which the fresh flower appears to be laid directly atop the herbarium sheet.

My Strategy:  First draw the flower from a live specimen, then under-draw the herbarium sheet, and finally unite/separate the two with cast shadow.

My Materials:  This piece is executed with colored pencil on Mylar film. I favor Faber Castell Polychromos, but I used a variety of brands on this piece. Pointy pencils. That's it.

Apologies for the inconsistent image tones captured by my iPhone camera over a few weeks' time.
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July 18,  Fraser, Colorado
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Specimen drawing complete.
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Cast shadows separate the live from the dried
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Drawing the live specimen and experimenting with cast shadows
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Starting to add the Herbarium sheet
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Trompe l'oeil text and other elements in place--stickers, glue dots, paper edges, etc.
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Layering blues and yellows to capture the greens
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The overlapping elements get complicated
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August 17.  A drawn textured background 'paper' lifts the page off the surface.  Done.  I think.
3 Comments
Sandra Dangler
9/17/2016 08:12:48 pm

Definitely a Yeay!!! I'm sure that Mother Nature is pleased with your representation of her creations. Beautiful!!!!!

Reply
Evelyn Davenport
10/30/2016 08:10:38 am

I am enjoying your Craftsy class. Thank you for making the instructions, and information about the products you use, clear and concise.

Reply
Karen May
12/5/2016 06:57:38 am

Hi Susan, I worked a bit in the Hebarium this summer and was stunned by the beauty of some of the the specimen sheets so I think your live-over-herarium-specimen idea is great, and, your execution is wonderful. I can only hope you make a series of a dozen or more. I am sure they are challenging to complete, but your picture talks to all the people who will never see a Hebarium specimen sheet, and to all the people who love Hebarium specimen sheets. It's like giving them (the plants) a third life; yet another chance to communicate with us.

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    Susan Rubin Studio

    Susan Rubin is a botanical artist and a teacher of botanical art and colored pencil techniques. She is always seeking and sharing new inspiration and techniques.

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