I was looking through my (modern) copy of John Ruskin’s The Elements of Drawing, which was first published in 1857. His advice to those learning to draw was to observe nature. For instance, he noted that most people think that grass in the shade is the same color as grass in the sun. However, if one were to match a color to the grass lit by sunlight, one would see more yellow than green. Likewise, the color of grass in the shade depends on the object casting the shadow, to some degree. Ruskin describes a table as “a patch of brown, variously darkened and veined…”  He goes on to say that “… the whole art of Painting [sic] consists merely in perceiving the shape and depth of these patches of colour, and putting patches of the same size, depth, and shape on canvas.” *p19

Today’s watercolor experiment:

I revisited the subject of one of my previous compositions, the succulent Crassula Purpureum, with the idea of trying to paint it in terms of light and dark areas. I recently transplanted it from its temporary home to a bigger pot. Below is a photo of this plant in my study. The light and dark areas are somewhat intertwined.

Repotted Crassi;a Purpureum

I began with a light sketch of some of the prominent stalks and bulbous leaves. I had to stop myself from trying to draw all of the leaves. It would have been a complicated mess.

Initial Sketch, Crassula Purpureum

Different paper:

I used mixed media paper today, instead of the watercolor paper I normally use. Its finish is very smooth. In the spirit of mixed media, I used calligraphy ink as well as watercolors for this composition.

After I laid down the basic shape of the plant and its stalks, I overpainted the darker areas with a combination of greens and blacks, and the lighter areas with diluted yellow.

Comment:

I changed too many things at once for this composition to be just about dark and light areas. The mixed media paper was not at all thirsty for watercolors. However, the ink was absorbed very quickly. I need to redo this composition as per Ruskin’s recommendations of recreating the dark and light patches. A pencil drawing would eliminate color as a variable and force me to concentrate only on shades of gray.

* John Ruskin The Elements of Drawing Illustrated Edition, with notes by Bernard Dunstan. London. The Herbert Press 1991