Mike Sibley
Comment
Posted Apr.19th, 2011, viewed 6 times
Your Blu-Tack versus kneadable eraser is very enlightening. I hope it proved to you that Blu-Tack is superior. It obviously is, in my opinion, but a kneadable eraser will do the job too if that's your preference... it just doesn't do it as well :o)
EXERCISE 1
Very good - sweeping hairs cut cleanly - even without conditioner! :o)
Very nicely embellished too. I felt you were really experiencing this as hair - and "living" the element is half the battle won.
You've definitely got the right idea. I can't quite see well enough, but you might have found that this technique has problems cutting through very dark lines, and it can leave soft edges. The latter can be an advantage in some situations - which is why I suggested you drew it as long hair, where the effect lends some realism.
This is not a technique for everyday use but definitely worth adding to your collection of available methods.
EXERCISE 2
A good range of lines! All cleanly cut with well-defined edges. You've also retrained yourself from pressing too hard. That can produce interesting results but usually just a light touch is all that is required.
Your grass looks good, but well cover better techniques soon. I have a friend who produces excellent grass with an electric eraser, and another who uses it for hair, but in my opinion it leaves soft-edged, woolly drawing compared to negative drawing, which we'll cover later.
Your clouds look good too - that's a useful experiment. In that situation you can lightly drag Blu-Tack over the surface to incrementally lighten patches of clouds - but do so with caution. Never place your Blu-Tack down and then drag, because that will leave a hard-edged starting point. Pull out a finger of Blu-Tack and smooth one side. Begin your stroke in the air, gradually lower it only to the paper as it travels along, and then equally gently, lift it at the other end. That wil fade both ends and work well. Multiple applications are often needed but that gives you excellent control over the gradual removal of the graphite.
In response to image: