Musical Inspiration: Pandora Piano Music (live) Radio
Media: #2 pencil with eraser
This week I used a little imagination together with observation to create a sketch of a tree. It was made on a road trip, so I allowed the bumpy road to direct my pencil marks. I also looked at the trees along the road and noticed the fine whispy branches at the ends of the thick branches (something you wouldn't see except on a clear winter day when there are no leaves).
When I draw trees without leaves, I follow a few rules to guide me:
1) The trunk is thicker than all of the branches.
2) The branches get narrower as they grow away from the trunk.
3) Branches are narrower than the branch they are attached to.
These rules work well for trees in the Midwest, but may not apply to pine trees and trees from other regions.
Sketchbook Exercise: Next time you are a passenger in a car for an extended period of time, pull out a sharp pencil with an eraser and your sketchbook, and listen to music as you sketch. Let the road guide your drawing. This is a very therapeutic way to enjoy the ride. If you like to draw trees, try following the "rules" Listed above.