Pencil pictures

(C) 2015 Dale DiMauro

I love to draw in pen or pencil when I can. I consider it my dry media while watercolor is my wet media. I enjoy sketching the landscape outside in good weather and have even gone to swimming holes on hot days here in Vermont, taken a dip and painted little watercolors.

Many years ago I started drawing faces and figures while the news was on in the winter. Sometimes I draw a face in some hockey magazine or alumni magazine sitting on our kitchen table. In the process I have picked up knowledge on the contours and proportions of the face, in particular the eyes, nose and mouth. 

The above drawing I did at our kitchen table using an HB pencil found in a local art or office supply store. I do not prefer a yellow Ticonderoga pencil because the point breaks too easily and often while the lead can be scratchy and smear easily. I prefer to use a kneaded eraser, if I use any at all, but often I don't bring one with me. I draw in a sketchbook, which has lighter weight paper or in this case a Strathmore spiral-case drawing pad with 80lb heavy weight paper. This drawing is 11" x 14".

I have drawn from live models, which I find challenging yet rewarding. You have to draw quickly while communicating and in some situations entertaining the model and adjust to quickly changing light.

I do the layout for my watercolors in pencil as well and sometimes draw in areas which are unclear as the painting progresses.