Week 7 - draw the same subject using 5 different materials. I chose to draw a sketch of the little historic spring house that was my son's Eagle Scout project. Alan worked on restoring the spring house at the retirement community behind Walmart while he was a senior at Delone Catholic back in 2010. He completed the project just under the wire of turning eighteen, the deadline for completing Eagle Scout projects and requirements. He coordinated a group effort to clear debris and brush around the spring house and to replace the roof and repoint some of the brickwork. My brother Ronnie was a huge help with the construction aspect of the project, without which, this project could not have been successful.
Last spring, I went out to visit the little spring house to find that it has since been nicely landscaped and well taken care of and looks quite charming along the walking path that surrounds it. I shot a few photos of it hoping to capture that charm in some watercolor sketches and drawings. I made five drawings of the spring house this week using different pens and pencils, and also The Slate. I used Winsor and Newton watercolor markers, The Slate with a Le Pen, Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens, Uniball Signo white on black paper, and red pencil on kraft paper. The only drawing that I was remotely happy with was the one made on the Slate.
I admit that this creative exercise did not excite me as much as some of the previous weeks, I just couldn't get into making these drawings. I think that I have too much of an emotional connection to this subject, and a certain pressure to make it look good, that I sort of defeated myself before even starting. I really wanted one of these drawings to be a nice memento that I could give to my son. I may eventually render a version in pen and ink, a medium that is better suited to this subject.
Next up in Create-A-Thon 2017 - Water Soluble Graphite.