Draw an outdoor scene of your choice. Try to find a view that includes some natural objects – trees, shrubs, pot plants, fields, garden plants. Also try to find a view that will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of aerial or linear perspective – in other words a view that has some demonstrable depth to it. Look for a view that offers an opportunity to draw straight-lined objects as well as items drawn from nature: buildings, walls, fences, gates and so on.
What a task trying to find a subject for this was, at first I thought I had found the perfect place which was a mill in Battlesbridge, I did a sketch in my sketchbook, it was a lovely setting but not suitable for a showing perspective so decided to continue my search. I drove and drove taking lots of pictures on several days and as I was about to give up all hope I saw a glimpse of something interesting, Billericay football club, but not the usual view that most would recognize, the rear of the football club which i guess is the training ground. I took some photos and made some quick sketches.
The view was blocked by the wire mesh gate which I thought would be good to include if drawn from an angle as it would add another angle of perspective to the drawing. Other items that add perspective are the grass lines from mowing and the fences, sheds and floodlights.
I did a few preliminary drawings in my sketch book, it was a little overcast on the day and very quiet
experimenting in colour and black and white, I decided that black and white was best but wanted to add some drama so I chose to add more dramatic clouds and add light to the floodlights. To make the flood lighting stand out I made the scene more overcast but as I wanted to keep shadows and light I tried to show as overcast approaching with the sun behind and above me. I also experimented with adding a single colour to the black and white drawing, either the grass of the pitch or the floodlights so for dramatic effect I drew the flood lights light in colour which I think worked nicely.
I had been wanting to try drawing on wall lining paper as an experiment and as I had a roll of it handy I cut a section approximately the size of A1, It is remarkably similar to a heavy water colour paper but a lot cheaper, It is also available in different thicknesses, in fairness i can not tell the difference so shall be buying more.
I started with the clouds using compressed charcoal blending with a chamois leather, I added some trees and bushes with black pastel pencil using a random stipple technique adding more depth in areas to try create some separation of the trees.
As I didn’t want to smudge I completed most of the top first and worked my way down, leaving space for the mesh gate.
I drew the gate last and then went back over the drawing to add some finishing touches.
Most of the drawing was done with compressed charcoal and pastel pencils, I also used white pigment pen ink for highlights such as goal posts lamp posts and the horizontal metal fence, I tried to show the grass lines which worked well and helped give distance to the drawing.