How many different tree types have you drawn?
I drew three different tree types in individual sketches and studies, and around six different trees in the several trees drawings.
What techniques did you use to distinguish each type?
In the two individual tree sketches, I think it was the type of markmaking for the foliage and the different shpae of trunks and foliage which made the two tree types distinguishable. The individual tree sketch was different because I took a vit more time for work on details, and there was no direct comparison with other trees. In the drawings of several trees, I think the different tree types are not distinguishable because there’s not enough detail included. I seem to have used the same type of mark-making for all of them. They were all broad-leafed, no conifers, so looked quite similar to someone not knowledgeable in botanics.
What did you do to convey the mass of foliage?
I mainly used tonal shades or coloured areas. The last drawing which was made after the photograph employs line to sketch broad outlines of foliage masses. Then I used hatching and tried to indicate lighter and darker areas.
How did you handle light on the trees? Was it successful?
My treatment of light on the trees was only rudimentary. I had some light trunks and some dark trunks. I tried to develop lighter masses before a darker background, but wasn’t successful.
Did you manage to select and simplify? Look at your drawings and make notes on how you did this, and what could you do better?
I did select and I did simplify, but the result does not satisfy me. I simplified by not including details of the trees, and selected only very prominent aspects of lighter and darker areas and a trunk here and there. Overall, individual trees are hardly to recognize, or any other details. I’m not sure that the viewer recognizes that it’s trees. Maybe from the green colours and from the visual rhythms and from the pattern of lighter and darker areas, and a few stems.
Some personal reflections
I found this project very difficult and overall, more frustrating than anything else. A little personal gem is the individual tree study, which I like because it’s a bit more worked out. I felt very uncomfortable with task instructions and drawing sketches of individual and several trees was not a pleasant experience. I just didn’t like what I was doing. I’d have preferred to have time to study details, maybe do sectional drawings of just a tiny fraction of the whole. When doing the exercises, I constantly felt that I was trying to do something very complicated before having mastered even the simplest things.
I had planned to do more tree drawings before approaching the final assignment and I would definitely need to do so, but I know that I’m running out of time for this course. I felt so stuck with the group of trees that maybe it’s better to not insist any further at this time but proceed to something different and get back to the topic later on, with a fresher mind.