This is an example of what I call a “semi-silhouette.” Due to the high overhead lighting, only the tops of the trees are illuminated, with their bottom portions in deep shadow. The light was lifted out with a kneaded eraser.
Look at the shapes of the trees and see how the foliage seems to be formed into rounded clumps. Lifting the light off of the tops of these clumps makes them appear very full. The light has also been lifted off the grassy areas of the hills with a kneaded eraser.
Notice how the look of the terrain is created by the direction of the pencil lines and the erasing. In the midground, the horizontal strokes make the ground area appear flat. On the hills, the look of the incline is helped along by the pencil’s and eraser’s direction as well, since they were applied in the same upward direction.
The small deer in the foreground give you a great depiction of size and distance. Since they are so small, no detail shows. They remain silhouettes because they are in the shadows of the tree.
The pond offers up a mirror image of the shapes directly above. Water reflections will be covered later.
Always keep a camera handy because you never know when you will see something that will lend itself to art.
AFTERNOON IN THE MEADOW
Graphite on smooth bristol
9”× 8” (23cm × 20cm)