I started this experiment after seeing one of my favourite artists (Allen Williams) explaining the way he uses graphite powder on a clayboard. I was too curious to try it, so I didn't have enough patience to order a clayboard and wait for it to come, so I gessoed a piece of paper and started playing with the graphite powder (mixed with water). Here is the result of this first step:
The next step was to let it dry and then get rid of the excess graphite powder. This is not easy on gesso, because it is more porous than the surface I saw in Allen's video. So I got to the next step, wiping the drawing with a soft cloth. Then the fun part began: finding and inventing shapes in the patterns made by the graphite.
It's quite a messy technique and I had to wash my hands several times :)
But I enjoyed a lot working on it.
The result was shiny and grey, the details could only be seen from a certain angle, but the fixative enhanced the contrasts in the image and I am pretty happy with the final image.
The drawing is 19x27cm, signed on the back (because I forgot to sign it before applying the fixative :))
Now I have another one in progress, on gessoed board. I hope to find the time to write about it when it's done.
That's all for today :) Take care and be creative!
Hugs,
Alina
