There are four components I need for the composition of a drawing. I look for rock, tree, water and sky to be in a balanced relationship with one another.
I use graphite (pencil) for its versatile qualities. The medium is useful in rendering the different textures of the four components, and this contrast in texture is appealing to me. Graphite has an infinite range of tonal value, which I use to emphasize the light in defining the texture and depth in the drawings. In addition, by using graphite, it eliminates the distraction of color, and allows the subtleties of light and texture to become more apparent.
I work from 4″ x 6″ photographs that I have taken of various places around Maine. The photos and subsequent drawings usually look very different, as I will change aspects of the lighting, water or sky. Occasionally the composition of the photo is complete and so the drawing is very similar, as in the example below.
