The Basic Shapes make up all other shapes. Try this exercise with charcoal on glitter treated paper: the texture of the glitter is an assist for making smooth light gradations. Easily erasable and forgiving, the charcoal turns to liquid when worked with a brush. Punching up the realism, glitter markers reintroduce the glamor where the shade and shadow gets too dark.
Imagine a campfire surrounded by the simple shapes.
Use “drawing through” to sketch the group around the fire. Make them seem as if they all sit on the same plane with the same light source.
Use compressed charcoal to extend the shadows cast by the shapes.
A pink metallic Pan Pastel begins to add color to the shape planes.
Some lines and contours benefit from a metallic outline. The metallic color bolsters contrast as it shades planes.
They go together: Pan Pastel softens a freshly laid marker line. Black intensifies shadows and separations.
