Tonal drawing #3: California Blue oak

[LindasPencils]

The third drawing in this term's classes in Tonal Drawing with graphite. You can read all about it on the blog: https://lindaweilfineart.blogspot.com/

CA Blue Oak DWM.jpg

[Mike Sibley]

This is super - and the timing is perfect... given that I'm slowly putting together the DRAWING TREES video.

I think it's an excellent example of a tree as seen as an artist, rather than the "foliage on a stick" that others might see.

[PogArtTi]

I agree to Mike, trees drawn in a group are losing their personality a bit, I mean even we people in a group have our unique individual character dimmed - so the trees.
But when the tree is standing its ground, well, the stunning look is priceless.
It’s wonderful drawing Linda!!!

[LindasPencils]

Thank you, Mike, and PogArt.
Trees are always great fun to draw. The really important thing to understand is to NOT try to draw leaves, but rather masses of tones, minimal line work or outlines. Try and grow the tree from the base, and put in the darkest areas of mass first. Attached is a progress drawing.
I used the Derwent Sketching pencils, 4B, 2B and HB for the bulk of this drawing, with some 6B Staedtler finishing touches. I used these pencils because they have a nice thick core and work well as a 'painterly' style. You could also use a standard clutch pencil with a flat/chisel point to achieve a similar result.

CA oak progression DWM.jpg

[PogArtTi]

Thank you, Mike, and PogArt.
Trees are always great fun to draw. The really important thing to understand is to NOT try to draw leaves, but rather masses of tones, minimal line work or outlines. Try and grow the tree from the base, and put in the darkest areas of mass first. Attached is a progress drawing.
I used the Derwent Sketching pencils, 4B, 2B and HB for the bulk of this drawing, with some 6B Staedtler finishing touches. I used these pencils because they have a nice thick core and work well as a 'painterly' style. You could also use a standard clutch pencil with a flat/chisel point to achieve a similar result.
CA oak progression DWM.jpg

I used to be different, I mean my approach was to draw single leaves (lol).
It took me a while to change my mind and start thinking of having a bigger picture in my mind
Unfortunately I can not (never could) get rid of this totally, so I have this tendency still hidding and trying to overpower whenever possible

[Mike Sibley]

I used to be different, I mean my approach was to draw single leaves (lol).
It took me a while to change my mind and start thinking of having a bigger picture in my mind

I think you're both correct. In my opinion...

You need masses containing only tonal variations in a distant background tree.
Masses that suggest foliage if you're drawing a midground tree.
And masses that consist of detailed leaves for very close foreground trees.

I'm trying to cover all three in the next DRAWING TREES video... and I'm beginning to think it should be three, or even four, videos. There's a lot to cover.