Stella d'Oro

Stella d’Oro, 2011

Graphite on paper

7 x 5 1/4 inches

© 2011 Susan M. Lohse.  All rights reserved.

I drew this piece using an adaptation of Mike Sibley’s negative drawing method.  The technique is effective for pushing darks to achieve strong value contrasts, and encourages one to rely on tone rather than line to render shapes.

The next time I attempt something like this, I’ll use paper with a smoother surface, perhaps bristol smooth or hot-pressed watercolor paper.  These papers are often favored by graphite artists, particularly those with a photorealistic style.