WIP – St Sebastian 3
Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 12:06 pmHmm, so the drawing is getting close to finished. I did a photoshop test with the half properly pencilled tree. After trying it in brown, I thought it looked better in light tones. I’ll have to get rid of the heavy shading on the bottom edge of the trunk, though — it’s too dominant. And I’m wondering if the whole drawing of the tree should be softer and sketchier, like it was before; somehow it seems to clash more with the figure now than it did as a rough(er) sketch. Or maybe the thick bough of the tree needs more pencil shading on top; the current brightness is fighting with the figure? I think I’ve been looking at this for too long. Opinions, anyone?
EDIT:
I lightened up the tree and roughly smudged it. I think this is getting closer. Once there are budding flowers and more twiggy bits it should be ok. Reckon I can finish the drawing now. Which might take a while, since there’s a h-h-h-hand D:
March 14th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
I am useless on matters artistic, but I have to say that I like your taste in saints.
March 14th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Yah, the second tree with the lighter definition gets mah vote. (I really like the first tree, I think it’s lovely, but doesn’t quite work in the picture as a whole. Too dominating.)
March 14th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Gillian – I think this is the first time I’ve been complimented on my taste in anything. I also like the Hindu saint Akka Mahadevi, who was in love with Shiva and ran skyclad around India looking for him and writing gorgeous love poetry. She might be next.
Tessa – I think you’re right. I made it even lighter. Thanks! I’m getting into this tree drawing thang.
March 15th, 2010 at 8:14 am
My mother worries about me for liking St Sebastian, if that’s any consolation. So I admire your taste, but my mother is scared of mine.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:12 am
I wonder if she secretly likes him but would never say so?
March 15th, 2010 at 9:59 am
She fears that I will convert. It’s the wrong sentiment entirely for that, though.
March 15th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Oh, it’s that kind of fear! My mind was going in entirely the wrong direction, obviously.
March 15th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Understandably.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
That is certainly a very sexy St Sebastian! (…Actually, it seems like most paintings I’ve seen of St Sebastian are mysteriously quasi-sexual. I wonder what’s up with that?)
March 15th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Mm, I do love St Sebastian.
And yes, the lighter colouring is better. The bottom-right corner is doing funny things to my eyes though, with the 3D-looking tree base seeming at once in front of and behind St Seb? Maybe it’s the fading of his leg, too.
March 16th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Laurie – Some of the St Sebastian pics I’ve seen remind me of Vassalord – all the more sexual for being quasi:
http://tinyurl.com/ygx4blu
http://www.saintsebastian.us/pictures/saint-sebastian-gay-icon.jpg
Tori – you’re right, thanks for pointing that out! I’ve changed the line of the tree to have it coming more from the side and extended the legs to the bottom of the page — doesn’t entirely solve the problem, but seems to lessen it. Next time I ought to think about the composition before I start!