I usually don't draw the same image twice. It's a rare occurrence for me to redraw a piece and so far I've only ever done it with The Tree of Dreams. But this is starting to change as I begin to open myself up to explore a particular image in different perspectives. This change was a result of my interest in sustaining a series of work that has a unifying theme! Letting Go was a small pen drawing on card coloured with colour pencils. My intention was to capture a moment of release, to let go of burdens and be carefree. The first instance of Letting Go had a little girl in a mushroom and toadstool grove and a sleeping cat and was created in 2010.
I was not fully satisfied with how the first drawing was finished and felt it would be interesting to revisit the drawing again in 2014. This was one of the first drawings I worked on since moving back to Penang in March of 2014. Instead of smooth card the second drawing was done on 300gsm cold press watercolour paper. I've placed the composition in a circle as I found it easier to contain the composition in this manner. The toadstool grove has grown, and a sleeping cat, little frog and steampunk seahorse now accompanies the girl. She has also grown up somewhat!
Sketch and the beginnings of inking.
The inking was done using Staedtler Pigment markers
which was also used to ink the first drawing in 2010.
I had begun to work more with watercolours since 2012, and have gradually improved my skills. I would build up colour through many layers of wash and the cold press paper made it possible to do so. For this piece I used a 24-colour watercolour set by Schmincke for the first time. I liked this set for the way I am able to get a brilliant finish with the colours.
First wash tends to be very light as I begin blocking in colour.
Colouring is a slow and painstaking process in order to ensure the composition
stays balanced and stands out at the right places.
As each spot is filled up it becomes easier to choose the remaining
colours to fill in the rest!
I enjoy a saturated colour palette and placing complementary colours next to one another!
The finished piece!
The drawing was begun around March 2014 and completed in November 2014. Compositionally I feel this piece is stronger than the first drawing as the circular format really draws your eye into another world of fantasy and make-believe. Perhaps I will draw the same image again at a different time of my life and see how the picture has evolved! :)
