The Fan

[David Boles]

I've been looking around here and learning for a while now so I suppose its time for me to share. In my introduction up in the new members section I mentioned that I like silverpoint. They've been getting some attention here locally so here's one for you. It's a little piece, only 8 x 10 on a slightly off white prepared paper.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

David, I like your treatment of the fan, it looks delicate and has a nice transparency about it. The fans edges toward the wall could have benefited from a little more attention. By showing the accordion shape of the edges (coming forward and receding) you could have create more spacial depth in relations to the background. But this is a minor observation.

What bothers me is her left shoulder, which seems to droop down too much. Recheck it's relationship against the other shoulder and against the window. By looking at other areas you can easily judge the relationship of forms against each other.

For future reference kissing edges are a "no, no". Her nose is kissing the edge of the fan and it reads as if she is resting her nose on the edge of the fan. It would have been better if the fan would have moved just slightly up. Again, reinforcing spacial depth and separation.


In another thread the Yin and Yang symbol was being discussed, which applies to drawing and painting as well. As you balance dark against light and soft against rough for example, you need to ask yourself how much of a difference there should be. The key word is balance and the treatment of the window bars is too crude against you beautiful fan. If the bars are lets say bamboo then make sure it looks like it . Minor adjustments there would just enhance the overall drawing.

[Lon Haverly]

You might try reducing the compression on images like this. I see thqat it is only 8k. You are allowed 100k. It may need no compression at all, and would make this drawing more visible without all the compression puddles.