Today’s lesson was about using the wash to describe light and depth, rather than simply adding colour.
I started with a preliminary study to work out the structure and shadow areas, then built the final version with two washes.
The second wash was deliberately selective — deepening the recesses behind the volutes, between the acanthus leaves and beneath the projecting mouldings. I’m beginning to understand the relationship between the two:
The line describes the structure, the wash describes the light.
The preliminary on the left was particularly useful because it allowed me to experiment with the placement and strength of the shadows before committing to the final study. The finished drawing feels much more three-dimensional, while still retaining the loose line and slightly irregular washes that I’m increasingly enjoying.
Score: 8/10 — at last!
A successful exercise in using wash to explain architectural form rather than simply decorate the drawing.
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