After looking at how to depict the shape, foliage and essence of a tree I was happy to concentrate closer towards the actual detail of a single tree. The bark of a tree fascinates me, the twisting, apparent randomness, but strangely uniform details of different barks and trunks can really give a tree its character.
Rips, scars, weathering and disease all give a tree character, telling its story through its appearance, I decided to draw a birch in a garden that I work with each week. I was drawn towards the contrast between the white bark and the bands of dark fallen branches, stresses and cracks.
With the main crack running right up the middle of the trunk I was drawn towards its haggard, but still persevered nature so I decided on charcoal as a medium to give me a good chance of subtle tone manipulation as well as using an eraser to bring out sharp highlights. Reworking the base layer of charcoal and then bringing out the highlights gave me a great impression of the tree I was drawing, and using charcoal powder as a medium tone was something I’ve just started to use and see the potential of.
Done in 3 woodless charcoal grades, soft, medium and hard, and a momo eraser, I think the charcoal really gave the tree justice, I think it gave it its essence. Just because of the versatility and ability of creating subtle tones, from soft edges to sharp contrast, I believe this is a medium that I think I can work more with, and get much more out of.
Eeyanski Arts 