STAGE 5
The last stage involved depicting the upper section of the
river—an important area that provides structure, depth and
perspective to the final composition. Once again, mapping
the section details and shapes with a 2B graphite pencil
started the process. The challenge of this background area
was to capture the deep, mysterious atmosphere created by
a blending of trees, foliage, dead wood and rock formations.
Even though the area appears very dark, it contains a rich
collection of vibrant colors and a few highlighted areas,
resulting in wonderful imagery. During my first few working
sessions in this area, I mapped the details and shapes with
a graphite pencil. Color quickly took center stage with an
application of warm green and yellow hues (limepeel, yellow
chartreuse, chartreuse and spring green).
I then added a second wave of colors (30%, 50% and 70%
cool grey; marine green, moss green, peacock blue, slate
grey, Prussian blue, dark umber and espresso). I placed hints
of sand, mineral orange, goldenrod and yellow ochre in and
around the lighter areas. For highlighted and warm spaces,
I used a blend of lighter blues (cloud blue, sky light blue and
light cerulean blue) and strokes of assorted warm hues (light
peach, peach, putty beige, pale sage and clay rose). Black
then became the agent for shaping and separating rocks,
leaves, tree limbs and flowing water.
I devoted my final session of this stage to depicting the
water currents traversing the rocky landscape. Light blues
(cloud blue, sky light blue and blue lake) created body for the
moving water, while darker blues (indigo blue, cerulean blue,
and Prussian blue) helped to lend definition and shape to the
river currents.
FINAL TOUCHES
I consider the last 5 percent or so of the creation of a colored
pencil drawing to be the most important. Every aspect of
the creative process comes under review and, if necessary,
weaker parts are revisited, restated and redrawn. The goal is
to find a comfortable sense of closure before I add the final
stroke—my signature—to the artwork.ERWIN P. LEWANDOWSKI
earned a bachelor of
science degree in educa-
tion from Central Michigan
University. He’s a nationally
acclaimed artist known
for his contemporary
realism, hyperrealism and
“abstract-in-realism” works
in colored pencil, graphite
and pigment ink. His many
accomplishments include
two Best in Drawing awards
from the International Guild
of Realism, and he has also been featured in numerous
publications and on television. Visit Lewandowski’s
website at erwinplewandowski.com.ArtistsNetwork.com 29