The Artist - UK (2021-03)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMarch 2021 49

PRACTICAL

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tone down a heavy line or series of
marks that may have become too
dominant in your work. By vigorously
rubbing (often in different directions),
the lighter area created has trace
elements of pigments, which makes
them far more interesting than, say, a
hard white area.

In the examples shown (page 50)

I have demonstrated a variety of

subtractive techniques where the use

of an eraser or lift-out with pure water

on a water-soluble pigment reveals

something new. Add these to your

repertoire of drawing and painting

techniques.

I advocate taking some time out to

experiment with your own different

media, papers and auxiliaries in

combination to discover what works for

you. Studio creative exercises such as

this teach you a lot, very quickly and are

great to refer back to when needed.

Types of erasers

Putty rubbers are pliable and I find

them a most useful drawing tool. They

can be firm, medium or soft and are

designed to be used so pulling them

rolling and squeezing them is to be

encouraged! Also, chunks can be torn

off then pushed back together again.

I like to manipulate the rubber to a

point for accurate pigment removal –

great for detail or highlights in the eye

when portrait drawing. They can also

be squeezed to a wedge shape, which

is great for dragging across a heavily

pigmented area to smooth it out.

Another technique is to dab or gently

press and lift out pigment in selected

areas to increase the lightness of

the tone. However, it is important to

remember to continually knead and

shape the rubber to create a clean

surface area, otherwise you will just

transfer the media back to the support

the next time you use it.

Rolling a putty rubber into a short

sausage-like shape then gently rolling it

across a chosen area will create another

subtle type of tone.

Vinyl or ‘plastic’ erasers are another

useful tool. Derwent make really great

putty rubbers and vinyl erasers; I use

them regularly as they last a long time

q Winter Sun, Mist and Shadows – Great Gable,
the Lake District, mixed media on Canson
Heritage Not 300lb (640gsm), 20 3 22in
(51 3 56cm).
Initially started as a black-and-white drawing,
I revisited the composition several months
later to work on it again. More depth and
atmospheric effects were created by using a
limited colour palette of acrylic inks, metallic
inks and acrylic spray paint. Between several
additional coloured layers of inks, subtle
and transitory light effects were achieved by
removing pigments in different areas with
both hard and soft erasers p.51