Tips For Working On Suede in WC Pencil
I thought I’d better post another work in progress shot, since apparently I gave the wrong impression when i said my last wip was at an “ugly stage.” (which it was)
But that didn’t mean I was worried that it wouldn’t work out. It just meant if I had my preference I wouldn’t let it be seen in an ugly stage. I’m working on pushing my comfort levels and so posting it in less than perfection is a good exercise for me.
I’m still working with the legs. And am not quite happy with them, I’ll continue to work on them. Of course I could ruin the piece at any time, but I am not worried that I will. I just gotta keep pluggin’ away at it.
A few things I’ve learned about suede.
Suede is far more durable than I would have thought. In it’s framing application it is rather delicate and the surface papers mark and mar easily. However, as an art surface it takes a great deal of punishment in regards to layering in color with sharp pencils. Because of this you can get a high degree of realism. Unlike paper though, you can’t wet the surface and push color around.
Color can be removed “lifted” with Q-tip. I did this gently but it worked as effectively as if I was lifting it off paper. In fact I worked a bit rougher than had I do when working on paper and surprisingly, it didn’t hurt the surface.
A Couple of Tips
A word of caution.
I would recommend using water sparingly. Matboard is nothing more than several sheet of paper adhered together. Too much water will cause the board to warp and cause the papers to separate.
I know what you mean about being at an “ugly stage” - although to me it looked perfect. My pieces go through the same stage - where I can see that it’s not quite right and needs working on, but as it’s not finished there is no worry that it might be ruined. It’s just… in progress. Most things can be altered. I suppose my portrait of Scott is at that stage at the moment. My clay pieces go through that stage as well. I suppose it’s ugly to you because you know where it needs changing.
That’s exactly. it
And I’m really liking the portrait of Scott.
Thank you Mona
Although to me it’s at an ugly stage 
I do understand about the “ugly stage.” Lately I’ve been using several methods that have stages that look awful, but I know they’ll work once I continue them. It’s just a process thing that I’m getting used to.
Thanks for the technique tips! I had never thought of using watercolor pencil on suede, the results are gorgeous though. The stage you posted didn’t even look bad to me, just had a sketched-in unfinished area unlike the ugly stage of some of my pastels — where it looks like it got colored by a little kid using a limited palette of screaming brights.
With pastels I can put light over dark easily and so occasionally I get things that look as if I’d never be able to fix them, only to find when I put the light details in that I was worried for nothing. I’m starting to get used to that but years of reserved whites in watercolor are still haunting me. lol
Robert
I’ve always envied the ability to put light in over dark. (Too bad the tactile sensation of pastel is akin to a dentist drill for me. That and the dust) Most of my mediums allow for an extremely limited capabilities in this way. The suede matboard so far has given me the greatest range for doing light over dark.
I do understand about the “ugly” stage. I guess it was a misinterpretation of your worry about the legs. It really looks almost finished here and the legs are looking good to me.