“Ridge Willow Corner“ was sketched in just under 56 minutes including signing over two drafts.

42 minutes 44 seconds for the first draft then 12 minutes 44 seconds for the second/final draft. My original photograph is taken on 28th February 2021 facing south, with Ridge Willow in the middle of the composition, logs piled and strewn.

Afterwards I viewed everything satisfactorily except the wooden posts to the right. Only though for technical reasons as compared to my photograph (see below). That said, the strong contrast of the wooden posts in charcoal is a noteworthy feature of the whole quickly sketched piece.

The idea is to be fast and impressionistic. In this I can honestly say the picture was a very difficult composition with much detail and angular perspectives to consider artistically. Likely its one of those vistas that requires a study to evaluate professionally prior to the perfected artwork.

Interestingly Van Gogh is noted for calling some of his finest masterpieces ‘failures’.

Now, as I look at this piece I see possible influence from Vincent Van Gogh in the despondent looking wooden posts heavily featuring charcoal. As if they are persons carrying a burden of hardship and toil. Complete chance although I have viewed Van Gogh and Picasso works this past week.

By the way I blunted several pencils during this work. One 6B pencil broke like the axe that near-splices a log all the way through, possibly whilst sharpening!

“Are the obstacles lines in the sand that can be moved?”

Let’s take a look at the photograph composition:

With the photograph you can see why I chose to make the sunshine so bright. Actually this is careful use of the white canvas space. I did add yellow pencil at the outer edges (of the sun) to highlight this dazzling effect.

It’s baffling to me as I view my sketch for real as to why it took me so long haha! Then I remind myself that the time flew like a falcon. Glancing periodically at the stopwatch ‘clock’ à la rabbit of Alice in Wonderland fame.

Hope you enjoy :]