draw with me :)

Hey fellow artists! I wanted to share a bit more about my recent charcoal drawing, especially for those of you looking for charcoal references or wood drawing reference ideas. When I started this piece, my main goal was to really capture how beautifully the light was filtering through the trees and spreading onto the side of the building. That beautiful play of light and shadow is what truly makes a charcoal art reference stand out. Finding the right charcoal reference photo is crucial. For this particular drawing, I stumbled upon a reference that had such strong contrasts and interesting textures, especially in the tree. You can see in my process, I went from a detailed reference photo to a quick thumbnail sketch in my sketchbook. This tiny sketch helps me figure out the composition and the main light and dark values before I commit to the larger drawing paper. For wood drawing reference, I always look for photos where the bark texture and the way light hits individual branches are very clear. Charcoal is amazing for building up those deep, rich textures. I started by lightly outlining my composition on the drawing paper, then slowly built up layers. It’s all about patience! I focused on creating depth in the trees, making sure the areas hit by light popped, and the shadows receded. The building itself provided a great chance to show how light interacts with solid surfaces, creating sharp edges and soft transitions. The entire process, from that initial glance at the reference photo to the finished piece, took me about 5 hours later!. It's incredibly rewarding to see how a simple charcoal stick can bring a scene to life, especially when you're trying to convey the subtlety of light. Don't be afraid to spend time observing your charcoal reference – really look at where the light falls, how it creates form, and what textures you want to emphasize. I hope this peek into my art process helps you find inspiration for your own charcoal art reference and wood drawing reference explorations!