Chapter 4 Drawing patterns from animal markings

This chapter contains sketches to highlight patterns and tonal changes on enlarged images of animal markings.

The first illustration is the first page indicating sketch tools used and how the images were created.

Samples (1) to (7) are sketches from different animals, with most emphasis on snails and slugs:-

1.  This was a dark image of a real pheasant feather.  Used markers b. to e. and noticed how b. turned out bluey black.  The lines on the feather were beautifully parallel (unlike my copies) and picked up cross marks and two or three dark markings forming feather patterns. 

2.  These moth drawings were from a more balanced black and white image.
There were several different patterns and textures.  The patterns were picked up in the sketches rather than the shadings. 

3.  This is a gray scale image of a seahorse.  It is the only one where shading was done with a 4B pencil.  There is a wide contrast in tone from the black of the eye to white of the dots on the end of the spines.  I chose grayscale to see more of the shapes and patterns.  The black and white image was very like polka dots - no problem, but preferred chosen image, especially the shape of the spines or tentacles!

4.  The snail has many patterns and I was struck as to how many dots form the image.
The variation in pattern was from solid black shapes to subtle dotted lines.

5.  The contrast in tone between black and white in the slug is reflected in how light catches the moist skin surface.  There were an amazing range of patterns and I tried to capture the most distinct, using all felt tips.

6.  This time concentrated on snail shells.  Although there were many dots used line to show pattern; swirls of the shells and fine ridges across them.  Used all felt tips trying to grade tone using spacing and changing the pens.

7.  Snail mouth shown under a microscope.  See comments on the sheet.

Although a technical pen was not used I hope I have captured tone and pattern successfully by varying different felt tips I had available.