John Terwilliger, "Self Portrait with stocking hat", Charcoal on
Plywood, 19"x15",
2014-01-10
This new drawing is created directly on the plywood and spray fixed. For anyone planning to work on plywood as a drawing substrate be aware that spray fix significantly alters the drawing, especially with light colored or white pastel. Testing and planning will give you predictable results.
I plan on creating a number of portraits on plywood of family etc. so there is a body of portrait work on plywood to show. I always tell younger artists to make sure they create enough in a given style or subject matter so they can put together a solo show. I think it is good advice and plan to follow it which means at the size of this self portrait I need about fifty. It's always good to have a plan and with a simple frame portraits make great holiday or birthday gifts.
The plywood I use in my art is leftover and scraps from various home renovation and cabinet construction jobs and as such is considered "green" or as recycled material. This drawing is on a leftover piece of 1/4" b/c pine plywood which was used for the bottoms of drawers on a custom kitchen cabinet base unit I constructed for the new home. The kitchen cabinet also used 3/4" a/b poplar plywood for the counter top, sides, and drawer and door faces. I have started to draw on the left over poplar plywood and very much liking the results.
More on the cabinet a poplar plywood later.
