News and views of progress at the Illinois Railway Museum
Saturday, June 4, 2011
More CA&E and North Shore Art from Zach Ehlers
We received some more artwork from our friend Zach Ehlers. Zach is spending his summer creating CA&E and North Shore artwork before he heads off to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as a freshman this fall. Thanks Zach!
I am more and more impressed with Zach's artwork. My critical eye was at first thinking that his railroad ties are not completely horizontal, as you would find in looking at it (unless the track was tilted due to superelevation). However, he seems to be picking up on angles that are due to a camera lens... which are distorted via the concept of "parallax" It is a tricky part to get right, and he is making progress.
I would suggest he undertake some color studies. While the base colors are correct, the world is not a paint-by-numbers environment. The reflective surface of a railroad car picks up colors of its environment. And shadows among trees put in a whole host of colors. Grasses are often tinged tan, purple, and orange.
Illustration is a fine art, and he may be one of the best with such practice!
Thank you kindly sir. I will admit that color is one of my weak points. I am though working on improving it. Foliage and trees in general are my weak points. In recent times I have worked out shadowing on the cars themselves. Honestly, the reflectiveness is something that has never hit me until now. In all thanks for the compliments and the great advice!
While your techniques are still in development, how you arrange interesting points of view is wonderful, especially the cars rounding the curve at Forest Park, which I especially enjoyed. Have you ever considered water color? Ted Rose had "a good eye" as well and a good artist is a good observer and so drawing these as imagined scenes is also wonderful. All the best to you, Zach..
Bruce, thank you very much for the comments. I have always prided myself on my composition, as well as detail. I have not worked with watercolors before, but I have been told I have the potential for them as well as oils. For now I'd like to progress as much as I can with pencil work, and try to build up my skill and use of color to a good level. One particular artist whom I admire is Mitchell Markovitz. His composition and color use is just so vibrant and superb. If I could ever come close to such a level with pencils, I'd be happy. But for now I will keep practicing.
Of course, everyone is a CRITIC. I enjoy and admire your artwork and close attention to details in the scenes. If that last image is at RYAN TOWER south of Milwaukee, I think the trolley wire there was simple suspension, not catenary as in the drawing. I will go back and try to find some slides I took there, or someone else here may know more and correct me.
off to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as a freshman this fall. Thanks Zach!
I am more and more impressed with Zach's artwork. My critical eye was at first thinking that his railroad ties are not completely horizontal, as you would find in looking at it (unless the track was tilted due to superelevation). However, he seems to be picking up on angles that are due to a camera lens... which are distorted via the concept of "parallax" It is a tricky part to get right, and he is making progress.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest he undertake some color studies. While the base colors are correct, the world is not a paint-by-numbers environment. The reflective surface of a railroad car picks up colors of its environment. And shadows among trees put in a whole host of colors. Grasses are often tinged tan, purple, and orange.
Illustration is a fine art, and he may be one of the best with such practice!
Thank you kindly sir. I will admit that color is one of my weak points. I am though working on improving it. Foliage and trees in general are my weak points. In recent times I have worked out shadowing on the cars themselves. Honestly, the reflectiveness is something that has never hit me until now. In all thanks for the compliments and the great advice!
ReplyDeleteZach
While your techniques are still in development, how you arrange interesting points of view is wonderful, especially the cars rounding the curve at Forest Park, which I especially enjoyed. Have you ever considered water color? Ted Rose had "a good eye" as well and a good artist is a good observer and so drawing these as imagined scenes is also wonderful. All the best to you, Zach..
ReplyDeleteBruce, thank you very much for the comments. I have always prided myself on my composition, as well as detail. I have not worked with watercolors before, but I have been told I have the potential for them as well as oils. For now I'd like to progress as much as I can with pencil work, and try to build up my skill and use of color to a good level. One particular artist whom I admire is Mitchell Markovitz. His composition and color use is just so vibrant and superb. If I could ever come close to such a level with pencils, I'd be happy. But for now I will keep practicing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Again
Zach
Of course, everyone is a CRITIC. I enjoy and admire your artwork and close attention to details in the scenes. If that last image is at RYAN TOWER south of Milwaukee, I think the trolley wire there was simple suspension, not catenary as in the drawing. I will go back and try to find some slides I took there, or someone else here may know more and correct me.
ReplyDeleteBob Kutella