For the past couple of weeks, I have been working on recreating my drawing final in oils. I'm nearing the final detailing phase and that means creating more references and taking photos.
I started out with a shoebox lid and kinetic sand. I added in the glass beads that I used in the diorama that created the stone structures. I used the beads to form the altar-like structure in my painting that the runic markings would surround.
I chose kinetic sand because it's reusable and easy to clean up. Plus you can get it in different colors (they have glitter!) if you have trouble visualizing what your eventual piece will look like in the end when using the natural color that I've used. And it's fun to play with too.
I carved the runic markings in the sand using an Xacto knife. There was a bit of a learning curve when it came to writing in the sand - it kept collapsing in on itself the first couple of times I tried. I eventually got the hang of it and was able to get the runes to where I wanted them.
The next step was to take as many reference photos it took for me to be satisfied. It turned out to be around fifteen this time. Taking that many photos allows you to play around with composition and to see what reads the best. The pictures below show how different angles of the same object can change how you perceive it.
If you are creating a fantasy art piece (especially landscapes) I highly recommend building a diorama of your space before you start drawing. It helps transfer an image in your head into something more concrete. Having something concrete to draw from helps keep you organized while drawing. Once you have to basic structures down, you can always abstract them and make it your own.
