Graphite Dust!

A week or two ago if I were to read the title of this post I would think it was going to be a rant about getting your hands all messy when working with graphite, but that's not it at all!

I'm actually referring to using graphite dust as a medium/technique.  It's a pretty simple idea really, you either buy some graphite dust, or use a nail file and wittle away part of a pencil or a graphite stick (you don't need much, a little goes a LONG way) and then using a paint brush(s) to apply it to the paper.  

I first tried this technique all by itself and just 'painted' an egg.  

Overall it looked a bit too soft to me and I was using a stick eraser at one point to try and lighten an overly dark area and ended up with a smudge right in the highlight area.  I do not like the idea of solely using graphite dust, but I certainly saw it's potential to be added into my graphite arsenal.

While doing that little egg I also re-discovered how much I hate working with graphite on white paper.  These days if I'm doing something with shading I much prefer to start on mid ranged toned paper and be able to push the value in both directions.  So, out came a new 5.5" x 8.5" Strathmore 400 series Toned Gray Sketchpad.  I think I'm exclusively going to use it for little sketches of faces.  A facebook, if you will :P.  

Here are the first two entries in the book:

 

Both were done using a combination of a mechanical pencil, graphite dust (with a small flat brush), a kneaded eraser, and a white Prismacolor colored pencil.  I think I am really starting to enjoy working in graphite.  :)

(Also, sorry for the long absence.  I've been busy doing more card art for L5R, they keep me busy!)