Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
|
|
Hi Folks,
I'm still fascinated with the comet of the year (so far) and I was compelled to put on paper my color impression of Comet McNaught from my one and only observation. At the time I was struck by the comet's appearance as it sank into the late twilight sky. This sketch is taken from my field notes and recollection of the event. Even though it's been several days now, the sight is still burned into my visual memory.
This is my first attempt with my new Conte' crayons--I like them but they are different from using graphite (no surprise there). They blend nicely, but I discovered that they also come right back off the paper onto your finger *very* easily. The sketch was done on Canson textured pastel paper.
I want to thank all of you who took the time to post tutorials and tips--they were very helpful in giving me some idea as to what to expect from this new (to me) medium. Comments and feedback are welcome.
--------------------
Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
|
rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3185
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
|
|
I'm impressed, Michael ! Well done 
--------------------
Rony
'The Casual Sky Observer's Guide.'
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
|
neoweb
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/10/06
Posts: 1482
Loc: UK
|
|
Nice! Thanks for sharing it!
--------------------
Celestron StarHopper 8" f/6 Dob
38mm Burgess 2" SWA | 30mm Ultima | 20mm Omni
17mm Hyperion | 12.5mm Baader Ortho
8mm TV Plossl | 6mm TMB/BO Planetary
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
15 X 70mm Skymasters
Saturn-like: desktop image
|
SGT500
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/03/06
Posts: 4808
Loc: Sarasota, Florida
|
|
Great . It looks just like how i saw it.
--------------------
-Sal
AstroTech Ritchey Chretien 8"
Williams Optics Zenithstar 80
Orion Atlas Eq-G
SBIG St-8300M
Fw5-8300 w/Astrodon 36mm LRGB & Ha Filters
Hap Griffin Modified Canon Eos Xs (1000D)
www.SgAstrophotography.com
|
Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
|
|
Rony, Neoweb, and Sal, thanks for your encouragement to an old dog trying to learn a new trick. 
--------------------
Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
|
Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
|
|
Sweet sketch, Michael!
Thanks for sharing this observation! I never got a chance to see the comet thanks to the clouds.
--------------------
Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go! 
Salem, Oregon
|
kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4709
Loc: Jacumba, California
|
|
Absolutely wonderful sketch Michael!  I love the way you handle the coma and the tail. And that was a neat idea to use that particular orangish yellow paper, a real twilight feel to that color. I think you've done a marvelous job with every aspect on this sketch! 
--------------------
Rich
My CN Gallery
|
Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
|
|
Michael, you've done a terrific job with that! It looks like you used a few of the colors from your new set, or is it just the background of the paper coming through?
Here's a tip for blending. If you use a blending stump, quite a bit of the crayon will come back off. If you use your finger, a lot more will stay on. Take advantage of the tooth of the paper for the amount of crayon you want left on.
If I want just a soft blend, I tap my finger on the sketch gently. If I want it tapered and blended to show no real definition on the object (such as a very faint prom or for a comet the tail) I apply the Conte' with a loaded large blending stump or a loaded fingertip. And then taper it with a fan brush.
And I usually keep a paper towel to wipe my finger off on afterwards.
It took me several sketches to get used to the Conte', especially with smooth Strathmore Artagain. But soon, I got used to it and really enjoy that combination now for solar.
The head of your comet really glows, Michael. You've really caught the feel of it.
I'm so excited I can hardly wait for your next colored sketch with your new Conte'!
--------------------
Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
|
frank5817
Postmaster
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 7212
Loc: Illinois
|
|
Michael,
I can see how impressed you were with with comet McNaught.
What a spactacular sketch. Bright and blazing against the orange twilight sky. You now have a wonderful lasting keepsake done with your own hand. Just terrific. Thanks for sharing. 
Frank
--------------------
My Gallery
|
CarlosEH
Postmaster
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 6714
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
|
|
Michael,
A very impressive and beautiful observation of this interesting comet. The coma and gas (ion) tail both appear to be very prominent. I have been unable to observe this comet at my location due to poor weather towards the SW horizon. May be I will get lucky? Thank you for sharing it with us all. Keep using the Conte crayons as you will get the hang of them.
Carlos
--------------------
|
RLTYS
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 4267
Loc: New York (Long Island)
|
|
Special Ed
A beautiful sketch. Looks like what I saw in my 12x63's on the same evening.
Thanks for the view.
Rich (RLTYS)
--------------------
10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
3" F4 Celestron FirstScope
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
"I want to do more then just look."
|
Sol Robbins
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/01/03
Posts: 1985
|
|
Great sketch Michael!
--------------------
S.R.
|
SallyR
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/08/06
Posts: 881
Loc: England
|
|
Michael, that is such a delicate sketch, beautifully done. You have captured the different qualities of nucleus, coma and tail very well with your new Conte' crayons - I can see that you enjoyed making this sketch as it positively glows!
--------------------
Sally
My CN Gallery
|
Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
|
|
Thanks everyone for your very kind words. I was trying to show the bright glowing head of McNaught as well as the bifurcated tail against the orange winter twilight 3 degrees above the horizon--if I have conveyed some approximation of that, I'm happy.
Erika, thanks for the tips and feedback. I will have to get a bigger, blunter stump--the small ones I have weren't satisfactory in that they removed narrow strips of Conte' when I was trying to blend--I ended up using my finger for the whole sketch. That said, I was really pleased with how the Conte' blends and the effect that can be achieved. Btw, from reading your other posts, I was ready with a paper towel to keep my finger clean. I used the white Conte' with a little bit of orange Conte' (I'm not sure what shade--they are numbered but unlabeled ) and mostly relied on the color of the pastel paper to come through the tail.
Thanks again to all the members here--your wide variety of approaches makes it easier to try something new.
Regards to all,
--------------------
Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
|
Dee
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/12/06
Posts: 806
Loc: Ireland
|
|
That is a lovely strong sketch, no holding back, I like it and am envious as I did not see this icy visitor due to cloud cover and no cloud hoover.
Dee
|
Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
|
|
Thanks, Dee--sorry you missed this one. Do you have any cousins in Australia? They're getting the big show now.
--------------------
Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
|
Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
|
|
Thanks for the further information on your technique. I wish they had a color chart. It's hard to explain the colors, isn't it?
I haven't tried Conte' on really toothy paper yet. I've got a little more tooth on a few of my old sketch pads, but nothing like what Rich uses. The Hobby Lobby that just went in not all that long ago has the kind Rich uses for his beautiful lunar sketches. I'm going to buy a few sheets and try it out. I imagine it will be a whole new ballgame yet again....how fun!!!
--------------------
Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
|
Jeremy Perez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 2125
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
|
|
Great work with the new media, Michael. Conté does play by some different rules. Excellent job capturing the split tail, and great choice of color for the paper.
--------------------
Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/5.9 Dob) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars || Coronado PST
The Belt Of Venus || Sketch Gallery || Sketching Resources || Drawn to the Universe Column
|
Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
|
|
Erika, I've only tried Conte' on the textured paper so far and my experience is limited to that one drawing. I want to try it on smooth paper too. We'll have to compare notes.
Thanks, Jeremy. I thought your digital sketch of McNaught in the orange twilight was terrific! And your description of the twilight horizon as "orange sherbert" was perfect. 
Your latest sketches (of the McNaught tail streamers) are great--are you going to post them here? I think a lot of people with dial up avoid mega-threads like the one in the SSO forum on C/2006 P1 (McNaught), so they might have missed seeing them.
I like your charcoal version best but it is interesting to compare it to the Conte' version.
Best,
--------------------
Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
|
Jeremy Perez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 2125
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
|
|
Michael, thanks! I do plan on posting them here. I was going to post them as a series with some discussion on how I prepared the digital sketches, but my process ended up being somewhat more involved for those than just using a Photoshop paintbrush. So I don't have them put together yet. Hopefully soon!
--------------------
Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/5.9 Dob) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars || Coronado PST
The Belt Of Venus || Sketch Gallery || Sketching Resources || Drawn to the Universe Column
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: