For my translucent layer project I set out to draw a photograph I took a couple years ago. It is a long exposure which I thought would be perfect because of the layering that the photograph captures.

I began this project months ago but after trying to go in with a thorough plan, I began overthinking it so I stepped away from it. My initial sketch began with me outlining the main subject figure in the middle with graphite pencil. After revisiting it, I found that the outline of the figure i had created was helpful for me to then go back in and better locate the joints and proportions of the arms and torso. I began working with charcoal now that I had revisited. I found this a lot easier to work with because not only did it allow me to draw more loosely, it made darker marks that would show through the layering of the translucent sheets.

The first layer consists of a somewhat detailed, proportioned figure that you can see in the middle of the photographers. I went in with a black marker to fill in the hair and outline some of the leotard clothing. I also went in with white, black and tan conté to add some highlights and showdows.

The second layer consisted of me very loosely drawing the legs, arms, feet, and blurred movements that appear in the photograph. For this layer I went ahead and began by outlining these figures and then I colored them in with tan and white conte as well as with white and black water-soluble wax pastels.

For the second layer I loosely outlines the figures (legs, hands, arms , feet) in a gesture like drawing technique to capture the long exposure effect in the photograph. I only used white water-soluble wax pastels and some white conte.

For the fourth and last layer, I did the exact same thing as with the second layer except this time only with black water-soluble wax pastels.