Pencil Sketch - Elmer Ham
4" x 6"
This is one of a number of small en plien air sketches that Elmer L Ham in preparation for larger more finished works. I find even his small sketches to be very powerful and to my eye, rapidly executed. If you take a close look at the shading in the trees and the overall pencil strokes, they are long and decisive. There is an economy of pencil strokes - defining both form and value. Also the line framing the drawing is not even - which indicates a more rapid process to me. This sketch would serve as the basis for a work in any medium having a strong sense of perspective as well as arranged patterns of lights and darks.
Other pencil sketches exist that are more complete and finished works in their own right - but I would hang this on my wall too!
Elmer was also known to work on subjects a number of times. In a series almost. When I was younger and newer at painting that never appealed to me. Monet's haystacks, cathedrals, and water lilies come to mind. But I can see the value in it now.
Today I took a walk along a little brook near to home, that I've seen hundreds of times. Yet it is different each time I look at it. The water was high today and running fast. Yet areas that were usually rapids upstream were running smoothly - the water was deeper than normal so the rocks only caused whirlpools in the water - not actual rapids. Other areas that were usually rapid free, with rocks high out of the water, were raging rapids. The more closely I observe, the more I realize just how little I see of natures beauty. It's different every day.
Here is a picture of Ham painting on location.
Elmer L Ham
Painting on Location - location unknown
Ham Person Papers Raynor Collection
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