Canaletto's pen and wash technique

[ricardo]

So im trying to study how this really great artist did many of his drawings. He is unlike any other i've seen. The technique is just beautiful and very hard to copy. Harly any cross hatching, but just a gesture type of pen line.  I used to cross hatch a bit, but now after seeing this artist work im moving away from that, and it does seem to look better.

 

[Jesse]

Very clean work.  I'd like to see yours in comparison. 

[ricardo]

Very clean work.  I'd like to see yours in comparison. 

ahh, sorry too embarassed to compare to this great artist.

[BarryS]

Looking at Canaletto's drawings, I'm struck by how photographic his perspective looks, and I found he used a camera obscura.  Of course, Canaletto's mastery wasn't derived from his use of the camera obscura, but it certainly influenced his compositions and use of perspective.  Fox Talbot, one of the earliest inventors of a photographic process, was frustrated by his inability to draw using a camera obscura--leading to his research on "photogenic drawing".  As photographers we've cut out the middleman--and we secretly wish we could draw.  

[ricardo]

Drawing is all too important thats for sure. I read somewhere he did use the camera obscura to draw, but it doesnt really take away from his awesomeness(is that a word?). Id like to try the camera obscura one day if i ever figure otu what it is. Or even a simple grid.

[Loki]

To a large extent photography has replaced photo-realistic art but these illustrations are something in between. Very realistic but with an illustrative style especially in the foreground figures.  Yes, "awesomeness" describes it well. 

~S