Would it be possible to have a lesson on drawing heat waves? for example...what is seen radiating from a highway or object due to the sun.

Heat mirages are simply reflections and refraction of light and should be treated similarly when drawing.

Perhaps understanding a bit more about heat mirages will help.

Like everything that is drawn, it is a matter of careful observation and drawing what you see. A heat mirage, often seen on the hot surface of a road often looks like a pool of water sitting there, but disappears as you approach it. From a drawing perspective, tackle the mirage as if you were drawing water. Look for areas of light and dark and you won't go wrong.

Nothing in drawing is a mystery. Its all down to observation and practice and drawing what is in front of you.

Thanks Jeanette. I think the biggest challenge for me is when it comes to , for example, how the heat from an aircraft jet engine distorts the various backgrounds. Whether it be hills, trees, or another aircraft. It seemed a bit harder with pencil than it did with paints. Makes for a really cool visual effect though.

Lyle, it can be daunting at first thought, but break it down into manageable chunks and you can do it.

Its a matter of blending and assessing areas of light and dark. If you have a drawing or reference showing what you are trying to do, I can help you a little more in how to achieve it.

Jeanette,
I pulled it off somewhat with a drawing I completed awhile back. I posted it in the gallery and it's called "Vigilant Friend." When I find a ref photo I'll post it here.
Thanks a bunch,
Lyle

Hi Lyle,

Here is a ref photo with jet exhaust blurring the background.

I'm going to work on this because I think it would be good to find a technique to get it done fast and realistic.

I'm going to work on how to smudge the graphite without totally destroying the underlying drawing. Perhaps a water soluble graphite is needed.

RJ,
Excellent ref photo and exactly what I'm talking about. Water soluble graphite? I didn't know there was such a thing. I'll bet that would work great with the right technique. I'm looking forward to what you come up with.
Good luck!

Hi,

I just made a quick try on some 160gr card. I used a Caran d'Ache soft water soluble graphite pencil. You can also find Cretacolor soluble graphite pencils for about a buck a pop. Try Blick.

I'm going to test some more but I think we may be onto something here if we can get the technique down.

See ya,
[attachmentid=6783]

RJ,
Thanks for the heads up on the pencil. I'll start shopping! Yep, I'd say you're headed in the right direction. Please keep me posted.

[quote name='Lyle462' date='Aug 21 2007, 08:29 PM' post='25167']
Would it be possible to have a lesson on drawing heat waves? for example...what is seen radiating from a highway or object due to the sun.
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Hello.See this web it might bre a helpfor you.Best of luck.Rippy

Thanks for the info Rippy but we are discussing another type of wave. Heat waves and how they distort your view in the drawing.

RJ,
I found this prime example of what we're talking about when it comes to "heat effect." Check aft of the aircraft in regard to the scenery.[attachmentid=7183]

I don't really have a tutorial to give you, but might have a usefull suggestion.
- set up a few candles placed closely together
- find a comfortable position where your eye-level is just above the flame
- study the visual distortion of objects as seen through this heated air
If need be you could always hold up images or drawings of scenery behind the flames to see what it looks like when you look at it through the heat.

I fear this will never give the same result as a jet engine's exhaust, as the distortion it causes seems quite massive from the pictures I've seen posted in this thread, but it might be enough to represent what a hot highway would look like.