Well to start with a Happy New Year 2023 to All Although I started my Xmas festivities in bed with flu which went on until after New Year. I had intended to start my New Year with a resolution to sketch more.. I freely admit I am one of many artists that should sketch more. My car go bag, has two sketch pads in it, but they rarely get used. You could put it down to laziness I suppose. this year may be different (or not). I think my downfall started when I started painting very loose impressionist works. I just wanted to get on and put brush to paper. with just the barest outline on the sheet. I suppose I have got away with that because I was trained in Architecture and that was my profession throughout the majority of my working life. So the basic perspective of scenes came naturally over time. Now I notice more and more artists seem to be struggling with basic perspective. This can only come about by not sketching accurately first, and painting what you see, and not what you think you see. A shortcut to this is to have a sketch book and sketch in black ink without a pencil guide. This will make you think before you make a mark on the paper, and question in your own mind as o whether you have got it right. Initial marks that are accurate create accurate paintings. Then transfer those images to your painting board or paper. Try pen and wash without detail pencil sketching. A its fun, and B it will teach you a lot. Now finally my big outstanding revelation (sic) I teach my groups and pupils. I guarantee that it will make you paint better balanced pictures. Stage 1 Sketch your intended subject in light pencil on your art board or paper you intend to use for the painting. Stage 2 Create this outline as accurately as you can manage. Stage 3 This is the important part STOP and stand the basic sketch you have created to one side of you studio. On the wall, on a table, wherever but so that when you keep passing it, you look at it from a distance. This will give you a chance to observe any errors you have made, so that they can be readily put right. You do not see these errors up close when you are sketching. they are more obvious when you keep passing at a distance. Another version of this method that some artists use, is to look at the sketch over your shoulder using a mirror. It does not work for me but it does for some. The sketch in this blog is of the Old Port at Dinan France It has been sketched some two days ago and I am still finding little things that need sorting before painting it. Good luck, Have fun, and keep painting. John