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Sketching from life
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Message
Posted
Today, looking after 3 grandchildren, I spent an hour sketching them quickly while they were immersed in their electronic world. I enjoyed it and found that the more I did, the easier it was - I wasn't aimimg for masterpieces here. I put them in the "sketching kids" comp if you're interested. I also did a quick watercolour, again, no masterpiece but I find that using other media ( mainly oils and acrylic now ) has made it easier to use watercolour. I suppose I'm talking about the " approach" to a painting, rather than the technique, but it all helps. I would recommend switching medium from time to time, rather than trying to perfect one before moving on, it seems to help. What do others think - about both topics?
Posted
Just been to look at your sketches in the competition Marjorie. They follow the brief beautifully exactly as they should be. It’s great to have a whole day with subjects under your nose/ feet. .
Drawing like this is one of the best exercises you can possibly do to learn to draw. Subjects are every where supermarket , waiting rooms, buses , parks. Look , watch, draw.
Plus they are free.
Your comments re using different mediums is also a good one , no one perfects in any one medium so why not enjoy the differences.
Edited
by SylviaEvans
Posted
I switch between oil, acrylic, watercolour, and various drawing media - I think it does help a bit; partly to keep you interested, partly because yes, there's a certain cross-fertilization. I even do a bit of secret pastelling - but generally keep that to myself, 'cause .... I'm not very good. Mind you, I'd be a bit better, I think, if I spent a bit of money on those surfaces that I know work better for me than others - eg, velour papers.
Here's the snag with swapping between media, though - it's not cheap. It'd be cheaper if I used less expensive materials (a statement, you might observe, of the blindingly obvious) but if there's one thing I'm sure of, in this whole arty business, it's that if you use inferior materials you will inevitably get inferior results. You CAN sometimes pull off a good drawing or painting with the cheapest materials in your store, but it won't be half as pleasurable to do, and you'll find yourself fighting with the limitations of the medium, whatever it is.
So I'm all in favour of using different media - just wincing slightly at the cost. And in fairness, there are those who would say that it's best to specialize and not dabble; but I've always found dabbling half the fun. And it was good enough for Leonardo, so why not? Be warned, though, that some will question your professionalism if you chop and change - be warned, but ignore them.
Posted
I alternate almost daily, not that you would know, because I don't post much of my work apart from oils and a few etchings more recently. I still like watercolours for sketching out preliminary ideas,and I am still loving the home-made reed pens. I've used a selection of medium for the kiddies competition, reed pen quickies, ink and brush work and I think a Caran D'ache one. All rubbish but I did persevere and manage to draw my little Granddaughter's from life and not have to resort to photo's - far more satisfying if not extremely challenging.
I'll have a look at your stuff later Marjorie, your portrait work has been excellent recently. (probably always was!).
Edited
by alanbickley
Posted
I think variety is the spice of life and I also think some ideas are better suited to one medium than another and its great to match the two which go well together. The picture you posted seemed to work really well because the soft smoothness of of the watercolour was ideal to represent young glowing skin.
Posted
A little variety is always good. I mess about with soft and oil pastels as well as pencils and it makes a nice change.
I've just been offered a chance to be in the Band Pit for a production of Oklahoma - not bad for a Classical Guitarist who gets to play a lot of Jazz, huh? Variety is like an extra chili in the curry.
Posted
I agree with the last couple of comments, well of course I do, it's plain common sense!. Let's not also forget that sketching and drawing should be a pleasurable experience, whether that be out and about or in the studio. I'm off out shortly to go and sketch some trees for Adibanji's competition. I know a spot where there were some old willows, slightly fallen and decaying - I am hoping they are still there. I do of course know what a tree looks like, so I could elect to stay in the warmth and just sketch away from my memory, but that doesn't interest me one bit.
Just a quick note that to say that I have been struggling with bronchitis since the festive season. I went out in the damp air on Monday morning to do a plein-air oil sketch of an old packhorse bridge nearby. (a few of you did comment on my posting of this yesterday, thank you). The consequence of that trip inflamed my chest so it was back to the doctors on Thursday for another course of stronger antibiotics and then off for an x-ray at the hospital.
I'm feeling a lot better this morning, so I'm not letting it keep me indoors, although I will wrap up well. There is nothing better for me than getting out there and seeing and recording nature first hand.
Posted
I've had bronchitis, Alan, and unlike you delayed calling in the doctor. When I could hardly get out of bed and friends ignored my 'it's just a cold!' protests and called in the doctor, he said 'Were you thinking of waiting until the funeral?'
You have seen the vet, wisely - but watch out in the cool and damp air: it's not so much when you're out there that you start wheezing, as when you come back indoors and the chest adjusts to the drier atmosphere, or tries to. You listen to old Nurse McGanderpoke!
Posted
Thank you Sylvia and Robert. I feel confident that I am on the mend, again!. The sun was shining and quite warm so I did go out and find my lovey willow tree, can't believe it was still lying there untouched apart from some beetle work. I have got a drawing of it from a year ago but it would take me that long to find it. Always nice to have a fresh approach anyway. As always, well worth the effort to get out and about with your sketch pad.
Posted
Thank goodness for your friends Robert! Just want to wish both you and Alan a speedy recovery. Do hope the stronger antibiotics kick in soon Alan. And do hope your weather improves before too long, you do seem to have had a dreadful winter, rather out of the ordinary of winters. We might be heading for same, had dreadful weather earlier in the week.