The Art of Sketching

Now that we are past the dark days of January, it is time to think of new painting subjects and the outdoors.

I would like to discuss the topic of sketching. This can be a subject where many artists may disagree. Many feel they can skip this stage when embarking on a painting.

Artistic licence is an asset we all use from time to time and is an interesting subject for a future article. It can bring balance and synergy to a painting, but it should not be overdone. The result could be the opposite. Indeed, many of us have looked at a painting and wished we had set a subject further over on the paper.

By taking the time to sketch, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration when it comes to painting. It allows you to avoid making any mistakes that you may not be able to fix later. It also allows you to take more risks. You can explore different ideas without feeling the pressure to ‘get it right’ the first time.

Useful Equipment

Since I started painting I have, without failure, sketched the subject painted. Many artists consider that sketching takes up valuable time. They claim it scars the paper surface. It often leads to the final drawing running out of space or proportion. Or it distorts the subject. These are only excuses, a good quality soft rubber will always deal with these issues.

The successful sketcher will use a variety of pencils. They will vary in hardness from H (hard) through standard HB and on to around 6B. A good-quality rubber and sharpener are also essential. The rubber should be soft enough to avoid tearing the paper surface.

A straight line is not natural in nature but will help in drawing buildings so a 450mm long light ruler will help.

You have an asset in tracing paper when sizing, drawing curves and the like is a problem. I would suggest a 60-gram weight paper is right for the task.

Technique

Use your preferred grip and a light touch when holding a pencil. I hold pencils between my thumb and forefinger. I use an under-the-palm grip to cover large areas, and over the palm to draw sharp edges.

Never be in a hurry to rub off pencil lines after adding the paint. It shows care and professionalism in producing the subject of the painting.

Practice Brings Confidence

Good drawing comes with confidence so you must sketch, sketch, and sketch.

Whether to sketch or not is a personal choice for every artist. They need to make a choice for every painting, be it a single flower or a more complex composition.

If you have never considered using sketches then please try. The difference it can make to you and the painting may surprise you. I hope this blog will help you make your choice.