I have fallen in love all over again.... with sketching! Several times this week visitors to the studio have browsed through my sketchbooks and asked whether they're for sale. Sorry, no :). But it did make me sit down and think about why sketchbooks are so cool.
Mine are full of scribbled notes, colour samples, weird hieroglyphics (that I often can't even understand my self!), coffee spills, squashed bugs, and, oh yes - sketches.
Sketching is such a lovely way to paint.With no pressure to produce a finished "artwork" you're free to scribble with ink, slap on paint, leave things out, put things in , write how you feel, what you can smell (and sometimes taste)...It captures the essence of the subject, what took your eye in the first place- which is something that's very easy to lose when you tackle a painting. I often paint from my sketches rather than my photo, as I've already edited out all of that trivia which isn't vital.
It can also be useful to work backwards.Try sketching from a photo you've taken as though you're back on the spot- you'll be surprised what happens.And then you can paint from that.The results will be quite different.
If you 're interested in having a go , you may like to join us in Golden Bay later in the year.
Last Labour weekend when I held a watercolour workshop there we found so much to paint that we really didn't have enough time - and I realise that sketching and filling a journal with all of the treasures we found would be a very satisfying way to spend three days !
Labour Weekend October 24th-26th - Watercolour sketchbooks in Golden Bay.
We had such a good time painting outside in Golden Bay last year that this year I'm looking for expressions of interest in a sketching trip.You'll learn to get down info quickly in your sketchbook using pen and watercolour, a wonderful way to record travel or just everyday life. We found lots of cool places that I want to revisit, so please get in touch if you're interested ...
[email protected]
Mine are full of scribbled notes, colour samples, weird hieroglyphics (that I often can't even understand my self!), coffee spills, squashed bugs, and, oh yes - sketches.
Sketching is such a lovely way to paint.With no pressure to produce a finished "artwork" you're free to scribble with ink, slap on paint, leave things out, put things in , write how you feel, what you can smell (and sometimes taste)...It captures the essence of the subject, what took your eye in the first place- which is something that's very easy to lose when you tackle a painting. I often paint from my sketches rather than my photo, as I've already edited out all of that trivia which isn't vital.
It can also be useful to work backwards.Try sketching from a photo you've taken as though you're back on the spot- you'll be surprised what happens.And then you can paint from that.The results will be quite different.
If you 're interested in having a go , you may like to join us in Golden Bay later in the year.
Last Labour weekend when I held a watercolour workshop there we found so much to paint that we really didn't have enough time - and I realise that sketching and filling a journal with all of the treasures we found would be a very satisfying way to spend three days !
Labour Weekend October 24th-26th - Watercolour sketchbooks in Golden Bay.
We had such a good time painting outside in Golden Bay last year that this year I'm looking for expressions of interest in a sketching trip.You'll learn to get down info quickly in your sketchbook using pen and watercolour, a wonderful way to record travel or just everyday life. We found lots of cool places that I want to revisit, so please get in touch if you're interested ...
[email protected]
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