Spontaneous sketching

October 25, 2024 | 4 Comments

Most mornings, when I choose my subject to sketch and open my sketchbook, I don’t have a plan for how I will start.

I make a split-second decision about whether to start with a shape or a line and then what tool to use.

Then, I allow the sketch to evolve as I work.

This is the first step of the sketch I did on Tuesday morning (before having my first sip of coffee). I intended to use watercolour, but the sketch had a mind of its own. 🙂

I know that in my SketchingNow courses (Foundations, Watercolour, and Watercolour On Location in particular), I talk a lot about doing thumbnails and spending time thinking about how you are going to sketch before you start. Thumbnails are a powerful tool for achieving better results, and I use them for complex scenes. But as a general rule, I mentally do thumbnails in my head when I’m out and about sketching on location.

Over the years, I’ve developed ways of working (such as starting with shadow shapes) that enable me to design the composition and values of my sketch ‘on the fly’. For me, sketching is more spontaneous than plein air painting, and I’m more interested in capturing the moment (and taking risks) than creating a masterpiece on every page of my sketchbook.

So during my morning sketching session, when I’m returning to the same subject over and over, I like to experiment with mixed media and work spontaneously – without any plan at all!

If you are interested in finding out more about doing thumbnails: here are some articles for further reading.

And finally, here is the completed sketch.

4 Comments

  • Jamie C says:

    The mixed media really gives such interesting results! I got a handful of neocolors to try them out and haven’t yet, but I’m always intrigued when I see them used! I’m still focusing on building a consistent sketch practice, so maybe experimenting will wait a bit longer!

    • Liz Steel says:

      Hi Jamie
      They are super fun to use but agree with your thought to keep it simple and get your habit developed first.

  • Ginie Udy says:

    This was a super inspiring post Liz, because it was great to see your shapes being laid down with the neocolours first and then the final version. This approach inspired me over the weekend when I was out with my family visiting an open garden.

    We sat and had a picnic lunch and then looked across the grass to a beautiful shed in the garden. As the others were chatting I realised I had time to capture it and did the shapes first in watercolour, and then did some ink over as it dried quickly in the sun. I also thought about your bonus video example in Travel Sketching when you did that outdoor area that was super complicated but you did watercolour shapes first.

    All your modelling is so very helpful and encouraging. Thank you!

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