Drawing things really really quick!
This exercise started quite well, I created this set up (which moved around each timed session)
I used a Graphite Crayon and did timed 2x3mins, 1x2mins and 1x1min sessions, I mainly worked to get the key details down quickly, layout and shadows. Results as below
I also had a quick go digitally using an ipad and procreate, just sketched quickly what was in front of me at the time.
The next part, I wasn’t sure how to do due to isolation due to the corona virus as I would have liked to food items moving on a conveyor belt or people traveling on an escalator. We do not have any wind up toys and washing the pots after weeks of stuck in the house cleaning honestly didn’t inspire me…
What happened next may be best explained as I go my thought process behind each page in order as I tried to find a solution to this and I did go of track a few times.
PERSONAL Sketchbook (5) – this was a bit of fun, inspired by the oranges I drew in the timed season, one of the pictures I felt looked like faces and I honestly had a random thought in my head the fruit are not very good at social distancing and giving them masks!
I am aware this isn’t rapid sketching so more of a fun piece than a “serious” piece.
COURSE sketchbook – I did have a reasoning behind this piece related to rapid drawing and movement. I thought I could use my imagination and picture the fruit falling (later adding into children hands) it was created fairly quickly using a fine liner. However I was aware within a few rows of the fruit this wasn’t working at all for the purpose of the exercise at all.
I later added the colour just to make it a fun page. (I should point out, I do like this illustration and will push this further one day even if a personal project)
COURSE sketchbook – At this point I was feeling a little deflated, as wanted to do something in the nature of movement and a bit exciting, I ended up thinking and wishing I really could go to local Morrison’s, just sit in the cafe and watch the conveyor belt, if only something like that I could do at home, get the kids to move things around and that’s when the idea “generation game” popped into my brain. I searched on youtube and found the old bbc clips. At the time I felt this was my answer to the issue, however the items went by too quickly and ended up more like super quick pictionary.
(but have a little idea what I can do with this!)
PERSONAL sketchbook – The next idea happened randomly (like the best ones do) We had a cat visitor in the garden and I thought maybe sketch it movements, so I sat in front of our window and started sketching, the cat left, I stayed and thought how still the world was, a little while later a bird came and hopped along the branch, PERFECT!
A bird hopping along a branch very sketchy and loose.
Then I realised something I was missing, the branches and leaves were moving, swaying gently in the wind… This is what I needed not something “big” the small movement is still “movement”.
COURSE sketchbook I quickly drew this idea (whole thing including loose wash less than five mins) I really love this page, it looked okay without colour… But I wanted the colour to add that since of movement to the branches and trees and lift the image away from the birds more.
And I did the spacing on purpose “less is more”.
One of the most common questions you will hear while sketching on location is: I can’t even draw a straight line. My response would be, why would you wan to”
Thomas Thorspecken – URBAN SKETCHING a complete guide
(above) a piece inspired by my sketch book work, I did use the wrong ink, it started to bleed (not water proof) however I stuck to it as seem a little “messy” charm and made it look more rapid as I didn’t wait for the ink to dry.
I got there in the end, I really like what I’ve created, I like how loose it is. I do wonder if should have left without colour, I do sometimes leave things black and white/lines but I went with my gut on this and the result is something I want to do more.
Extra ….. I made that sketchbook page into a drawing challenge, for people to draw the items and see if others can guess what they’ve drawn!
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 