Single figures will be easy for this exercise however for the crowds in the mist of COVID-19 I have to get clever.
Firstly I did have my lightbulb moment about starting to cover important events, at the moment we have people wearing mask, quoqing to get in supermarkets and black lives matter protress. I’m however looking after two children full time and my husband is a key worker, this means I will be limited by free time to get out into “crowds” and all while being safe.
Another issue with being safe, is that I would have to be very careful due to my deafness as mask limit facial reactions and lipreading which takes away my means to read the crowd and people around me.
One thing I did find I could do a lot of research by reading books such as “The addictive Sketcher” by Adebanji Aladde, “Urban sketching a complete guide” by Thomas Thorspecken and “sketch you world” by James Hobb.
Most useful parts was reading how each book explains different ways to handle yourself in public spaces sketching people, how to deal with onlookers.
These books also have given me ideas for this exercise and futures ones where I would like to sketch.
Urban Sketchers
(Pinterest linked image)
I’ve also started watching a teacher on skillshare called James Richards who is an Author, urban sketcher, travel artist and designer. I also quite like his work and one of his classes are perfect for this exercise called “Urban Sketching Essentials: Drawing People and Crowds Made Simple”.
What I liked about his class is very early on he explained what the role of adding people and crowds to an urban sketch. How it isn’t about life drawings, it’s to give that organic sense, sense of movement, sense of life and it started me seeing urban sketching in a whole new light when comes to crowds.
Yes, there will be times when we want to get the essence of a person (which is when life drawing would be quite important) guess in some ways would depend on my own narriate while I’m sketching people and crowds.
I also liked that for a part of this, he shows his own sketchbook, talks about his work and I can see an end goal, in terms of urban sketching I’m a beginner and I will keep it up and interesting to see where my urban sketches will be in a years time/or by the time I finished my illustration degree.
I’ve known since doing this unit, this is a lifestyle for me, it’s not just for the degree or even a career, I continue to grow and become urban sketcher. For this reason in my work I’m not trying to run before I can walk and really want to enjoy and build my own growth.
(above) personal sketch book 5
I started to sketch my family as they watched a movie together.
I found it very hard, as they moved around a lot and I also went right to ink to create.
I didn’t worry about the details at this point.
(above) Personal sketch book 5
Sketching my son – with a bit of watercolour.
(Above) – Personal sketchbook
I tried to sketch my daughter, she would move every second so ended being more loose gestured sketches.
(Above) personal sketchbook 5
I was waiting for people to walk by so I could sketch them.
(Below) – Course sketchbook 1
First I drew my son running around, then added more character with a touch of colour.
After that I included a more detailed sketch which I needed up colouring using coloured pencils and a watercolour base.
(above) personal sketch book 5
I was sketching my son again, when I caught a moment that I will treasure in my sketchbook.
My son at nice years old seem so grown up lately, but he spotted me sketching him and it made this cute moment. The fact I caught it as a drawing and not a photo makes this so much more special.
(Above) course sketchbook 1
First I was sketching my daughter from a photo, at time due to lack of interaction with the world I wanted to get a feel for sketching people outside.
At the time I was doing this, my daughter came and sat next to me and started drawing on the IPAD while watching T.V. It’s very rare she keep skill so I used this as a chance to create a more detailed drawing in pencil.
I intended to leave in pencil however when added a light watercolour wash to stop the marks smudging, I ended up adding value. This is another special page to me.
(above + Below) Course Sketchbook 1 I wanted to draw a crowd and at the time I was “stuck in the house” so I drew this based on a photo that was on the BBC website.
Tried to keep loose and almost picture myself at this festival.
While creating the picture above this one, I remembered last year at LEEDS 2019, like always I took loads of pictures, so thought better than using the photos of others, I have my own photos.
This worked better as while still a photo, I could remember the sight, smells and feeling as the warm sun set over the crowd.
(above & below) Course sketchbook 1
More sketched based on my own photos and memory.
I am quite glad I did this, there is a clear difference in the way I felt when sketching a picture I’ve not taken, with no memory attachments vs a place I can remember the feeling of being there, closing my eyes and back in that moment I took the picture, feeling the heat, the glow of the setting sun over us and the music in the air, the mood, the vibe.
Now I fully understand you have to be in the “moment” not just taking a quick snap / or seeing a photo online, but to “feel” that as it influences me as I draw.
I finally had the chance for a walk locally.
I tried to aim were I could find crowds, sadly my first idea which was the tram stop didn’t work. Not only due to COVID-19 the trams were not running and replacement buses were running.
I stayed for a bit as still a chance to sketch the stop and the few passer-by’s.
Lucky I was only a short walk away from a supermarket and at the moment crowds have to wait to get in.
So made my way there, and stopped and sketched (left) and some walkers as I passed them.
I let the store know what I was doing and went outside and sat and sketched people, apart from one or two people giving me odd looks, it went well.
Was able to do some smaller studies, tackle a bigger crowd and add the store.
(below) – Course sketchbook 1
While the aim was for me to sketch people and crowds, cafes just started to open up. I was most curious about the plastic barriers between the table that created “safe” bubbles.
It seem very cold and alien to the friendly café that I’ve been used to.
Then the world starts to open up again….
Then lockdown started to ease, while still very much at home with my children. We started to see and visit places again.
Everything seems so new and exciting again and I want to draw/sketch everything, so while my main objective were people a crowds I also covered some of the things I missed in exercise one and two.
First was a walk with my daughter, she wanted to go on a sketchbook walk with me. So I followed her, sketched the things she wanted to draw in the same amount of time. (means a couple unfinished pieces) not only was it a fresh way to view things but to also bond with my daughter.
NHS – Sheffield teaching hospitals
I had an appointment at the hospital, I was very nerious has everyone were wearing masks and as I lipreader I’m completely out of my elements.
But I was able to calm my nerves by sketching, I may add some colour later, something like hospital green or blue to add to the feeling of being in hospital.
I missed a good chance to sketch outside the hospital as there was a fruit and veg stand out outside the main doors and due to everything I had a taxi booked that came right away.
So this has been added to places I want to sketch someday.
Car drive to York – (personal sketchbook 5)
Social distancing meet up with my in-laws.
Found it fun to sketch in the car on the way up and a challenge in a moving car.
I have a list of growing places I want to sketch / urban and crowds
*outside the hospital – with fruit and veg stand
*Sheffield city – Winter gardens / Weston park / Peace Gardens / Kelham Island / Meadowhall/ Botanical Gardens / Velocity Tower / Cathedral / station / Tram
*On transport train/tram/bus
*York
*Scarborough
*Whitby
*Robin hoods bay
* Lady Bower Reservoir
*Bamford Edge
* Rothervally
* Chatsworth House
* Bolsover Castle
*Renishaw Hall
*Butterfly House
*A zoo
Other work.
Bird study – Blue tit
As the above exercise has been “broken” up, I found I was still keen for “studies” as well as trees/leaves I seem to have a lot of birds in my work.
I’ve had two very important lessons over the course of this exercise.
One is the importance of experience, to feel the moment that I want to sketch.
The other was things I’ve been watching and reading, I saw sketchbooks as a “study” a place to make mistakes have fun but not really “finished” work. I have the skill set to lift work from my sketchbook and to “fix” digitally so that it is in fact a finished piece. Don’t get me wrong, I have used sketchbook work like this before.
For some reason I’ve not been thinking in this mindset.
I enjoy sketching the world, I really do.
Both from photos and being physically there in the moment.
I also like the fact I’m not using my pencil as much and using pen for more organic lines. I like the fact that is isn’t perfect!
I have still so much to learn and that excites me!
I want to draw more, create more, I am so inspired at the moment.
I do however need to find a good new healthy balance between my sketchbook work, research and writing up my learning logs.
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 