Tips to simplify your scene
Sketchbook Surgery 008
Dear Reader,
Welcome to another sketchbook surgery.
What is Sketchbook Surgery? It’s a place where I discuss the challenges or struggles of keeping a sketchbook habit. In each post, I will look at a different area that has come up in my practice or one that others have asked for help in. Tips are shared and you’re welcome to write your thoughts, questions and feedback in the comments.
Here is today’s question:
In what ways can I simplify a scene I see? I often get overwhelmed by all the details and don’t know where to begin. Do you have any tips?
I think this question is at the heart of what sketching on location is all about-being able to simplify what you see, along with capturing it’s essence on paper and having a visual memory of the scene.
Looking through my drawings I also remember the unseen things that have woven their way into the piece, such as the weather, temperature and conversations or sounds that I heard as I drew.
To answer the question fully I think it’s also important to understand what your motives are for sketching on location. Why are you doing it?
For me sketching isn’t meant to be long drawn out activity. I don’t do thumbnails and pencil sketches in preparation to work on another piece. I go straight in to sketch and what I end up with, is what I end up with. Once my time is finished outside that’s it.
It’s also not something I save to do for a special occasion, or for a particular project.
For me it’s a regular way to keep connected to the area in which I live, to give me time to observe my surroundings and seasons and notice colours, compositions, textures, and the wildlife/flowers around me.
It’s like a conversation I’m having with a close friend that I want to continue and I aim to do at least 2-3 times a week. If I know it’s going to be busy then I adapt and limit the amount of time and materials I use.
Below I share 5 tips that I have learnt through having these short consistent sketching times that allow me to capture a more complicated scene without getting overwhelmed.
I thought it helpful to share examples from my sketchbooks so you can see how it looks in practice and hopefully help you apply them to yours.
Please adapt as you see fit.
