- URBAN SKETCHING -
Week 1: Research
Research
To start off this project I went to the library to get some research, I looked at a lot of books including books based on sketching and some books behind the making of films.
To start off this project I went to the library to get some research, I looked at a lot of books including books based on sketching and some books behind the making of films.
|
I loved the detail within this artwork, it is so beautifully
composed. There is just so much to see in each image that you could look at them for ages. |
|
I really like the style of David Gentleman's artwork. The way he
uses coloured paints is interesting and really gets across the feeling of the texture or place he is trying to emulate. |
|
Urban sketching was introduced to me in this weeks lecture, I find the concept very interesting. Also a bit daunting, but I'm looking forward to trying it out myself. I'll use the tips in this book to help me.
|
|
I adore the style of illustration in this book, the line thickness makes such a difference in the effectiveness of these illustrations. You
can almost feel the environment that is pictured within them. |
|
I found this book inspiring, especially through the demonstration
of how to draw people in perspective. This was great to see as it linked back to what Tony taught us last year. |
|
This book was great to look at for texture created through mark making, I especially like the bridge it was nice to look at because
I am also planning on drawing a bridge during this project. |
Sketchbook Videos On YouTube
I researched a few different sketchbook videos on YouTube, I started by looking at some sketchbook tours then I looked at a few examples of artists sketching.
I researched a few different sketchbook videos on YouTube, I started by looking at some sketchbook tours then I looked at a few examples of artists sketching.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reflection on my own sketching practice.
To reflect on my own practice and what I want to work on within this project I would first have to start with confidence. Throughout this project I would like to work on my confidence when sketching; I am perfectly fine when sketching at home or in Tullie House, because in those places I know what kind of people I should expect to see. But outside in my village, surrounded by people who know my name and would want to see what I was doing, that sounds terrifying. So throughout this process I would like to start to care less who sees me drawing and what they think. Also I want to work on the confidence of my lines, I generally sketch in pencil and I always have. So for this project I think I would like to work towards using pencil first a bit less. So I can just let myself be a bit more free with my sketching, like the urban sketches do. Due to the fact I only usually use a HB pencil for sketching my sketches usually don't stand out. So I want to work on adding dimension and making my sketch pop out from the page. This means I want to try pens, ink, watercolour and any other medium that would help my sketches to come to life. Additionally I don't really ever draw buildings so even that will be pushing me out of my comfort zone, which is something that we need to do for growth so I am up for the challenge. To summarise: I want to gain confidence in my sketching, and become more comfortable with people seeing me sketch. I also want to try and mix up my sketching style, and the type of subject I choose. |
This is an example of my sketching style from my foundation course, which I intend to compare to my sketching at the end of this module. |
Week 2: Urban Sketching and Drawing on Location
I came across Ian Fennelly when I researched Urban Sketching online, he offers classes and seems to be quite popular and i can see why. His use of colours are utterly astounding and really help to give each of his sketches a personality. I have read on his "about me" page that he starts with a wash of colour then builds up, ending with a fine liner for details. Each sketch takes him around 2-3 hours. This bright and bold style is something I want to try out in my own sketching practice after I have had a chance to get used to fine liners first.
Urban Sketching Research
I also when to Instagram and Google to find examples of different styles of urban sketching, I seem to be mostly drawn to the colourful pieces. Especially blues, the door and building just stand out to me so much. I also loved the coloured pencil drawing of a man on the train, the overlapping lines of colour really help to give the man some character and I also think this technique gives the appearance of movement too. I also found a very helpful blogpost about sketching in the rain, I thought that was an essential thing to find out when I am planning to sketch outside in Cumbria.
I also when to Instagram and Google to find examples of different styles of urban sketching, I seem to be mostly drawn to the colourful pieces. Especially blues, the door and building just stand out to me so much. I also loved the coloured pencil drawing of a man on the train, the overlapping lines of colour really help to give the man some character and I also think this technique gives the appearance of movement too. I also found a very helpful blogpost about sketching in the rain, I thought that was an essential thing to find out when I am planning to sketch outside in Cumbria.
Starting My Sketchbook
Before I set off to start sketching outdoors I packed a bag full of materials, I ended up using just my pens so far along with watercolour paints but I think I should go out sketching again and try to use some of the other interesting materials that I picked out. |
|
Sketchbook Pages (Observational Drawing)
So far I have just been focusing on sketching with a set of fine liners and the occasional bit of watercolour paint, however looking back at my artist research I realise that I haven't been as playful with colour as I could have been. So it is my intention over the interim assessment week to go back and add to this project and this time to be more highly influenced by the bold use of colour that the artists above have used. I could also work into my sketches that I have done so far to elevate them with a pop of colour and maybe that will help to bring them to life.
I was inspired by Ian Fennelly with the sketch that I created of a house across the field, I initially used a watercolour wash and then drew over the top of it. I actually found that creating a sketch this way helped me to make less "mistakes" and problems with the perspective. This is the style I liked most throughout this first week so I intend to do more sketches like this in the future. Additionally I liked the sketches of my backpack, train bridge and the sketch of my dog Fae sleeping. I think that the gestural lines worked well to convey her fur texture.
So far I have just been focusing on sketching with a set of fine liners and the occasional bit of watercolour paint, however looking back at my artist research I realise that I haven't been as playful with colour as I could have been. So it is my intention over the interim assessment week to go back and add to this project and this time to be more highly influenced by the bold use of colour that the artists above have used. I could also work into my sketches that I have done so far to elevate them with a pop of colour and maybe that will help to bring them to life.
I was inspired by Ian Fennelly with the sketch that I created of a house across the field, I initially used a watercolour wash and then drew over the top of it. I actually found that creating a sketch this way helped me to make less "mistakes" and problems with the perspective. This is the style I liked most throughout this first week so I intend to do more sketches like this in the future. Additionally I liked the sketches of my backpack, train bridge and the sketch of my dog Fae sleeping. I think that the gestural lines worked well to convey her fur texture.
|
|
|
|
Week 3 to 4: "Wild Life Sketching"
Observational Drawing Techniques with Dwayne Bell
Dwayne uploaded these book pages onto blackboard and they were very interesting to read through, I especially like the sketch of Jim or "mostly grey" as he is also known. I like the way that Dwayne uses the watercolour paint to enhance his sketch but not overpower it. The way that Dwayne works is also interesting because he is working with the motion of the bus and not against it, the motion of the lines just add to the personality of the sketches. Which gives the images a slight feeling of movement even though the subject of the sketch is stationary.
Dwayne uploaded these book pages onto blackboard and they were very interesting to read through, I especially like the sketch of Jim or "mostly grey" as he is also known. I like the way that Dwayne uses the watercolour paint to enhance his sketch but not overpower it. The way that Dwayne works is also interesting because he is working with the motion of the bus and not against it, the motion of the lines just add to the personality of the sketches. Which gives the images a slight feeling of movement even though the subject of the sketch is stationary.
I additionally looked into some artists that sketch people outside, additionally I looked at some YouTube videos that showed how different artists sketch people in urban sketching.
The watercolour sketches of people are really full of character so I would like to try out some sketches in this style after I work in fine liners first.
The watercolour sketches of people are really full of character so I would like to try out some sketches in this style after I work in fine liners first.
|
|
|
|
|
Sketchbook Pages (Wild Life Drawing)
During this part of the project I attempted to sketch people in real life, this was difficult because people move, It really made me appreciate when people sit down or are older so they walk slower. My favourite sketch from this week was of a man on a digger that is working on the house across the road, luckily he didn't move too much and the thing that moved most is the arm of the digger. I ended up drawing a lot of people just from the shoulders up because a lot of them were drawn through the train window, however I think I should probably go back and do more full body sketches as well. Additionally I drew some cars, one of them was created with a continuous line which I think worked well even though this isn't directly part of this task it could inform my future sketches.
During this part of the project I attempted to sketch people in real life, this was difficult because people move, It really made me appreciate when people sit down or are older so they walk slower. My favourite sketch from this week was of a man on a digger that is working on the house across the road, luckily he didn't move too much and the thing that moved most is the arm of the digger. I ended up drawing a lot of people just from the shoulders up because a lot of them were drawn through the train window, however I think I should probably go back and do more full body sketches as well. Additionally I drew some cars, one of them was created with a continuous line which I think worked well even though this isn't directly part of this task it could inform my future sketches.
|
|
|
|
Additional Painting Sketches
(Created after the formative assessment)
Something that came up a lot in my formative assessment is that I hadn't been using colour in my sketches so I decided to create a collection of sketchbook images that were more colourful and influenced by my artist research from the start of the module, I am very happy with how these turned out. However I wish I hadn't created so many of them on warm toned paper because I prefer how my other sketches looked on the crisp white paper. I also coloured a few of the pages I had already created before the formative feedback.
(Created after the formative assessment)
Something that came up a lot in my formative assessment is that I hadn't been using colour in my sketches so I decided to create a collection of sketchbook images that were more colourful and influenced by my artist research from the start of the module, I am very happy with how these turned out. However I wish I hadn't created so many of them on warm toned paper because I prefer how my other sketches looked on the crisp white paper. I also coloured a few of the pages I had already created before the formative feedback.
|
|
|
|
Black and White Sketches
During the past weeks I have been trying to take my sketchbook with me and draw when I can even if it is to sketch the paused television while I wait for the kettle to boil, I have just tried to create as many sketches as I could. I am pleased with how most of these turned out I haven't used pencil for any and have just been going straight in with pens and I think that has been very effective.
During the past weeks I have been trying to take my sketchbook with me and draw when I can even if it is to sketch the paused television while I wait for the kettle to boil, I have just tried to create as many sketches as I could. I am pleased with how most of these turned out I haven't used pencil for any and have just been going straight in with pens and I think that has been very effective.
|
|
|
|
|
Reflecting on my own sketching practice at the end of the module. At the start of this project I reflected on my existing sketching practice, so I am now going to reflect at the end and see what has changed and what I am happy with and what still needs work. Overall I am really please with the progress I have made of this module in the way that I sketch, I am now not afraid of just picking up a a pen and starting to sketch, whereas before I would have always used a pencil first. Additionally I have discovered a way of sketching with watercolour that I really like and I have included two examples of this below, I think the black watercolour on white paper is very interesting and wouldn't have been something I would have tried before this project coupled with the painting project from this term. My confidence when sketching has improved greatly, however I would still like to spend more time on sketching buildings because I feel like my drawings of people have improved a lot more than buildings and I'd like to improve my sketches of buildings as it is currently my weaker point. 
|