The plein air season is again upon us, in Texas, but even in extreme temperatures it’s possible to quickly sketch a scene as part of your art practice, completing the picture in the studio, as you either cool off or warm up, afterwards. Such was the case in these captures around Waxahachie, Texas, where I live. For the snowy sketch, I was only able to sketch the composition and block in the major components before heading back indoors to thaw and draw. Just make sure to take a photograph of your composition before leaving, as your pictorial reference.
Oftentimes it is not possible to reach for the tactile supplies normally used to sketch, when we chance upon a great opportunity to do so. In our digital age, however, one can rely on the devices that we carry around for a variety of other purposes, including tablets, such as iPads. Apps like Procreate enable the user to sketch with a stylus or digital pencil, and this fallback option comes with added advantages, such as the ability to quickly share your creation with friends or to create prints. In this example, I caught a moment with my dog that was adorable and capture-worthy, and a great opportunity to practice my observational drawing skills. Using an iPad, I quickly sketched out the moment for memory while my dog chewed on the toy I had wished he would return. We are continuing to work on retrieving, by the way. It’s an ongoing process, just like honing observational drawing skills.
Drawing from observation is the foundation of my student’s art practice. I give each student a sketchbook and require that they spend adequate time, during their week, quietly observing and recording what they see. The act of drawing from life, as opposed to a photograph, is critical, because the nuances of light and shadow, color and detail add depth and range, and the eye is forced to work harder to connect all of these shifting parts. One can easily copy from a photograph, but it’s not the same as seeing both the forms and the spaces around the forms, themselves.
