Saturday, November 21, 2015

Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Sketching: Why Sketch?

Boating Through the Swinnomish Channel
So...why sketch? And what IS sketching?

A sketch is a quick study. It may record a memory or a visual idea, or something you see in front of you. I particularly enjoy sketching something in front of me in watercolor. Why?
  • While sketching, I enter into the beauty of what I am seeing.
  • I sharpen my observation skills as I note shape, color, value.
  • I let go of preconceived ideas of what things look like. For example, a tree is not just green.
  • The colors and lines I use express my feelings about the object as well as my general state of mind.
  • I let go of daily worries and fears and enter into a state of peaceful rapport with my subject.
  • I capture treasured memories, like this one of gliding through the Swinnomish Channel in my sailboat.
I want this experience for you. That is why I am putting together a little sketch book with tips and techniques for watercolor sketching, and three kinds of paper for you to play with.


2 comments:

  1. Good points about the benefits of sketching vs just taking a photo. Your Sketching in Watercolor book sounds interesting. Will it be available as a hardcover book or as a downloadable pdf? When?

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    1. I plan to make this by hand, with several different kinds of paper to practice on. Labor intensive, I know. I even bought a book binder (coil binding) so that I can put it all together in my studio!

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