As promised, today's topic is compleeeeeetely different. It's everything I learnt from my first-ever attempt at sketching outdoors (at the beautiful Delapré Abbey, in Northamptonshire).
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| Rough Pen and Watercolour sketch of part of Delapré Abbey |
Warning: There will be bloopers, rookie mistakes, comedy, and lots of rapid-rather-than-lovely sketches.
That said, I also learned more in one day outside than maybe three months of learning indoors. So here are my key takeaways from the day.
1. People didn't appear to notice that I was sketching, at all.
Yes, that's right. It took a full five years from my first thinking about nerving myself to do some drawing in a public outdoor space, to actually doing it. Five years of being convinced that everyone would notice what was going on (and *not* in a good way...Fevered imaginings of people telling me their five-year-old could do better, abounded, during those years...).
And then when I did finally pluck up the courage...I chose shady spots (because it was a hot, sunny day)...And it was as if no-one could even see me. At all.
And then when I did finally pluck up the courage...I chose shady spots (because it was a hot, sunny day)...And it was as if no-one could even see me. At all.
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| Rough pen and watercolour sketch of a whimsical pink love seat outside the *gorgeous* Eden Wild Floral Shop. |
Maybe if I'd had an easel, instead of a pen, tiny paintbox and small homemade sketchbook...people might have noticed more. But everyone I met when just moving around there was lovely anyway, so I doubt anyone would have been anything other than supportive, even if they had noticed.
Lesson learnt.
2. It was huuuge *fun*...
This was another big surprise. Being forced to work quickly (see below) and see things as they really are, gives you quite an adrenaline rush. Which I, at least, really enjoyed.
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Rough sketch of a bell tower- or was it a dove-cote? |
3. The light moves all.the.time...
Which means you just have to do your best in the moment, work quickly and ...seize the day, before everything changes colour again. There isn't time for overthinking. (Another huge plus point if you're such an overthinker you've spent five years mulling this idea over... :-).
Which means you just have to do your best in the moment, work quickly and ...seize the day, before everything changes colour again. There isn't time for overthinking. (Another huge plus point if you're such an overthinker you've spent five years mulling this idea over... :-).
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| Rough Pen and Watercolour Sketch of the belltower/dovecote including the sun on the gorgeous yellow stone... |
4. In fact, everything moves, all the time...
From people...
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| Watercolour and Pen sketch of two passers-by |
to bunches of flowers in an honesty bucket...
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| Sketch of the Eden Wild honesty bucket. The flowers were lovely (and therefore kept disappearing...) |
Everything moves, all the time....And sometimes disappears altogether, if you dawdle.
Which means that the increased sketching speed, though exhilarating, also exposes any weaknesses that need improvement.
For example, it turns out that a weeping willow tree only looks like a weeping willow if its fronds are in motion, which am not at all sure I can capture...yet.
For example, it turns out that a weeping willow tree only looks like a weeping willow if its fronds are in motion, which am not at all sure I can capture...yet.
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| Really rough pen and watercolour weeping willow sketch... |
5. Don't sketch in midday summer sun...
Unless you actually want everything to look parched and bleached out, like my attempt at sketching the deer-park...
Unless you actually want everything to look parched and bleached out, like my attempt at sketching the deer-park...
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| Rough sketch of the bleached out deer park at midday.. |
and
6. You don't need a big art kit.
I had been worried that my art kit was too small, as I took only a home-made sketchbook (see video below) a waterproof black pen, a sheet of kitchen towel, a small box of Inktense paints (yup, that's an affiliate link, because as you'll know if you've been here before, I love Derwent Inktense paints) and a medium sized Pentel waterbrush (also an affiliate link...also a trusted favourite).
In fact, I was really grateful not to have to lug anything more around. So in the end, art kit size was about the only thing about the day that I'd got right in advance.😂😂😂😂😂
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| A double sycamore seed just landed in front of me (so obviously had to be sketched!). |
And the extra "bit" from the title is...
That it's a *lot* harder to make those "sketchbook flip-through" videos that you see online than you might think.
Or at least, I found it so, on this first attempt. But if you want to see the actual sketchbook, (complete with jerky footage, plenty of fingers over the lens, and yes, even many accidentally-upside-down shots)... I've included it here.
NB. If you watch this, it might be easiest on a phone as then at least you can turn things right-way up. Motion-sickness pills are also advised ;-).
But for comedy-value if you've had a bad day...Here is my first ever (unedited) flip-through video attempt...
First-ever Sketchbook Flip-through
Watch for Comedic Value Only...
Watch for Comedic Value Only...
Finally...
Above all though, I'd say...If you're even curious about sketching outside...Please don't wait five years like I did. Please just...Take the plunge and do it.
That's all for now. Thanks so much for being here, and for reading down this far.
More soon.
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