I have always enjoyed drawing. It's one of my most pleasurable memories
of childhood. Today, using an Derwent pencils (5B - 8B), I begin to study
the form of animals by quickly sketching them. These sketches may range
from 4 minutes to 14 minutes, as I attempt to capture what is important
about their shape.
If an animal remains sitting or standing for this period, I may sketch it
from life. But since I focus on movement, I find it helpfull to record the
movements first with video, then "pause" it while sketching.
Most of the sketches I do never become paintings. Instead sketching
is a means of not only understanding form, but also of keeping my drawing
skills sharpened. Like any other exercise (physical or mental) it takes daily
repetition.
Before gettng out the paints each day, I select a species and open my computer
files for a half-hour "work-out.". The monitor image is my reference.
Setting a timer for 5 minutes, I start drawing, completing each study before
the beep of the alarm goes off. Immediately I move on to the next image,
working non-stop for the next 30 minutes until I've nearly filled up a sheet of
paper.
A single quick-sketch of an Inca Dove landing
Nuthatch balancing on a branch
Chickadee taking off
The highlights on the upper wing were made by a few strokes of a kneaded eraser.
With a little more time (10 - 15 minutes) I sometimes develop the sketch by adding
shading & highlights. Here a Solitary Sandpiper is shown in flight.
I used the broad side of the pencil for this sketch of a Hummingbird.
Kingbird Perching
The number at the right side refers to the image file ID# in
my computer. If a sketch seems to offer potential for
becoming a painting, this info helps me find it again later.
This is from a series of Tufted Puffin sketchs I did one morning,
bearing down heavier on the pencil than usual - hence the darker lines.
Royal Albatross
I made dozens of sketches of albatross before beginning the
painting "Royal Albatross Approaching Land" (see Painting Gallery).
The sketch shown here is a grouping of my favorites done for the
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's collection of drawings.
I had made these sketches on seperate sheets of paper, so I first had
to transfer them to this sheet by rubbing, laying down faint outlines
on the paper to serve as guidelines as I re-drew each using the computer
monitor for reference.
When conveying motion in a painting I like to get familiar with a
bird from all angles. Like a sculptor I feel that I should know what it
looks like when turned 360 degrees.
A close-up from the above group sketch.
Even closer
