Sketching (Collins Gem)

Catkin buds
These soft furry buds were captured with tiny strokes of black conté See how the untouched areas of paper read light against the dark stem.

Before beginning a painting, do a series of thumbnail sketches to investigate a subject’s design potential. Try tall, wide and square formats. You may be surprised to discover how one feels more right than the others. Squint at the subject to eliminate detail and concentrate instead on an overall design/pattern of light and dark shapes, with either the dark or light being dominant.

Drawing the shapes between
Find a suitable tree and draw only the shapes betweenthe branches and leaves. It is not easy to go back to the same shape once you look away to draw, but it is fun to try!

When sketching outdoors, sit with your back to a wall to prevent people looking over your shoulder.