PENCIL SKETCHES OF CORNISH SCENES

PENCIL SKETCHES OF CORNISH SCENES

PENCIL SKETCHES OF CORNISH SCENES

When I tackle any painting, I like to do a quick sketch either at the location or in my studio. “The Watermens Gallery – Falmouth – Cornwall -TR11 3JT”

I write notes at the side to remind me of the colours I was seeing at the time and a sense of the emotion that I feel comes from that moment.

I can then look back over my sketch books and remember exactly the magic of that day when I did my Pencil Sketch.

I know I specialise in Cornish Scenes but wherever you are or going, a sketch pad and pencil takes up very little room in a bag.

Equipment for sketching

Pad: Experiment with different textures, I love water colour paper.

Pencils: HB’s will give very soft light tones B’s are a lot darker, great for shading and defined detail.

Smudge Stick: Blurring , brilliant for water or distance.

Battery Rubber: With a very fine tip, you can use it like a pencil but rather than adding you are removing, so great for highlighting. (Derwent Art Supplies) do a very affordable rubber and separate refill erasers.

How to Begin a sketch

When you find your view, set your horizon line out first, this is the bench mark for your sketch then add your far distance ( this does not have to be detailed this isn’t the focus of your sketch, so the further down to the foreground you see the more the detail is added, just as if you stand there and look, not everything is in focus, it is just where you are directly looking, your periferal vision knows something is there but it doesn’t focus on it, it is just where your eyes are pointing and that is how you sketch, use the pencil in the direction of the contours to add structure and a more 2d and vary the pencils from HB to B , a painting or sketch looks flat and uninteresting when it lacks light and shade. if it makes it easier, do a test page with light shade going into dark shade and write next to it the pencil you used, great for reference. Good Luck!