My YouTube Channel!
I am really excited to announce my new YouTube channel, SketchfullyYours, where I’ll publish sketching related videos.
And so, this is my first video ever! Although I recorded this video in my home studio, from a photo reference (totally the opposite of urban sketching), I just wanted to share the typical process I go through when sketching on location. You can have an idea of how I approach a subject with a loose and expressive style. I have five concepts in my mind when I’m sketching:
1. Keep a lively pen: I keep my pen (or pencil, fineliner, marker) constantly moving, never second-guessing myself, fixing any inaccuracies (nothing is an error) on the fly. I don’t mind if something is out of proportion, I leave that doodle as part of my process.
2. Keep it simple: Even with a complicated subject, I strip down most of the details. I suggest details with a few doodles and leave the rest to the imagination. I still make sure I have enough suggestive doodles as to capture the energy of the subject.
3. Different strokes: I like to use versatile instruments; I want to get different strokes with a single instrument. On this video, notice how I flip the fountain pen, as I get a thinner line when the nib is upside down. On this sketch I also used a brush pen with waterproof gray ink; the brush pen allows me to have calligraphic strokes of various widths, contrasting with the thinner fountain pen lines.
4. Boundless color: I don’t want to stay within the lines and paint evenly. This allows me to be free with my brush. Notice how I’m using fairly big brushes (1/2″ flat and No. 10 round) for a small sketch. The brushes do most of the work for me. Those are the only brushes I carry with me all the time and I normally use a 5.5″ x 8.5″ sketchbook. Sometimes I paint the color first, before drawing any lines. Maybe what catches my eye is how I see colors at a particular moment, so I capture those colors before the sun moves, a cloud sets in or a delivery truck parks in front of me.
5. Be bold: I don’t want to re-create the colors I’m looking at, I leave that to photographers. I still could be much bolder and use brighter colors (that’s an ongoing goal). I don’t mind having green skies or purple trees. This mindset allows me to always try different things. Another thing is that now I’m using less water. I want more pigment in my paint and it also dries faster.
Items used:
Cotman watercolour brush- 1/2″ flat
DaVinci Cosmotop Spin Travel Brush- Round No. 10
I trimmed the video shorter and saved at twice the speed; the actual time was 15 minutes. That’s about how much time I spend on my lunchtime watercolor sketches.
Go ahead and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more upcoming videos. Let me know of any requests or suggestions.