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Sketching


General Benefits of Sketching.
There are many benefits to be gained from sketching - more than just trying to get the pencil lines in the right places; if it were merely that, there would be (and often is) a great deal of disappointment associated with keeping a 'sketchbook'!


Sketching. Wildlife Art.
Sketchbook Squirrel.

“I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever." (Beatrix Potter)


*     *     *

The joy of sketching.

Fortunately, it is not necessarily the quality of the end-result that makes it worthwhile!

It can be quite therapeutic - perhaps a daily treat - to spend a few moments engrossed in a subject.

The end results of quick sketches can, by their nature, be rough - but they can also naturally record a variety of aspects on a subject that might otherwise be overlooked when the focus is on what needs to be done rather than just doing it.

When to sketch.


Sketching might become an enjoyable 'start' to the day or even a mini-dose of stress-relief. It can be squeezed in-between the regular demands of life or as relaxing way to unwind in the evenings...
 
When time is of the essence, it means working instinctively to capture a subject or an idea...


Sketching is part of the creative process.


Sketching can be a creative approach to problem-solving and gaining knowledge. It can be a quick way to get a message across.

It is easy to believe that sketching is only for fantastic artists who are great at drawing...perhaps to be put-off by their splendid achievements... but seek out its quieter benefits and sketching can become a personal approach to banking ideas - not simply producing a finished piece (that can come later, with the detail).

..Beatrix Potter wasn't discouraged by 'however poor the result' - perhaps she realised the quieter benefits too!

 *     *     *

This squirrel (above) was fairly quickly sketched with a graphite pencil - the colour was added on impulse; sketching is creative freedom that often informs subsequent drawings and paintings! He was redrawn several times in different mediums.








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