Wednesday 25 January 2012

Speed sketching

I've been trying to improve how quickly and accurately I can sketch.
This is because when the spring and summer finally arrive, I want to go outdoors in public places and sketch more often.
So if I can get a reasonable likeness in under ten minutes, then I should feel more confident when doing the same outdoors. That's my thinking, fingers crossed it works.

So these sketches are all done in under 10 minutes, hence not perfect, but improving :)

German shepherd dog ornament

My distance spectacles


desk lamp



computer mouse






small glass


For my followers who paint and draw, do you ever do so outdoors?
What are the pros and cons for you?

23 comments:

  1. beautiful work, I love to sketch where ever I go, I find the wind a bother, sometimes but I love to sketch on the fly!

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  2. Great job each in ten minutes Pat! Think you are ready for the great outdoors. I sketch out and about every so often, the trouble I have is trying to minimise what I take with me, do I take my tin of paints and extra paints to top up with, do I take coloured pencils as well or instead, do I just take a pen and a water brush or do I take just a pencil! Oh boy the list goes on - what bag do I put it all in? Good luck Pat!

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  3. Hi Pat,
    That's the only way to do it ... practice ... practice ... practice. I was recently cleaning out old art stuff, and came across old sketchbooks, from over 10 years ago. I was amazed at my improvement [I don't say that arrogantly, but only as a reflection of the result of practice]
    To make a long comment only longer, stay with it, and by the time warmer weather is here, you will be more than up to great 10 minute sketches!

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  4. Nice sketching Pat!

    As you know, my experience of sketching/painting out in the wild is somewhat limited so I can't help you (yet!) with the pros and cons. One good bit of advice I heard somewhere was to sketch sitting/standing in a corner, or by a wall - that way people can't sneak up on you from behind!

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  5. I am so jealous of your talents sometimes!

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  6. Wow, Pat! These are all great or ten minute sketches! I did sketch once in the library. Nobody noticed me at all so it was okay! LOL The only other times I’ve tried ‘en plein air’ was sitting in my car. I’m still a big chicken! LOL

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  7. These are very good Pat, especially since they took less than 10 minutes each. As you know, I am doing much more sketching in order to try and loosen up and improve my 'shaping' skills, and I've only recently tried some outdoor sketching. I found self-confidence to be the only major hurdle but once over that, sketching plein air is great fun and very liberating. I'm looking forward to following your 'exploits'. :)

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  8. Hello Pat.
    If you draw these sketches under ten minutes, you are very good. I'm impressed.
    Elsbeth xx

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  9. Sketching is so important, it is the base of every painting! And I should do more sketching as you do, they are great, Pat!

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  10. well done Pat, love the dog! Great idea practicing for when you can get out and sketch what you see around you. I have no skills when it comes to realism so my hats off to you!

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  11. I like your sketches especially the german shepherd

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  12. Great sketches Pat. You did so well under 10mins for each of these. well done.

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  13. Thanks, everyone :)
    the great outdoors is not beckoning today, its chucking it down!
    Hopefully summer will be better and I can find something nice to sketch :)

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  14. Everyday objects are very important, I like Pat : )

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  15. I like what you are doing. I agree with the rest of the comments that your sketches are very good. I'm also doing sketches of little things but I don't have the collection of them. Yes, practice and practice will make us better. Good luck with your sketching.

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  16. Thanks for the post Pat- you definitely sketch faster than me! I agree that it is the most important factor in painting- a good drawing. Being able to sketch quickly is so key! I am practicing in my sketchbook also, but not the speed part yet- too rusty.

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  17. This is a good idea. My favorite is the spectacles! I have sketched outdoors but I don''t like doing it in public which is a hurdle I continue to fall over from time to time. Oddly, I sketch well and quite quickly on my own, but as soon as other people are around I feel under pressure and so my sketches usually suffer! If I could offer any advice, decide what medium you are going to use before you even leave the house and take as little as you can get away with - This will avoid wasting time on trying to decide what to use when you're out and spend the time doing what you should be - sketching!

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  18. thanks for all the suggestions.
    I'm going to be the girl pressed up against the corner with sketchbook and pencil furiously scribbling!

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  19. Nice sketches Pat, I like the dog and the glasses. Hugs!

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  20. Oh so clever Pat, to do these in 10 minuts. And I would never have thought to sketch a mouse!! Hugs xx

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  21. I think you are doing a wonderful exercise, Pat and I should do the same. I draw very slowly. When I try to draw in public places I only get good results with things that dont move, human figures tend to be almost abstracts (lol). You sketches are quite good!Far better than mine.

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