graphite,  sketch

Field sketching

To me, field sketching is about connecting with nature and allowing yourself to discover things you cannot see in a photograph. It heightens your own knowledge in learning more about the subject. During my balik-kampung session last weekend, I got to draw a pineapple plant.

How to draw on field?

I assume you have the basic tools with you; sketchbook, pencil and or watercolor (optional) before you begin.

Here’s how to start drawing :

  • Take a deep breath and smell the nature..
  • Go near to the subject and take few minutes to study the details (if the subject is a plant, it’s easy but if it’s animal or bug, they won’t stay still and you need to study the basics very fast: the shape, the details, textures, proportion, etc).
  • If you need to see little details, look very close. If your eyes are not so good, a magnifying glass would be handy.
  • Feel the subject with your hands if you need to study more about their texture.
  • Draw the basic shapes and later, the details.
  • Please refer back to your subject as often as you can.
  • Draw the shading based on what you see.

So, basically the above pointers will lead you to something like this:

pineapple plant

 

I don’t have the photo of this pineapple but but I do have a photo of my niece trying to ‘hold’ me on her palm. I was drawing this pineapple.

 

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