Last year I painted a lot outside, but I didn’t draw as much as I had hoped. While traveling there were many times when I had 10-20 minutes where I could have pulled out my sketchbook, but I always talked myself out of it because I assumed I wouldn’t be able to complete anything “good” in such a short amount of time. While I fully admit 10 minutes is nothing in the grand timescale, it’s also something. And something is better than nothing. It’s a psychological barrier I needed to overcome.
I always assess my goals at the beginning of each year, and improving my drawing skills is high on that list. So I asked myself, why am I struggling to draw – especially outside – when it’s something I love to do?
Then it dawned on me. In my enthusiasm for plein air, I overlooked the importance of tools that have maximum effect. My standard approach to drawing was a 0.5 mechanical blue pencil and a method of hatching that visually appeals to me.
The results are a little more illustrative, but I just love how it looks.
In this session at Elgin Cathedral I was comparing different methods. My blue pencil with minimal shading vs. a soft shading with regular graphite below.
I quickly learned the regular graphite with soft shading was much faster and I think I was able to capture more realism in a shorter time. I added watercolor to the top because on it’s own, the blue drawing was kind of lackluster.
So that got me rethinking my whole strategy of drawing outside. Maybe my tools were holding me back?
It’s a thought I’ve always rebelled against because I was of the belief that tools don’t really matter, it’s how you use them.
But in this case I was wrong.
Enter: drawing tool competition!
Contestant: Sarah Burns
Judge: Sarah Burns
Cathedrals are a great subject to test my theory, because they are massive and complex, and drawing one quickly is darn near impossible. However I thought I’d give it a go with different tools. Ink, clutch pencils, markers, you name it. In the end, my eye always fell back on the lowly pencil.
That’s a joke by the way. I love pencils. The simplicity and power of pencils is underrated.
Anyways, fast-forward to the end of 2024, when I was very low on energy and barely leaving the house. I found myself in bed with a sketchbook and a pencil. Lots of pencils, in fact. Pencils of every description and size and softness. Erasers of all shapes and consistencies. Sponges and blenders.
By the beginning of this year, I was falling back in love with the soft shading that’s possible with graphite.
I’ve been doing something of a hybrid method – using hatching and contour lines alongside soft shading and blending.
And best of all – it’s fast. It might be the solution for me while traveling.
The problem I found with my previous method of hatching was that it was tedious and time-consuming to fill in larger areas. Doing anything larger than a few inches would greatly increase the time required to achieve enough dimension.
Time is precious when drawing on location, especially while traveling, and especially when traveling with others, and ESPECIALLY when they are not artists and they want to keep moving.
So I’ve been playing with my new hybrid drawing method to figure out how I can render forms in an aesthetically pleasing way while still maintaining my desire for the linework and illustrative quality I’ve grown to love.
Taking it Outside
I have yet to test this method outside more than a few times – it’s been very cold and windy because it’s winter. However earlier today I did manage a small tree while walking to the cafe. I pass by this tree so often and have never stopped to draw it, even though its twisted trunk calls to me.
Not bad for 10 cold minutes. It gets me excited for what I can do when my fingers aren’t freezing and I have a bit more time. I’ll continue experimenting with this and report back in the future, especially when I get a chance to draw some architecture.
I’d love to hear from you – what are your favorite drawing materials and methods?
Current Favorite Drawing Materials:
- Graphgear 1000 0.9 clutch pencil
- Tombow Mono Zero
- Jackson’s softcover square sketchbooks
- Stillman & Birn Beta, Alpha, or Zeta sketchbooks
- Makeup blending sponges
I prefer a spiral bound sketch pad. I like the sketchpads from Clairfontaine in A5 format (5.8 x 8.3 inches) with ivory paper. They are affordable and the paper is sturdy and can also take fountain pen without bleeding. I have a mechnical pencil with a B lead for drawing outlines. I use a B2 Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Artist Pencil. For shading and stronger lines and a B5 for really dark areas. When I’m really lazy and just want to draw loosely, I often use a black ball point pen.
I have tried watercolor pencils. But didn’t like the process. When it comes to water, I just use watercolor paints.
I don’t use blending tools, because I always have the problem that the pencil markings get darker when blending, even if the blending tool I’m using is clean. That’s why I’m wondering how blending with make up sponges works. How do you clean your blending sponges? Do you wash them?
I have just recently returned to pencil thanks to your numerous posts and the recent draw along. I had been stuck for a while as a hobby artist. Your input helped a lot in getting me going again. The thought that practicing with pencil is essential really stuck. And it works. 🙂 So thank you for this!
I am totally with Peri – water-soluble pencils and a little water-brush are great companions. The problem of serious time-constraints set by non-sketchers is one I am facing on a regular basis. Often it’s 1 min max. So I usually carry a small book (3.5″x5.5″) and one pen (ballpoint or roller-ball are good) and try to catch what meets the eye as fast as I can. It can be very frustrating at first, but it can also open the door to ways of seeing I never realized I had, and force me to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise. In that sense, 1 min is definitely more satisfactory (and fun!) than zero.
Great article, Sarah! Like you, I love experimenting with different media. For sketching, my current first choice is ink with a bit of watercolour. For outdoor plein air, I often use a water reservoir brush. I find that working in only graphite just doesn’t excite me any more. However, a fun option is to use water soluble graphite pencils. I think mine are Staedtler brand. They can be used just like regular drawing pencils, with softer leads good for blending with a tortillon or blending stump. The fun part is if you just grab a watercolour brush and a bit of water, which will activate the graphite much like watercolour. Initially it goes really dark, but then dries much lighter with beautiful softly blended results. I also sometimes use a non-permanent felt tip pen, then activate the lines with brush and water in a similar fashion. Voila, instant shadows! My favourite plein air sketchbook is the Stillman & Birns Beta which I can use for just about any medium I choose. By the way, Happy Birthday!
I do enjoy water soluble pencil! I like the freedom of not using water or waiting for it to dry though, especially in colder weather. I also love the combination of a brush pen with non-waterproof ink and a water brush – now that is fun!! I’ll share that in another post.