No Time to sketch!!!!
It’s easy to fall out of the sketching habit when time, the weather, or life gets in the way. While making a sketch entirely in situ is rewarding, using references is better than not sketching at all.
I have many subjects I want to sketch, and although field sketching is my preference, my time is limited because I care for my son, who has special needs. As a result, I only have a few hours available each day.
What do I do?
I carry my sketching kit everywhere so I can quickly make a pencil drawing, ink sketch, or add a splash of color, even while walking the dogs. I quickly photograph the subject, sometimes making relevant notes. The sketch is sometimes finished at home or reworked at a later time outside.
What don’t I do?
I’m not a slave to the photograph; often, I work from memory. Color is not as important in sketching as capturing the feeling of the moment. My goal is not to produce a photographic copy but to capture the essence of the moment or place.
Mullion cove and clifftop, Cornwall
In this example, I sketched the harbour and made quick references for several close locations on the clifftop. The harbour was finished a few minutes after the preliminary sketches.
Better to sketch than not.
