“Anything is Sketchable” is the title of my interview with Bethan Burton from Journalling with Nature. It went live last Monday. https://www.journalingwithnature.com/podcasts/episode-78-alissa-duke

I was honoured, excited and nervous to be invited as Bethan has interviewed some amazing individuals. In the end, it turned out to be a lovely hour’s chat

Since then, I have had a number of new nature journallers following this weekly art blog and my daily Instagram account.  Welcome to you! I thought I would write this week on the title of the podcast “Anything is Sketchable”.

For those new here I will introduce myself. I live in Melbourne and work full-time as a librarian. I sketch in my Moleskine watercolour journal everyday, and only use watercolour pencils and an ink pen. I just love to draw! I wrote a previous blog post on Why drawing makes me happy.  https://alissaduke.com/2015/07/why-drawing-makes-me-happy.html

I am an:
• urban sketcher
• a travel sketcher
• a nature sketcher – now I may want to call myself a nature journaller as this is a broader concept
• a sketching journaller

These are all in one sketchbook.

I was thinking as I was writing this blog and I was able to bring together and put down in words some thoughts about my sketching practice that I already knew. I can see this as I look through the list above and see my thoughts distilled and clarified.

My various approaches to sketching and drawings are tools that I choose to use depending on how I feel, the occasion and time available. My approach to sketching is a state of mind –”anything is sketchable” and there is never “nothing to sketch.”

Here are some of my approaches.

Sketching on location

This comes from my urban sketching and travel sketching background and is also used on other pages. Urban sketchers https://urbansketchers.org/who-we-are/   have a manifesto which includes sketching on location, capturing what we see from direct observation. Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live, and where we travel.

As a travel sketcher, my key is to choose my subject quickly as I may not have much time to sketch. I sketch what attracts me and what I am curious about. It may not be the most obvious part of a scene I see in front of me.  The idea is to start getting some marks down on the page. If I get a longer time than expected, I keep adding colour and detail and spread across the pages. If I have to leave, it is still a record of me being there and that story.

I have written an earlier blog post on Why I sketch What I sketch

It is about seeing and grabbing opportunities and capturing the moment on the page. A queue is sketching time, in the waiting room, or just filling in time.  I can see that I transfer this to nature sketching as I usually sketch when out on a walk or walking to and from work through parks. Sketching the same trees and birds has allowed me to become familiar with stances and colours. I usually don’t add more to the page at home.

The subject can be unexpected. It is not planned and not always pretty.   You may never sketch that object or scene again but for that sketching time, it is fascinating as you watch how bits interconnect. By observing you see more and see textures and patterns you may not have noticed before. For me, this is the same for nature sketching any other type of sketching.

Unfinished look

It took me many years to realise that the unfinished look is my style and to be completely comfortable with this. It allows me to not complete a sketch – the edges are disappearing I can have details on one part of the page, but not another.  It is a state of mind. I usually do not add further to the sketch at home. Sometimes I add water to the page or extra colour – the joy of watercolour pencil! I also write on my pages, always the date, place, who I am with, and why. Context is important. I leave space on the page and add this at home. The sketch is always the feature.

Everyday sketching

I sketch and draw objects, from my everyday life. This includes food and drinks, events, objects I purchase.

Details

The joy of watercolour pencils is they are portable and suit my quick sketching, The other key importance to me is that they also can be used to add fine detail to a page with a sharpened lead. I usually do detailed drawings over a few evenings, adding layers and detail Objects have a story to tell a story –  whether a childhood toy, nature object or dinner I am eating. And I love books !

Sometimes I like to combine a quick sketch and details close up. The best of both worlds! I like to use this combination.

In the end, it is your journal. The page is yours alone, to look back later and bring back memories of time and place. My approach is one of many sketching styles, and watercolour pencils are just one tool you can use in your art kit.

Happy sketching and let me know if you have any questions.

This is much longer than my usual blog posts !