Aquarelle. Stages. SketchCrawl - drawing marathons from around the world. Other Artists' work. Many of my sketchbook pages are taken up by clippings, photocopies, postcards, and other things that inspire me. Sure, it's a requirement of my art school classes but more and more I find it helps my own work, rather than just taking up valuable space. These shots from my current sketchbook show some images by various artists I collected this year while looking for examples of sketches and drawings by other artists. Often artists become recognizable for a certain style or medium, but it can be so much more exciting to dig up some of their lesser known work, or examples from their sketchbooks. One great book I found on the library shelves is Travels with pen, pencil and ink By David Hockney. It's a fairly old book so forgive the lack of information in the link provided but if you can track it down it has some wonderful examples of quick sketches, pencil work, color, basic ink outlines, etc.
What other artists inspire you? Who, and what, do you paste in your sketchbooks? Russell Stutler's Sketchbook Book List. Hokusai: One Hundred Views of Mt Fuji by Henry D. Smith This is a must have for all who want to focus on the beauty of line using brush and ink -- in a Japanese style. It's not an instruction book like the two above, but a collection of some of the finest examples of brush drawing I have ever seen. 19th century Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai produced these when he was over seventy years old, and they represent years of experience and refinement.
This is a reproduction or facsimile of a book of wood block prints which were based on his drawings. His original drawing would be pasted onto a block of wood, and an expert wood block cutter would carve away the white areas with a razor sharp cutting tool from both paper and wood together to accurately reproduce every stroke. It defies the imagination, considering you need a magnifying glass to see the more intricate strokes!
This book has become more valuable as I continually go back and study these works. Russell Stutler's Book about Sketching, Page 1: Introductio. Page 1. Introduction This is by no means the definitive book on sketching. It's only 16 pages long, but those are 16 web pages, which can go on forever. This book presents my ideas on sketching, how to sketch, my preferred tools and materials, and my particular sketching style, so feel free to embrace or reject anything you read here. The subject matter for these sketches reflects my world; I live in Tokyo. Some of the material here can be found scattered throughout my online sketchbook: I have brought them together here, and have added new material.
Reasons for sketching Sketching is a worthy goal in itself, and not just a means to an end. Some people are obsessed with sketching, and can think of nothing else. Sketching is a luxury. How I Sketch: Part Two, Demonstration : Sketching and Sketchbook. Continued from: How I Sketch: Part One, Materials I thought it would be helpful to show and describe my own ‘how to sketch’ step by step process, but keep in mind that what works best for each person will vary widely. There are as many ways to create great sketches as there are artists. When combined, ink line and watercolor create a lively visual interplay curiously pleasing to the eye. Playing with these two rather different media is a good introduction for those new to sketching: the results are fun, unexpected, and often wonderful. When possible I do both the drawing and the painting on site. Sketches with areas that are not completely defined or finished are especially intriguing.
Demonstration Subject [larger] Demonstration I did this sketch of a North Berkeley street corner (Shattuck Ave. & Vine St.) one morning last month while sitting in my car, taking digital pictures along the way. Drawing The drawing is done with a fountain pen and waterproof ink. Step 1: Guide Lines Painting. Croquis de randonnee.