Friends Don't Let Friends Fear Sketching

Posted on 9/22/2019 9:58:15 AM - Comment on this
Topics: Q&A Series | Talks/Instruction

Friends Don't Let Friends Fear Sketching

Above are the sketchbooks of Ruth Anna Stolk who has sketched and painted all over the world.

In the previous post discussing a painter who can't draw, Sidney Oliver posed this question:

Ruthie, what would you say to a would-be painter who can't draw? I don't mean "can't paint." Say someone who paints realistically but uses someone else's photos for subjects because he or she never learned to draw and is a little bit afraid of trying.

This post will zero in on the "little bit afraid of trying" aspect to show that sketching actually can be quite delightful if one has the guts to explore.

There might be a lot of things to fear in this world and sketching ain't one of them.

Think of the concept of fun, not fear. This might be the only thing you can do in your life that absolutely has no rules.

Making mistakes is a necessary part of the process.

How does one begin?

Any which way you can is perfect. Rules are prohibited.

To inspire you to get started, let me introduce you to two friends who love to sketch.

Laurie has a lot to sketch right outside the door to her shop.

Laurie Holladay has the Laurie Holladay Shop in Gordonsville, VA, open 7 days a week and she is usually present at all times. On those rare occasions when she is away for pleasure, she takes her sketchbooks. She deals with all things creative in her day job and she doesn't let that subside when she relaxes.

Ruth Anna sketching in Paris

Ruth Ann Stolk is the founding executive director of the Smithsonian Conservation Commons. With her work with the Smithsonian, she has traveled throughout the world and there is always a sketchbook accompanying her.

Laurie Holladay draws with her brush. No pen or pencil for her. She is loose and she is not afraid to experiment.

Ruth Anna frequently sketches with a pen on location and paints after she arrives home or in a hotel room.
This is a good solution if one has limited time.

To loosen up, you might want to draw without looking at the paper. No rules.

Ignore the details. Don't get hung up on a tiny aspect of what you want to capture unless you specifically are out to capture a tiny aspect. No rules.

Go for the big shapes. If you want to refine, that can come later. No rules.

Here, Ruth Anna goes for red and orange in her foreground.

Laurie lets loose with a riot of color too.

One solution to make sketching your only goal---Draw only. Don't think about painting at all. Think in terms of black and white. Put in your darks and lights if you want. If you want a line drawing, do that. If you want to scribble as I am prone to do now, do that. Draw with a pen or a pencil. Do whatever you want. This is for your eyes only. Have fun with it. See what you can discover.

Ruth Anna's bulletin board is full of her sketches.

Laurie knows lamps and Laurie knows lampshades.

Ruth Anna even makes cemeteries look fun.

Laurie creates at the beach.

As I stated in the previous post if you make a ghastly sketch that is unusable, throw it away. You only lose a sheet of paper. Some writers tend to make "vomit drafts" knowing that a little nugget might appear, even though the majority of the draft will all be for naught. Every single time you put pen or pencil to paper, you gain in knowledge regardless of the outcome.

The act of sketching is vital to a painter. What better way for the painter to get a feel for the subject?

Ruth Anna sketches food as it is served to her.

Laurie sketches shells only with her paintbrush while at the beach.

...and here I am doing my messy sketches, as someone called them, at a board meeting this morning. A smartphone, a window, and a long tall lamp have little in common other than to be in my line of view. Take advantage of what is around you. Draw a button, a book, or a bat. Regardless of what it is, just draw it.

Enjoy the process!

Ruthie Windsor-Mann