Pencil Sketching Practice

This is a post from Belinda Del Pesco’s Art Blog Belinda Del Pesco.

Pencil Sketching Practice

Pencil Sketching Practice has been rhapsodized for eons. But that doesn’t mean we all commit to a regular habit of sketching (right?)

When I practice sketching, I can count on several things happening at once; active skill building, a renewed appreciation for the importance of values, simplicity of tools (pencil & paper), and the satisfaction of my own approval. I’m doing something every artist *should* practice regularly. Good job, me!

Pencil sketching for practice’ sake alone rubs my need for productivity a little rough. I usually want to make something I can add to the inventory of art in my Etsy Shop. Sketching practice is meant for my eyes alone. My pencil sketches are usually a test for a painting or printmaking idea, tucked into a sketchpad. Pre-motor planning. But not for sale.

Sketching to Get Better

Daily sketch practice injects a visible, tangibly potent shot of Better into our work. Lines are more relaxed and fluid. Shading is more sure-footed and subtle. Accuracy in rendering is improved. And the workhorse of representational art – values – salutes the eye of the viewer with a grin.

I suspect one of the roadblocks to a regular sketching practice is that no one sees the results. The reward for your effort is not as tangible as a reaction, or a transaction.

When you create for an exhibit or a blog post, or list it for sale, there is a potential for accolades. There may be an audience sprinkling praise, or a “Ding!” from the Etsy app notifying you of a sale.

But when you sketch every day to simply Get Better at it, the results are closed in a book on the shelf in the studio. Instead of an instant shot of applause, the return for daily sketching effort is a slow, internal build of your own improvement.

It’ll likely take time to see results from your sketch practice – an investment of pencil-miles. Don’t we all want to leapfrog towards Fabulous after a summer of occasional drawing? Maybe the closed feedback loop is one of the reasons we don’t pounce on the chance to practice more often? What say you on this theory?

Cheerleading Section

After a conversation with another artist just beginning their journey, I pondered what I’d tell my younger self about getting started in art with all the visuals of social media vying for my attention. I wrote this post of tips for beginner artists.

This is a beginner artist round-up (collection) of essays related to finishing paintings, getting more accuracy in your drawings, the many benefits of working small, and fighting the mean cousins – procrastination and uncertainty.

I’m waving my pompoms at you, cheering for your sketch time – even if it’s in the margins of a grocery list.

Thanks for stopping by today, and I’ll see you in the next post -

Belinda

P.S. If you like drawing portraits, and you work well with prompts and community, check out the Sktchy challenge 30 Faces in 30 Days. They start new sessions all the time, and the community is fun, encouraging and loaded with a broad range of artistic skills.

Art Quote

“As soon as possible” is a trap if you focus on soon instead of possible.

Seth Godin

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