I have several sketchbooks on the go at any given time, each capturing moments from my various travels. Specifically, these are my ‘cruise’ sketchbook, my ‘painting holidays’ sketchbook and my ‘general walking’ sketchbook.
I must confess that I’m not very disciplined when it comes to looking after my sketchbooks, often treating them rather badly. I’m always impressed when I see a well-presented sketchbook, filled with anecdotes, stories and compiled with love. Sadly, many of my sketchbooks have had pages ripped out of them or been left around the floor of my studio, to be trampled on,. Such contempt is unfitting for a thing of such personal value, although I am trying to improve upon that as I get older.
TOOLS
In ‘minimalist’ walking mode, I always carry a small, portable paint box containing a handful of my favourite SAA Artist colours. A Staedler Clutch pencil loaded with 2B lead is accompanied by a Faber Castell Eco Pigment black fineliner (0.8), a black Sharpie and a Pentel water brush.
Occasionally, I also carry a small set of dual-tipped grey markers with me, although I find they don’t last very long. Being alcohol-based, they dry up very quickly and are quite expensive to replace. For sketching, they’re great though, and I only really need a selection of about four markers of different values to render a scene, each having a chisel point on one end and a fine point at the other.
TECHNIQUES
My primary means of making sketches has always been pencil. In fact, I was a pencil sketcher long before I dabbled in watercolour, and it remains my favourite creative tool of choice. I use a 2B for everything and prefer to draw with my clutch pencil because it never changes in size, shape or weight. I rarely have to sharpen it (although there is a sharpener included within the barrel) because the lead changes shape as I use it, and all it takes is a small rotation in my hand, in order to find a sharp ‘edge’ should I need to make stronger, or finer, marks. The truth is; I’ve always been fascinated by the power to create anything with just a pencil and sheet of paper. We are only limited by our imagination. I’ve discovered over the years that my imagination isn’t quite as fertile as I always thought it was, and have always preferred to draw what I see than indulge in building worlds of the mind.
Wielding a pencil, I am able to capture basic shapes of objects quickly and efficiently, and then apply graduated shading patterns to establish various values within a scene. As such, I’ve long considered pencil sketching to be a great tool for preliminary work, in preparation for watercolour painting .
I also love to work with an ink pen, usually (though not always) combining it with pencil, or in a line and wash style with watercolour. Ink isn’t very forgiving, and cannot be corrected easily; as such, I’ve always felt that some confidence in one’s drawing abilities is essential for its use. Loose watercolour washes provide colour, of course, but in the case of an en plein air sketch, it can also provide a sense of action and movement.
With line and wash, my aim is always to try and create a well-balanced collaboration between the two disciplines – a healthy fusion, where neither the ink nor the watercolour is dominant, and each informs and supports the other.
SKETCHES
Bodrum, Turkey – Line and Wash
This was a quick sketch made while sitting on a bench on our way back to the cruise ship, where I was running workshops. The ink drawing was established first, followed by watercolour washes applied using a Pentel Water Brush.
Grisedale – Ink and Pencil
This was a lunchtime sketch made while walking in the Lake District. A sandwich stop can also be an ideal sketch stop. On this occasion, the ink drawing came first, followed by pencil shading to establish the most prominent contrasts.
Levers Water Beck – Line and Wash
When on location in the Lake District you have to work quickly. This sketch has suffered slightly with rain spots; or it could be argued that it has improved it, since the rain spots add authenticity and a sense of capturing the moment.
Exmoor – Grey Markers
I made this sketch while tutoring a group in Exmoor, using my grey markers. If you look closely, you can see that I used four different pens of differing values, with the darkest used to draw out the basic outlines.
About the Artist
Website: https://www.peterwoolley.co.uk/
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/peterwoolleyartist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterwoolleyartist
Online Tuition: https://www.peterwoolley.co.uk/online_students.html
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