Ditch the precision, keep the liveliness!

This week, we’re diving into another low-pressure still life, and our focus is all about found objects from nature.

Head outside for a quick forage or dig through your treasures from recent walks, and gather a collection such as rocks, shells, dried leaves, seed pods, bark, or flowers. The key here is to look for variety in surface texture and edge qualities: mix smooth, sleek surfaces with rough, pitted, or jagged edges. For my sketch this week, I used a handful of seashells gathered at the beach over the weekend.

Rather than worrying about photo-realistic accuracy, I approached this page purely as a texture study. I focused on the descriptive quality of my contour lines and capturing how the objects felt in space. When you let go of making a drawing look “perfect,” it gives the line work so much more energy and life.

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As you set up your objects, find the small details that excite you and give them extra love. For me, it was that delicate little crab claw nestled in the shells and the subtle flashes of soft pink and warm orange.

If you look at my initial grey contour drawing, it’s a bit hard to see what’s going on at first glance. The overlapping lines make it tricky to distinguish where one shell ends and another begins. But notice what happens when color and varied textural marks enter the picture:

• Line weight & color help separate overlapping forms so the arrangement snaps into focus.

• Expressive shading and hatch marks give your eye the cues it needs to “read” ridges, hollows, and smooth curves.

  

1. Gather: Find 5 to 8 small natural objects with contrasting textures (smooth vs. rough, sharp vs. soft).

2. Start Loose: Lay down contour lines to capture shapes and overlaps without worrying about perfection.

3. Emphasize: Pick 1 or 2 details or colors you love most and accentuate them.

4. Layer Texture: Use hatch marks, dashes, or pops of color to help the viewer’s eye navigate the depth and surfaces of your page.

I can’t wait to see what natural oddities and textures you gather this week. Grab your pens, find a few treasures, and enjoy the process.

Drop your sketch over in our free Skool community in the Prompts & Shares tab, so we can all see your work and cheer each other on!

Share your sketch!

Happy sketching,
Beth

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