One of my arty secrets is that I used to HATE sketching with pencils. All the “proper” artists seemed to use them, but I could never understand why you would choose them over splooshy gorgeous messy materials like ink or watercolour or oil pastels.
To me they reeked of high school art-class memories, of drawing “correctly” and all of the pressure and tightness that comes with expectation. Basically, I had never found a way to have FUN with this simple material, and they were loaded with association I hadn’t quite realised I had placed upon this material. Sorry pencils.
I am happy to say, my love for pencils has grown over the last year or two, and the reason why has got me reflecting on materials: How influential they can be in how we create, and how easily (or not) we can play and let go when making sketching or making anything.
At the top of this post you will find my latest youtube video, which shares x3 of my favourite sketching prompts, using just a pencil. These are 3 ways I have learnt to have fun with this media, in just 5 minutes. (Turns out it’s not a boring material at all…) - Grab a pencil, some paper, and sketch with me for a while!
This summer I’ve been really drawn to practice limiting my art materials and colours so I can get outside sketching without the kitchen sink in tow. Yup, I am a default maximalist when it comes to mixed media and the phrase “just in case” lives in my mind rent free. I’ve been documenting & sharing my favourite materials and colours in videos over on Patreon, and we are currently in the throes of an expressive colour & limited palette challenge to tackle this all together! You can find more info about that here, if you’d like to get outside without your kitchen sink too.
Expressive Limited Colour Challenge
Anyway, back to pencils.
On this quest to limit my supplies and consider portability, my attention was returned to the humble pencil. This summer is packed with travel and very short pockets of time to sketch, so I’ve been adding more dry materials in my kit. The pencil makes sense logically; no mess, no clean up, is pocket-stuffable. So, I’ve been giving them another chance, and having a grand ol’ time in the process!
It turns out, mess as a quality in materials is one of the elements that really helps me loosen up. A spill or splash of material that I can’t control makes me excited, brings me back to more of a childhood state of mind, and before you know it, I am finger painting and experimenting, combining all sorts of things together and feeling free in the process. Using mixed media reminds me of making harry potter inspired ‘potions’ in my friend Katy’s bathroom sink, with all her mums nice shampoos and lotions and kitchen ingredients. Sorry Caroline!!
What I have been trying to do is bring this feeling of less control to my pencil sketches. How can I get that similar sense of play and curiosity and unknown in a material I instinctively want to be more careful or tight with, or that I feel is more predictable?
That’s what we are playing with in this latest video. I’ll pop the prompts below as a note for you to try out, but I recommend you check out the video which has reference photos and real time demonstrations to work alongside too!
Sketching Prompts:
heavy & light pressure
fast & slow movement
thick & thin lines
I’d love to hear more about your relationship with materials: do you have any materials that just make you a kid again, or that you instinctively tighten up around?
Hope you enjoy these ideas, and as always,
See you Outside!
Orla
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