Page 38 - sarah-simblet_sketch-book-for-the-artist

ANIMALS38

Capturing Character

GEESE ARE EXCELLENT SUBJECTS to draw when practicing the outline. Quick drawing trains you to see what is most
first use of pen and ink. It happens that goose feathers also important about a subject and to mark only its most
provide artists with the best type of quills. That said, there essential expression. It teaches confidence and focus
is no obligation to prepare a quill; steel nibs are fine. Geese through intensive repetition. Illustrating this exercise on
are nosy birds, so pick a spot where other people can keep Oxford Port Meadow, I covered eleven sheets in sixty quick
them entertained. Study them before drawing. Watch their drawings—in less than an hour.
heavy feathered bodies flap, waddle, and bellyflop off the
waterside. Dip your pen in ink, touch the bottle's rim to Experiment, test your limits, and be brave. You cannot
drain the excess, and boldly plunge into your drawing. break the nib, and there is no "wrong." If you don't like a
stroke, make another one. Cover your drawing book pages
Focus on the geese, not on your drawing. Attempt in speedy responses to the geese and try to capture each
with a loose hand to capture their posture and bird in as few lines as possible.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Pack plenty of tissue around a bottle of calligraphy or acrylic
ink, to absorb blots when drawing. Take a cup and water for
diluting a range of tones, and a large drawing book or plenty
of paper Use masking tape to secure pages against the wind.

Posture

Look for a bird expressing a simple posture.
Focus on it. Try to hold the whole posture
in your mind's eye, and quickly draw around it
using only three or four strokes. Empathize, draw
what the bird is doing, be bold and press firmly,
Take no more than ten seconds to draw each
one and make lots of drawings. Cover a sheet.