Outdoor sketching can be a bold move. After all, you’re putting your art away from your desk and into the world. Who knows which passersby are going to take a peek at your drawing, or even snap a photo?
These uncertainties can discourage you from practicing this useful drawing exercise. But don’t worry! Let me tell you what happened to me when I attempted to sketch outside.
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Why I decided outdoor sketching
Before my attempt at drawing outside, I often believe that there’s no point.
After all, we could simply take photos on the streets, then go back to our desks, right? It seems more convenient and less awkward to draw from photos!
But later, I’ve been hearing more and more about the perks of sketching outdoors.
Those artists say that sketching outdoors challenge your speed! It enhances your observation skills! It improves your lines! And also, looking at a 2D photo is vastly different from looking at the real thing!
And one of my favourite artists, Mateusz Urbanowicz, has also drawn his artwork outdoors. You can see his process in this video:
He had a pretty creative set-up with a tripod.
So I thought: why not give it a shot? It looks fun, harmless, and possibly even thrilling when people might come up to see what you’re drawing.
And so, I was convinced to take action.
Good things about drawing on the transit
Like many people, the first place that comes to my mind for outdoor sketching- is the park.
But very soon I discarded the idea. It was a hot summer day, and people are running around in the park. It was hard to be discreet (when I wanted to draw people). And the temperature made it extremely difficult to concentrate.
Then I got an idea: the transit!
On the transit, the air-con was always on, and a lot of people go there no matter the hour.
As long as I didn’t get myself squeezed into a pancake during busy hours, I believed it was the way to go!
Regular people’s reaction
On the transit in Hong Kong, the setting is pretty similar to Japan’s: there are long benches on both sides of the train, and handles dangle from above.
As I sat on the bench and pulled out my sketchbook, I immediately understood that no one was going to find out what I was outdoor sketching.
Why?
People were all staring at their phones. Every single one of them. I suppose that’s how Asian culture is.
I could feel that it was the safest way for outdoor sketching among beginners. The passengers rarely move their bodies. I still had to be quick, of course, because they sometimes adjusted their legs, moved their shoulders, and whatnot.
This is also a great place for introverts. Because note this: Not a single person glanced at me. And so no one found out I was sketching them.
A particular stranger…
As I was happily sketching, the train reached the commercial districts, where more Westerners reside and work.
At one point, a black gentleman was standing not far from me. And- not holding his phone- he saw me trying to draw him!
He didn’t say anything (it was forever quiet on the transit). Instead, he approached the seat opposite me and sat down, looking at the side.
I felt awkward about being caught. But happy as well with such a positive(?) response.
My results of outdoor sketching!
The image on the top is my results! I drew about 5 pages of standing and sitting people.
I was quite surprised with what I drew. I was terribly inexperienced with speed sketching and outdoor sketching. But the outcome looked satisfying to me.
After that day, I tried a few more times of outdoor sketching. (But does the transit count as “outdoor” anyway? Oh well, I don’t question it.)
Other than improving my skills, I got more inspiration for poses. These little sketches can add to my bank of pose ideas.
This is why I put outdoor sketching at one of my top 5 drawing exercises. It challenges your drawing speed and the ability to look at the big picture.
Conclude: You should try too!
It doesn’t have to be the train. But I must say trains have their perks.
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