Hey, there!

A big warm welcome to my new subscribers, and hello again to old friends. I recently returned from five weeks sketching and teaching in Europe. Now I'm compiling all my work from 2018 into a book, which I'll Kickstart this summer. Stay tuned!

Although I draw and teach using a certain technique, in this blog post let's consider not "how to draw" but "what to draw." The technique I use in my books and workshops can be used to depict anything.

Many of you came across my work because of my involvement with Urban Sketchers (if you haven't checked them out, click here: http://www.urbansketchers.org). But some of the work I do doesn't qualify as Urban Sketching. Only drawings completed on site, that show the location and provide some context, qualify as an urban sketch. For example this church in Oslo, sketched through the window of a nearby coffee shop:

But for me, daily sketching is like keeping a diary. I choose subjects not based on how worthy they are, or if I think they'll make a "good" drawing, whatever that means. Instead I draw whatever has meaning to me. The sketch is like an illustration in a story.

They might be complex exteriors (urban sketches):

Cluttered  interiors (urban sketches):

Or single objects (NOT urban sketches):

A self-portrait (Not an urban sketch):

This tired commuter on the London Underground (Not an urban sketch):

A dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum (NOT an urban sketch):

I draw to record my days, much like a diary. The above sketches record my visit to Norway, a dinner at a Mexican restaurant, a toy owned by the son of my hosts and a home-cooked delicious meal. While I was drawing the T-Rex, I met a Danish family with six-year-old twins who were just as interested in my sketch as the skeleton. The father went on-line and ordered all four of my books that night. The drawing is not only a fun dinosaur skeleton, but a pleasant reminder of a gratifying encounter. 

 

Sometimes a drawing can just be an exercise, a better use of time than staring at a phone, or a way to break in a new tool or sketchbook:

These were all doodled in my little "Bus Book" which I carry in my pocket when riding public transportation.

The point is, rather than look for "pretty" subjects, or scenes that look like something you've seen in someone else's work, draw what's in front of you, draw what interests you, or draw for the love of creating something out of nothing. Not only will it be more meaningful, but you'll enjoy it more if you draw something you care about.

 

I suspect many of you have found your way to my blog via my book, Everyday Sketching and Drawing: Five Steps to a Unique and Personal Sketchbook Habit. Thanks for the kind reviews! The first two printings quickly sold out. (A good problem to have!) If you've been waiting to order a copy, the third printing is in bookstores (and on Amazon) now. Here's also a reminder that my previous books are available from my etsy store, all three for only $45, and with free shipping in the US!: etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy

 

And now, back to work,

Steve