Field Notes
Sketching

Drawing one ordinary object

Choose an object that can stay still for ten minutes: a cup, a key or a folded cloth. Place it against a simple background. Start by looking at the space around it and the overall proportion before trying to draw its outline.

Use light marks to locate the highest, lowest and widest points. Compare one distance with another. A handle may be much smaller than expected, or the opening of a cup much flatter. Drawing becomes more rewarding when looking leads the hand.

Stop before correcting every mark. Add the date and a short note about what surprised you. Repeating the same subject another day often teaches more than polishing a single drawing until it feels finished.

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