Reflection on sketching

Pencil on paper

98 x 150mm

Notes

I keep reminding myself nowadays, over and over: Line is NOT merely outline, line IS volume! Line has to be used economically and intelligently- precisely because it is a convention, line has to serve a purpose in sketching or drawing: to depict form. And how do lines achieve that? When it is used to depict form upon form, when the lines intersect in a way to represent forms receding, overlapping, etc. Line has to depict volume, perspective and depth. That is the challenge. 

Appendix: When drawing foreshortened or any forms in general, one must be able to switch cognitive modes, between perceiving the negative shapes, or "spaces left"(Solomon), and at the same time, be able to consciously know what one is drawing at the same time! Hereby this is the second greatest challenge. Form will be flaccid if one only concentrates on the outline. The remedy, besides studies in anatomy, perspective etc. is to develop a profound appreciation of form/depth perception in real-life; hence frequent sketching from life is of paramount importance.