Fast Sketching Techniques: Capture the Fundamental Essence of Elusive Subjects

by David Rankin

It can happen at any moment - A powerful light effect. A telling gesture. A unique posture.When you're struck by am image or impression you want to use in your art, you must record it - quickly! - before it's gone. But what's an artist to do when there's no time for a carefully rendered drawing or even a good photo? Some quick field sketching, that's what!This book will revolutionize the way you sketch. David Rankin reveals the simple secrets to creating quick, impressionistic field sketches from life - and how to work with them once you're back in the studio. With the tools and methods described here, you'll be surprised how easy it is to draw rapid visuals of landscapes, animals, figures, crowds, any subject.So the next time you're taken by a sudden, fleeting inspiration, you can capture it. And make the most of it in your art.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction, Reference

146 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well presented and well written instruction guide of how to sketch quickly out in the field. I have been trying to draw more from life and thought this would help. This book was more for the beginning artist though so it did not help me that much. If you are just learning how to draw you will probably get a lot more out of this book. Well done, just not that helpful to the more advanced artist.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rankin’s Fast Sketching Techniques is an interesting book, but not really applicable to what I think I am looking for. He seems to approach sketching as an intensely personal method to quickly generate shapes and forms that he can later turn into what he calls drawings and paintings. A lot of the advice is golden — do the big shapes first, practice drawing at fixed time limits — but he also recommends always using a soft, easily blendable 9B pencil, which to me means I am not going to be making stand-alone sketches using his techniques. I do like his advice of pausing the TV to freeze frame a dynamic activity for drawing — I will try that. I also like the chapters on sketching people. Overall, this is a good book, and I did find some great advice in it.

[Reuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good suggestions for practice.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid technique on sketching (as opposed to drawing); for a visual artist, the technique comes in handy sooner rather than later. Author gives many exercise to sharpen this skill. Highly recommended.

[TeriC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of ideas to help us sketch faster.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for beginners or people that aren't familiar with a loose & fast drawing style. Quite useful.