Steps on how to produce an attractive sketch
- 1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT NAME: RYAN KERRY JEE JIN YIING STUDENT ID NO: 0318715 WORD COUNT: 1081 words ENGLISH 1 (ELG 30505) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: PROCESS ESSAY LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA SUBMISSION DATE: 2ND MAY 2014
- 2. A Process Writing On How To Make An Attractive Sketch What exactly consists of a sketch? With many different varieties and categories, a sketch is simply defined as a rough or unfinished drawing, which eventually becomes the finished product. How can we produce a unique and an attractive sketch? There’s always a time whereby we are all asked to do one, but whenever that time comes, many might object for their personal reasons. For this essay, I would like to touch on steps of how to produce an attractive sketch specifically emphasizing on inked sketches. First things first, you have to identify the object that you would like to do a sketch on. Understanding the types of sketch which is the most suitable to be used for the object you selected is an important step which cannot be diminished. One must fully understand what he or she would like to convey the visualized ideas and imaginations they have in mind. Take note on small details such as texture and toning effect, among others. After selecting the genre of sketches, you have to select the right material for that specific sketch. For most common inked sketches, one would usually go for a black waterproof drawing ink whereby other colours are optional, a clutch pencil with a 7mm HB lead, pencils ranging from 9H to 9B, 0.1 and 0.2 Artline Inked Pen, a box of tissues to mop up any ink if any error occurs, an old rag or hand towel would be useful but optional, a light clipboard, masking tapes to secure the drawing paper onto the clipboard, electric eraser, and most importantly a block paper with a gram per square meter of at least 180gsm to avoid the sketches from smudging easily. After getting these materials ready, you are basically good to go. Moving on, the next step is to get the proportions, distances and dimensions right. You can basically get these done by measuring the proportions of the scene either from a printout copy or from any references that you are using.
- 3. After you are done with the approximate measurement, getting the dimensions and proportions right, it is time for you to start a rough and light draft on your sketch. By using a light toned lead pencil like the 2H pencil, you can simply just draw a basic shape of the object of the scene according to your measurements, proportions and also dimensions. At this stage, it is not necessary for you to add any details whatsoever as it is just a rough draft. Avoid pressing the pencil hardly onto the paper as this will be difficult to erase and the marks will greatly affect the upcoming procedures on finishing the sketch. After you are satisfied with your shape for the object of the scene, darken the shapes of your draft with a darker ton of pencils, for example a B lead pencil or a 2B lead pencil. During this stage, you can start adding the simple details. It is highly recommended that you experiment the kinds of techniques and strokes you want to apply onto your sketch as to avoid ruining the actual sketch. This little experimentation of yours can be simply done onto a rough paper. After this step, you can proceed on to apply further details onto the sketches. Here, I would like to share with you a few techniques which are highly recommended by artists. For beginners, the hatching method is often used as it is the simplest sketching technique by using fine parallel lines to fill an area to create an optical illusion when it is viewed from afar. After you are done darkening the sketch, you can move onto finalizing your sketch by ink sketching. At this stage, it is highly advisable to apply the contour hatching technique whereby an individual uses different layers of hatches place at an angle (most common used angle is 45 degrees), in order to create a moire-like effect. This technique will enhance the contrast and the saturation of the sketch and as a result making it appear to become more 3-dimensional. Use a 0.2 Artline pen to ink the outlines and the details of the sketch to further enhance the texture and the
- 4. ton of the sketch. During the shading process, it is encouraged to use an inking pen with a finer tip, like the 0.1 or the 0.3 Artline ink pen. It is also important to make sure the strokes and motion are standardized and consistent as different strokes can jeopardize the sketch. For this procedure, one is also encouraged to apply the stippling method, which is better known as the dotting method. For this method, you use tiny dots to further create a value of toning, contrast and saturation. The closer the distance between the dots makes the shading appear to be more concentrated. For this step, you are often advise to use a thicker tip to create bigger dots which can cover a wider surface area. Avoid pressing the nib of the pen hardly as this will spoil the pen, the sketch and the drawing paper. For the last step, it is optional. Some would prefer to just leave it to dry and end the sketch as it is while others may consider using a brush to add in colours to the objects of the scene or maybe using a brush and brushing the sketch with a little amount of water. Use a paint brush with a finer tip and dip it with a little bit of water, slowly and patiently paint through the inked lines to create finer and lively effect to the sketch. After leaving it to dry, your sketch is completed. In a nutshell, sketching is indeed a very interesting and a useful way to spend time wisely, enhance and explore the creative and innovative side of our minds. As we all know, these are just guidelines to produce a basic yet attractive sketch whereby the steps are not standardized as it is very subjective. Everyone of us has our own unique way in producing different yet attractive sketches. Just be sure to understand the genres of sketches you selected and how you could convey that visualized messages to the public. Just always remember that success cannot be achieved within a single step. Practise makes perfect, hence it is only logical that we
- 5. must practise during our free time in order to produce attractive sketches that could convey positive messages.