July 2014

[Jane Noakes]

Although I have spent the time since mid-May working on larger paintings, an unexpected consequence of this activity is that my drawing skills have deteriorated due to the lack of regular practice. In some respects it feels like I am almost back at the beginning and, like physical exercise, I need to work hard just to get back to where I was at previously. There is a lesson to be learned here and that is to continue drawing on a regular basis whatever happens. Do not take a break to focus on other activities, even though they may be art related. Maintain a specific, focused and deliberate approach to learning through drawing.
A few days spent in the Norfolk countryside gave me the opportunity to sketch au plein air. How quickly you need to work in this environment, as the light changes by the hour. I found I needed to work the pencil swiftly over the paper, creating a general impression with a few areas of worked detail. This allowed me to focus on using a full tonal range to define shape and perspective.