The Sketchiness of my Pencil Sketches

They really are an outline to check things look right.

Pencil - the first stage of the process

I sketch first, loosely, in pencil. Just to get the basics down and make sure that things look right before committing any further. There is no pressure on a pencil sketch as it can just be rubbed out. The pencil in these images has been edited to make it look a bit darker so that it can be seen properly.

The looseness of pencil - but they follow the process

But, although they may look a bit random and haphazard, they follow some basic rules of process. I establish the horizon line and vanishing points in pencil. Then do a very rough outline of the major things in the sketch. Always with it in mind that things should angle up or down towards the vanishing points

Sketch the People

I sketch the people early on - they are one of the most important things. I only sketch them roughly - let’s be honest, I only sketch everything roughly no matter what stage I’m at. I only use the guide with sketching people that the head is one seventh, the body is three sevenths and the legs are three sevenths, and they should look a bit like people.

The Pencil framework

In this way I build up a pencil framework - a rough guide to what the sketch is going to look like, that includes the horizon line, vanishing point(s) and how the angles work towards the vanishing point(s). This forms the basis for the sketch - and if this foundation looks right then the sketch has a much better chance of looking right.

What Pencil to use?

I use a mechanical pencil with a 2mm lead - this gives a softer line than a usual 0.5mm or 0.7mm lead. Like I say, the images in this post have been darkened in order to see them better. What I aim for is a soft line that can be erased fairly easily. I can’t remember the last time I actually sharpened the lead in my mechanical pencil - or the last time I bought any.

And that’s it to begin with, the sketchiness of my pencil sketches.

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What’s coming?

This Substack is intended to expand upon the ideas of urban and landscape sketching with minimal materials, to provide examples and inspiration.

It’s all about getting your thoughts and feelings out onto paper without too many rules to follow - this is sketching - not drawing.

Thanks for reading this and coming on the journey with me. Enjoy the journey and the destination can just look after itself.
All the best,
Peter