Sketch versus Visual Study
From “Studies¨ in Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner
The major difference between sketch and study are that in creating a study, more time is spent at a slower pace, adding a greater amount of detail, with more refined value application.
So, generally, visual studies, unlike sketches, are (a) slower, (b) add–therefore pay attention to–a greater amount of visual detail, and (c) employ more refined tonal values, i.e. do not simplify the value range as much. To move from a sketching to visual study mentality (Garcia 2003, 70):
- Slow your pace
- Break up contour lines into smaller, overlapping lines
- Keep your stylus in closer contact with the paper surface
- Fill in tonal values with greater precision
- Add more detail
- Evaluate each area more frequently
In sum (Ibid):
From “Studies¨ in Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner
The more time you spend adding visual information to your drawing, the closer you get to creating a study.
visual_study visual_studies tonal_value tonal_values contour_drawing contour_lines contour_line drawing drawings observational_drawing art visual_art
bibliography
- Capp, Robbie, ed. “Studies.” In Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner, 70–74. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2003.