New Video Short - The Importance of Drawing

[MChesleyJohnson]

Here's a new video ( 2 1/2 minutes) on the importance of drawing for the plein air painter:

http://youtu.be/3y98tlU7KBU

[jeaneade2001]

Very good. And yes, I should do all that little video says - Great advice, thank you Michael. I drew all the time as a kid but somehow I seem to have gotten lazy!

[MChesleyJohnson]

Thanks, Jean!

[tuzigoot]

You mean we have to be able to actually draw in order to paint? Perhaps that's my problem....

[MChesleyJohnson]

Alas, but it's a well-kept secret: You have to be able to draw to paint.

But I don't think you have this problem....

[tuzigoot]

OK Michael - we'll deal with this is April!

[MChesleyJohnson]

Ok!

[Aussiesrus1]

Hi Michael,
Interesting video. I assume you are referring to carbon pencil as your drawing medium. Surely the same result can be achieved using paint and brush. Light,shade,composition,perspective,etc. can all be rendered without use of carbon pencil.

I have always used this method as I believe an under drawing using carbon is not technically compatible with subsequent layers of say, oil paint. Unless of course the initial carbon drawing is fixed ?

Regardless of drawing medium used, I agree, that much practice is required and what better way to learn than plein air painting ?

[MChesleyJohnson]

The point is to make it portable and to practice. Of course, you could use paint and brush - but that's not as portable as pencil and paper. I'm using a 6B graphite pencil. The intention isn't to paint *over* the sketch, but to let the sketch stand alone.

[artsyroxy]

Thank you for the great reminder.I'm going to draw something right now

[gardengrrlWendy]

Thanks for the reminder, Michael. I've heard others disparage drawing in the past, and I never understood why.