Markers - how I use them

With a class coming up this weekend on sketching with markers, I thought I would show a few examples of how I use markers when I sketch on location.


Just three markers - a light, medium and dark - can be really effective. I start sketching with the lightest marker and then fill in shadows and tones with the middle and dark marker. Your markers don't need to be traditional gray for this, either!



Often, I mix markers with a variety of media. In this case I used them with ink, white gouache and gray-toned paper. (This is "Whale Tail Park", in West Seattle.)



By far my favorite way uses just one medium value color marker with a pen and ink line drawing. This is a simple way to do location sketches quickly with a very small, light kit.

Markers are such a useful addition to a sketcher's kit. If you are interested in the class I am teaching next Saturday, call the Daniel Smith Seattle store to register: 206-223-9599.

Upcoming Classes at Daniel Smith

I will be teaching a couple of Saturday classes this month as part of the Summer Drawing Series at the Daniel Smith Seattle store.
On the 22nd it will be grayscale markers. We will practice using them to do quick compositional studies, and also for finished drawings. I use them frequently for on-location, urban sketching because they are so light and portable.
On the 29th we will be drawing on toned paper. This is another favorite of mine for location drawings and there are lots of different drawing materials that can be used on toned and colored papers.
See Daniel Smith's events calendar for details and registration information and materials lists.