A Don Colley Workshop and #Inktober!

Sunday I attended a workshop with Chicago artist, and Urban Sketcher Don Colley. I have admired his lush, textural drawings for years, and never miss an opportunity to see his work in person. It was under his influence that I first started sketching with the Faber Castell Pitt Markers, although my techniques evolved in a more minimalist direction. If you are interested in a detailed description of the workshop, check out Sketcher Tina's post.

It is also #inktober2017 #inktober and I am counting this as my first ink drawing of the month. Only 30 to go. Actually, it is the scanning/posting that I fall behind on (I am on track for drawing), so I will probably post in 2 or 3 batches for the month.

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.

May Sketches

King Street Station with Urban Sketchers.



Went to New York City. Ate at the Pastrami Queen TWICE.



Hello, contour line drawing.