Wednesday, April 1, 2015

How to Make Speed Sketches

Before we get into quick sketching techniques, here are some sketches I made for my report in real time during an observership:

Speed Sketches of Surgery Medical Equipment
 
Howard C.
(Original art, Howard C.)
 Two surgeons working at the same time, using one large microcope.
Howard C.
(Original art, Howard C.)
 A "fluoro" (not floral) x-ray machine.
Howard C.
(Original art, Howard C.)
 Detailed sketch of the microscope "head" end effector.
This view looks like something from out of a sci-fi movie.

As you can see, the last two sketches have text and extra lines or colours added for the report.

And all the sketches are cropped versions of photos...taken from my lined notebook (can you see the blue lines?).

These are all nice add-ons after the fact.  But the original sketches---and copious loads of notes to the point of illegibility to everyone but me---I did in real time.

 But why sketch?  Why not just take a photo?  Or a video?  Well...this was during a live surgery.  And I avoided taking photos and video for privacy reasons, and instead I brought a pen and notebook, which were allowed.

Which brings us to "speed sketching".  Usually a phone camera is better for capturing a scene, but a sketch is nice for adding---or in my case removing---details or notes on the spot.

Plus, it trains your eye to notice visual details, or even to see the "bigger picture" (more on that later).

Plus it's fun.  Sometimes I had to pass the time during some long procedures.

***Disclaimer:  Stick to cameras if you're investigating a crime scene!***

According to Wikipedia, a sketch is a fast drawing done by hand: 
"A sketch...is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work." (Wikipedia.  Accessed March 21st, 2015.)  (Wiktionary agrees, unsurprisingly.)

Just think:  Get the essence of what you need.  You can always add more details later, if you get more time.

In the meantime, here are some ways to get started on teaching yourself to draw faster:
  • Straight lines:  Practice makes perfect, young grasshopper.  So practice drawing grass.  Or at least straight lines.  Straight enough but also consistent when you do rapid strokes, like when you play Fruit Ninja on your phone.  Good for drawing equipment and boxy things with edges.  (You can practice with scrap paper if necessary.)  Try making a bunch of straight parallel lines in a row.  This also helps with hatching shadows (see later on).

  • Circles and curves:  Practice drawing (near) perfect circles.  Circles form the basis for curves, rounded edges, ovals, eggs, and scrambled eggs.  Good for more organic shapes like water.

  • Build your repertoire:  Practice different lines, curves, and shapes.  "Techy shapes":  squares, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, zigzags, angular designs.  "Organic shapes":  circle, oval, blobs, squiggles, loops.  Try different variations. 

    The point is to see if you can use straight lines and curves to quickly make any shape.  Sometimes you'll keep the pencil on the page.  Other times you'll lift the pencil when the line changes direction to keep a clean, controlled look of the overall shape.
 

  • "Bigger picture first":  You might want to squint for this one.  Look at what you want to draw and (if it is safe to do so) squint while looking at it.  This helps blur out the details.  Getting the "lay of the land" first helps your rapidly map out your sketching area before you commit any to details.  At first, you could try doing this with your paper in the corner of your eye so you can instantly match the object with your drawing.
 

  • "Break it down":  Sometimes the big picture is still complicated.  So what I like to say is "go with what you know"; look for how simple shapes you know. 

    Remember:      lines make up shapes, and shapes make up objects.  I'm not making this stuff up---the lines are.  (haha corny joke)  But seriously, think of it like every new detail making the drawing more accurate.  The first few outlines will be a bit off, but will serve as a framework to work with.  Keep the next lines thoughtful but don't waste time trying to get the first few lines right.
And if you find a few extra seconds of time on the spot:
  • Shading:  Practice hatching to add shadows quickly.  Good for finishing touches of shading to indicate shape details.  Basically a bunch of straight lines pointing in the same direction for the same material.  If done right, it won't look like shading or texture, and not ambiguously look like some pattern on the material.  In the end, it's much faster than colouring things in.
  • Clothes/folds:  One strange exception to isolating shapes/lines I find is clothing, or anything clothing-like, such as plastic bags, towels, etc.  Just keep the pen on the page, and "follow where your eye goes" along the edge of the cloth.  This one takes some practice but makes for faster sketches of folds, like this sketch of a hideous pants lying on a chair:

Advanced stuff:
  • Some knowlede of underlying structure --> "break it down" x-ray vision!
  • How do you draw different materials like metal?  water?  glass?
  • Google it.  :)
  • Oh, and practice, practice, practice!  Time yourself.  Try a technique at least 10 times.
I leave you with what advanced techniques can bring you, just by knowing how to Google it:
See the bigger picture?  Now break it down!


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