Sometimes drawing will be your key to successful plein air painting. Spending time making thumb nail sketches is an important part of the overall process. the idea is to quickly produce a drawing that has compositional strength and structure. If your drawing is too weak or lacking in statement, then just draw another with the goal of simplicity. The simple and direct statement is always preferable to complexity and a lack of simple, large shapes that give the composition anchor points, eye movement, and harmonies.
This shows the relative size of the thumbnail sketch. Here a small 4 x 6 inch bound sketchbook is used.
Note that simpler is better. Try to be as minimalist as possible. Pay attention to the pressure of the pencil on the paper to vary the values.
Paint Directly From the Sketch: Here is a tip. Since the sketch has helped you "discover" your composition and value rangle, why not paint directly from the sketch? You can rely on memory, photographs, or, if you are sketching on location with paints ready, when you start to paint, lay down your composition by copying the sketch! You can glance at the scene but try to gtet the gesture of the sketch onto your canvas first!
Try to keep the sketches calligraphic and poetic. Be lyrical and try to convey both mass and line in your macchia sketch.
now for some laughs:
Plan for "American Verismo" T-shirt. Might have to make the Cinghiale look more fierce and fonts much nicer. But this is an idea waiting for instantiation.
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