Sketching with colour pencils

[by Peter Rush in Sydney, Australia]

Here’s a post just to show how I typically sketch. I was in the city centre of Sydney and came across this view that looked deep into Hunter St. The only paper I had left was an old backing sheet, pretty dirty. I knew it wouldn’t matter and all the blemishes would just merge into this dense urban scene.

Taking a bit a time to decide on the composition, I launched in and started my ink outline. Best not to worry about mistakes and bad lines, it should all work out in the end.

Next decision was if I should leave it as a line drawing. Some friends tell me I should leave more of my sketches only as lines, sometimes I agree and with this one I nearly did. However I decided to push on. I really wanted to show the rich sandstone colour of the building in the middle, it was so distinctive and Sydney is a sandstone city after all.

So here is the base colour, pretty light as I choose my pencils and decide what colours are going to work.

The next stage in the sketch is full commitment and I worked very quickly. Pencils give texture and I then started adding black and bit by bit brightened the colours.

Finally to give the sketch depth and to start seeing the space, you can’t be afraid to lay in the black. Bump up those shadows!