The Art of Field Sketching

216 Pages·1984·32.051 MB·English

by  Clare Walker Leslie

THE ART OF
FIELD
SKETCHING
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A Spectrum Book
$12.95
WALKER
CLARE
LESLIE,
Author of Nature Drawing
ROGER TORY PETERSON
Foreword by

cPHalarope
THE ART & DESIGN SERIES
PHalarope Books are designed specifically for For beginners, students/ and working profes-
the amateur naturalist hese volumes represent sionals in both fine and commercial arts, these
I
excellence in natural history publishing. Each hooks offer practical how-to introductions to a
book in the PI lalarope series is based on a nature variety of ideas in contemporary art and design.
course or program at the college or adult educa- Each illustrated volume is written by a working
tion level or is sponsored by a museum or nature artist, a specialist in his or her field, and each
—
center. ach PI lalarope book reflects the author's concentrates on an individual area from adver-
I
teaching ability as well as writing ability. Among tising Layout or printmaking to interior design,
the hooks in the series: painting, and cartooning, among others. Each
contains information that artists will find useful
in the studio, in the classroom, and in the mar-
ketplace. Among the books in the series:
The Amateur Naturalist's Handbook
INSON BROWN
\
The Amateur Naturalists Diary
INSON BROWN Drawing: The Creative Process
V
SEYMOUR SIMMONS III and MARC S.A. WINER
The Wildlife Observe! - Guidebook
CHARLES E. ROTH Massachusetts Audubon Societ) Nature Drawing: A Toolfor Learning
CLARE WALKER LESLIE
A Field Guide to the Familiar:
Learning to Observe the Natural World Nature Photography: A Guide to
GALl wvui nice Better Outdoor Pictures
i
STAN OSOL1NSKI
ture in the Northwest: An Introduction to
the Natural History and Ecology Drawing with Pastels
of the Northwestern United States RON LISTER
from the Rockies Understanding Paintings:
to the Pacific The Elements ofComposition
SUSAN SCI [WARTZ / Photographs by Boband Ira Spring FREDERICK MALINS
At the Sea's Edge: An Introduction to Painting and Drawing: Discovering
Coastal Oceanography for the Amateur Naturalist Your Own Visual Language
WILLIAM I. FOX Illustrated by Clare Walker Leslie ANTHOISH TONEY
Exploring Tropical hies and Seas: An Introduction A Practical Guidefor Beginning Painters
for the Traveler and Amateur Naturalist THOMAS GRIFFITH
I Rl PI KK MARTIN]
Transparent Watercolor:
Suburban Wildlife: An Introduction Painting Methods and Materials
to the Common Animals of Your IXESSA DERKATSCH
Back Yard and Loeal Park
RICHARD HEADSTROM The Art ofPainting Animals:
A Beginning Artist's Guide to the Portrayal
Outdoor Education: A Manual for ofDomestic Animals, Wildlife, and Birds
Teaching in Nature's Classroom FREDRIC SWENEY
MICHAEL LINK / Director
Northwoods Audubon Center. Minnesota

CLARE WALKER
LESLIE
The
JLrt
of
Tield Sketching
/Ski
l SPECUIIM BOOR
PRENTICE-HALL, INC., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632
Lifouri. Catali jing in Publication Data
1eslie ( lare Walker.
Theartoffieldsketching.
(TheArt&designseries)(PHalaropebooks)
\SpectrumBook."
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
—
1. Drawing Technique. 2. Nature(Aesthetics)inart.
1. Title. II.Series.
N< 795L4 1984 743'.83 83-24461
ISBN 0-13-047366-9
ISBN 0-13-047358-8 (pbk.)
THE ART& DESIGN SERIES
Thisbook isavailableata special discountwhen ordered
in bulk quantities. Contact Prentice-Hall, Inc., General
PublishingDivision, Special Sales, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 07632.
© 1984byClare WalkerLeslie.
All rights reserved. Nopartofthis book maybe reproduced in any
form orby any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
ASPECTRUM BOOK. Printed in the UnitedStates ofAmerica.
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10
Editorial/production supervision byJane Zalenski
Page layoutby Diane Heckler-Koromhas
Colorinsert designby Maria Carella
ColorinsertphotographybyJames E. Taylor
Cover designby Hal Siegel
Manufacturing buyers: Edward Ellis and FrankGrieco
J.
ISBN 0-13-047358-8 -CPBK.}
ISBN 0-13-0473bb-c
l
Prentice-HallInternational, Inc., London
Prentice-HallofAustralia Pty. Limited, Sydney
Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., Toronto
Prentice-Hallof India Private Limited, New Delhi
Prentice-Hall ofJapan, Inc., Tokyo
Prentice-Hall ofSoutheastAsia Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Whitehall Books Limited, Wellington, New Zealand
Editora Prentice-Halldo Brasil Ltda., RiodeJaneiro
Dedicated to my grandfather, William H. Walker,
and to my father, Robert M. Walker, who both
taught me how to see more carefully.

Contents
1
Chapter
Equipment
l
PAPER,
1
Loose sheets of Paper, 1
Drawing Pads, 3
Field Journal, 3
SKETCHING TOOLS,
4
Pencils, 5
Pen and Ink, 5
Color Tools and Watercolor Washes, 7
OTHER USEFUL EQUIPMENT,
10
Drawing Board, 10
Clips, 10
Six-inch Ruler, 10
Carrying Cases, 10
vn
Carrying Bag or Day Pack, 10
Binoculars and Hand Lens, 10
Camera, 10
Plastic Bags or Bottles, 11
Field Guide Books and Further References, 11
Appropriate Clothing, 11
Folding Camp Stool, Waterproof Pillows, or Foam Pad, 12
A Word on Collecting, 12
Curiosity, 12
Chapter jL,
Beginning Exercises and Basic Techniques, 15
BEGINNING EXERCISES, 16
Exercise 1: Choosing What to Draw, 16
Exercise 2: Observation, 17
Exercise 3: Memory Sketch, 17
Exercise 4: Contour or Continuous Line Sketch, 17
Exercise 5: Quick Gesture Sketch, 18
Exercise: 6: Diagrammatic Drawing, 19
Exercise 7: Experimenting with the Pencil Line, 20
Exercise 8: The Study Drawing, 21
Exercise 9: Drawing as Meditation, 21
A CHECKLIST OF TECHNIQUES TO USE
WHEN SKETCHING ANY SUBJECT, 22
SUGGESTIONS FOR SKETCHING SPECIFIC SUBJECTS, 27
LANDSCAPE SKETCHING,
36
Chapter lJ
Keeping a Field Journal, 47
SETTING UP A FIELD JOURNAL, 49
SUBJECTS TO STUDY, 52
KEEPING JOURNALS IN THE CLASSROOM, 61