Building a tool kit
In the past, I would only have taken a few pens or pencils with me in my bag if I thought I would get chance to sketch. When I was completing this research task, I was determined to challenge myself to use materials I would not normally use outside.
I already have a practical bag in which to keep my sketchbooks and equipment; it has lots of compartments but is not too bulky to carry around. It can fit up to an A5 sized book, which is fine for a travel sketchbook; I do not think I would want to draw in anything bigger out in public!
My go-to materials are pencils and biros, and sometimes fine liners. I ensured that my travel kit had a good selection of these (there are lots of coloured biros to give variety and a few thicknesses of fine liner). They are practical as part of a travel kit because they transport easily and can be used to create such diverse marks. I also prefer to use biros or fine liners that I am unable to erase, forcing me to be less precious with my work. This is especially important for a travel kit because I can find it difficult to make the first marks on a page; a permanent mark where ‘mistakes’ must remain suits me.
I have also found throughout my OCA degree so far that I enjoy using gel pens to highlight certain details, especially white and metallic, so I included some of these. White gel pens look very effective when used to add detail or pattern over areas of colour.
The most ‘radical’ items in my travel kit are the watercolour pencils and pastels and the water brushes. I use watercolour paints quite often, but I do not think I have ever used them out and about; probably due to the mental block about setting up my equipment and feeling conspicuous drawing in public. Biros and fine liners and pencils look far less intrusive. However, I wanted to challenge myself and this seemed like a good start. Water brushes should be easier to carry around than little jars and brushes, but I will test this.
I also packed a sharpener (with a container to catch the sharpenings), a rubber, some elastic bands and some clips (in case I collected anything while I am out that I want to include). I think I might also include a small glue stick.
I have not ever had to deal with people approaching me and asking me what I am drawing in public before, so this will be a new experience. I think my plan will be to explain that I am a student and show them what I am drawing, then take it from there. Having spoken to other people who sketch outside often, people tend to watch for a second then walk away and will not be too concerned once they know what you are drawing. It is a slightly intimidating prospect but I am looking forward to getting outside more with my sketchbook.
Testing out portability
To test my travel tool kit, I decided to take my sketchbook on a trip away (which coincided quite nicely with this part of the course!) I could easily use the materials when sitting in a café or on a bench or a wall somewhere; it was actually very pleasant to set up my materials and get going, after the initial nerves had passed. Setting up in a café was the most comfortable because other people are busy doing their own thing and so I felt less ‘watched’ and more like I could be the observer. Sitting on a wall with people walking past was trickier, because most passers-by will glance over and look at what you are drawing; I felt more like the one being watched.
My materials were easily transportable and I even managed to use some pastels and water to add a splash of colour. Drawing crowds and pedestrians had its challenges – it forced me to use rapid sketching techniques because I physically did not have time to focus on details. People moved along too quickly! I found that overlapping shapes created the illusion of a busy crowd. Some figures I drew twice; I started drawing them, then they changed position, so I drew part of them again. It was a huge learning curve and I quite like the resulting images. They are expressive and capture the setting, while certainly capturing my reaction to the task – a little chaotic and rushed in places! It does feel authentic to the location.
Below are a couple of my sketches from the bustling Paphos Harbour in the evening.
Jade's OCA Learning Log 