Basic Sketching, graphite on paper, ©ElishaDasenbrock2015
Here’s what I really like to sketch with. I have another sketchbook I prefer if I’m doing watercolor, but we’ll talk about that more in the future. This is a $3.99 or maybe $4.99 sketchbook I buy from Dick Blick. Fabriano is the name brand. They make really good paper. The sketchbooks are a bit flimsy, but they don’t take up much space and you won’t feel bad about messing them up with drawings you don’t like. That being said, even if you love all your drawings, this is a great sketchbook. You can always reinforce the cover. This shows you how a bit of scale for my drawings too.
The pencil is so old, I can’t even tell you the name brand. It has worn off. However, I do know they sell them at Dick Blick as well. I have to get mine from under the sales counter. I am sure people steal them. They are about $15, I believe. I’ve had mine since college and I still prefer it to anything. I use it for all my paintings too. It has a great weight. Any pencil will do. I just like my pencil.
My pens are Faber-Castell. They don’t last long, but they are wonderful. I’ve used them since high school, long before I thought to sketch with them. I would draw grids with them, back when I did that sort of thing. I favor the S and XS.
I use Staedtler and kneaded erasers almost exclusively. The kneaded eraser isn’t pictured because I always lose them. They are great to have though. You can mold them to make a very fine point and you can press them to your drawing to slightly lighten an area instead erasing like you typically would. *Note to self: do a quick video if you find your eraser*
But that’s really all I use for the most basic pages.
This week’s theme is: whatever you want to show me. What have you been dying to sketch? Stretch your wings. The worst that can happen is you have a really great “this is where I started” sketch.
We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last few weeks and I hope, if you had the time, you’ve done more than one sketch a week. Don’t think you have to though. However, if you have, you can use the hashtag #heyelisha and show me those as well. I’d love to see them all.