SKETCHBOOKS
7
SKETCH IN
BLOCKED COLOUR
This sketch was based on a very old
photo, which was taken on a different
allotment site and lurking in the
reference pile waiting for its moment.
I sketched using gouache,
which has a lovely matte finish and
dries quickly. The main advantage
of using gouache over watercolour is
its opacity, which allows you to block
in colour and work over previous
layers easily.8
SKETCH OVER GHOSTS
If I’ve not sketched for a while
or I’m just having a bad day with it
all, my sketching will begin very
tentatively. As a result, I often find
that the sketches will lack energy
or commitment.
When this happens, a more
interesting result can be had by
washing off the original sketch with
water, which leaves a “ghost” image
that can then be worked over.
As sketches such as this are
already deemed a “failure”, I find
courage with nothing to lose and tend
to be less literal. For this one, I used
the bright pink simply because I liked
the colour, dragging it across the
page on the edge of a piece of card.
This, together with the use of
watercolour sticks and acrylic pens
for the details, created a dynamic
interplay of abstract marks.
http://www.kateosborneart.com7
8