Sketching Outdoors

Northern Hemisphere readers should be enjoying balmy weather now, and here in Australia the weather is finally starting to cool down - so it's a perfect time to get outdoors and sketch. One of the common mistakes beginners make when sketching outdoors is to zero in on an interesting object, forgetting the rest of the scene. So you end up with something floating in the middle of the page. Try to consider the whole view and think about how it will relate to the edges of the page. A viewfinder is a good way to do this. Begin with some thumbnail sketches, exploring the various options available, and giving yourself time to think about the composition, light and shade. Before embarking on a major piece, take a reference photo for later, as often the light might change dramatically before you have time to finish detailed areas.

More on Landscape Drawing:
Tonal Values in the Sky
Drawing Clouds Step by Step
Sketching Trees
Sketching with Pen and Ink
Landscape Drawing Ideas