Boat Study-Palm Beach

Rendering in pen and ink without pencil guidelines is a real challenge but also a great deal of fun.  The secret is in anticipating the counterchanges (dark values against light and vice versa) to make the image stand out.  Of course it has to look spontaneous but it takes a great deal of forethought and restraint.  I don't recommend it for people just beginning to sketch but after a while in the field, do get a cheap notebook and a ball point pen and have a go.  Remember, in sketching we are just making interesting spots of dark on white.  Make sure the shapes you select are interesting at the outset and exaggerate as much as necessary to make them more so.  Think variety and harmony and, most importantly, don't say everything.  Let the viewer complete the process of connecting the dots.  By the way, those few people who know my work may notice and wonder why four birds and not the customary three for my dear deceased sisters.  In this case, I needed an extra bird on the top left to balance the composition.