10 April, 2010

Sketching Right

Sketch Landscape
4.5" x 7.28"
Charcoal on Sketch Paper
Casey Klahn


I don't know if you can get more power from a methodical sketch, than from a quick one.  My vote is for the quick, intuitive drawing.  An interesting thing happened with this one.  I wanted to transfer it to a larger pastel sheet, and thought that it was close to the golden rectangle proportions.  In the studio, I always go straight to this tool to find the ratio of the golden rectangle.  I entered the short side of my sketch, which was about 4.5", and the long side was about 7.28," give or take .01".  When I plugged 4.5 into the finder, it said that the golden ratio would be 4.5 to 7.28 - what a coincidence!  I was duly happy.  The ratio for my transfer would be 9:14.56.

A short article on the Golden Rectangle at Pastel: Gimme Five.

For no particular reason, I'm needing some music with the next few posts. "Can't this train outrun those kids?"

8 comments:

Bee Skelton said...

I've just discovered your blog. I shall become my treat for the day. I shall be back!

Unknown said...

I agree that quick-sketching is powerful and effective. Your proportions look good.

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks for following and blogrolling me, Bee. I hope you'll comment often.

I thought about you, and my other Dylan fans, when I posted this video, Kathy.

loriann signori said...

Hi Casey, Interesting link to the golden rectangle.Nice sketch..can't wait to see what next.

Casey Klahn said...

More sketches and music, then some formal pix of the Prairie Series. 10Q, Loriann.

Kelly M. said...

I agree -- the quick sketch seems to capture the spontaneity, what first caught one' eye to begin with. To belabor is to stagnate -- a bit anyway. Just did a life drawing course -- very similar -- quick marks seemed to capture the spirit of the model!

Brian McGurgan said...

I admire and aspire to the intuitive, loose, and expressive qualities of your sketching, Casey. Maybe working faster is something I should focus on. I also like the approach Loriann described of putting down your hand after each stroke to allow time for thought.

Casey Klahn said...

Let your hand do the thinking, I say. Still, I will try the method of dropping the hand, just to see. Thanks for comments, Kelly and Brian.

Kelly - lucky you to take that workshop. I can't get to many of those - maybe in the future.

Abstract Expressionism, Art Criticism, Artists, Colorist Art, Drawing, History, Impressionism, Modern Art, Painting, Pastel, Post Impressionism