On sketching

Once upon a time, when I was about nine, I took a drawing class at Mile Long. What I remember most about that summer was the cool hand sanitizing liquid in a teeny bottle that came with my artist’s envelope. It was way before the advent of sanitizing gels, and it was my first time to encounter such an innovation. Perhaps, this no-rinse soap/sanitizing thing was primarily created for artists with tired hands.

But that’s not the only thing I remember. I remembers sitting on a desk I shared with other students, each of us engrossed in replicating the still life set up before us. I distinctly remember a sketch of a vase in charcoal, and plastic vegetables, in pastel. I also have memories of my art teacher, helping me out every now and then. Lightly sketching faint circles when my orange turned elipse, and slightly adding to the shadows I’ve drawn under my vase. By summer’s end, I had a sketchbook filled with works of art I couldn’t believe I created.

Sadly, not a trace of the prized sketchbook can be found at home and to this day, I regret the fact that I didn’t keep tabs of its hiding place. Perhaps, the loss of the magical sketchbook has taken with it my sketching abilities. Or maybe, I just need practice.

I’m banking on the latter, which is why I immediately jumped at the chance to get this amazing kit for a fraction of its original price. For the nth time, I love you NBS!

I’ve doodled in a page or two but like most other things in my life at the moment, it has taken a backseat to my impending deadlines. Soon, soon, I shall pick you up again and I will keep this golden nugget of an advice to mind.