I went to the sea-wall on a sunny day to draw some boats. Yachts waddled on water glittering under the summer sun, framed inside bridges and railing and tall masts and a sign saying “New Members Welcome”.

First, the Seeing…

For about 10 minutes, I stood against the railing and imagined the different things that could go wrong in trying to draw this scene. I took out the smaller Moleskine sketchpad in my bag, and held it up in front of me. It would be both quicker and simpler. But did I want it to be quicker and simpler? This is an essential back-and-forth. It indicates to me that I am drawing something out of my comfort zone. This made me nervous, but I was more excited than nervous. Because magic happens outside the comfort zone. Everything great and wonderful and impossible exists outside the comfort zone. Anything can happen outside the comfort zone.

I went with the big sketchbook, so this became a 5.5” by 17” sketch in a Stillman & Birn mixed media sketchbook.

Anchors and References

The first thing I drew was the wooden post with the member’s sign on. It ran from the top to the bottom of my double spread. It was to be my reference point for everything else that would go on the page.

After the post, I drew the boats docked in the yacht club. Then I went up to finish the horizon and the Granville St Bridge. My anchors/reference points for this part of the sketch were the wooden post between the two docked yachts, and the mast rising up to touch the bridge.

My favorite touches here are - the bird flying in the sky, the Granville Giants mural, the paddle-board surfer.

After I was done with the top half of the spread, i.e. the first page, I drew the boat closer to me. I have seen other urban sketchers draw boats in interesting perspective, so there was an image in my mind as I drew this. I knew my lines needed to be confident, and the shape would be distinctive. There was no point being a perfectionist about it, because any exaggeration of perspective would work to my benefit.

In this way, I learned another constraint that can actually become a freedom.

The constraint - a sharp perspective challenge not often observed by people.
The freedom - exaggerations in perspective are allowed because it is a sharp perspective challenge.

I went inside out with the boat, instead of outside in.

Inside Out, and Outside In

I notice another interesting thing I did in drawing this boat. I went inside out, instead of outside in.

In my Urban Sketch workshops, I explain to people the concept of going inside out or outside in on the page. With reference to the entire page, I go inside out. I draw the most interesting/important thing in my scene, then radiate outwards. But with each individual element within the scene, I go outside in. I draw its outline, and then I go into the details.

However, for this boat, I went inside out. Why?

I think it was because I wanted the final shape to be exaggerated. Maybe I was worried about getting the shape “wrong” on first try. Drawing something unfamiliar can mean I delay the most difficult aspect of it, until I can find enough reference points to make it simpler, or just gather the confidence to go for it.

At this point, I was at the 60min mark. I could stop at this point, just finish up the borders and dark areas. But there was still a little magic to be squeezed out of this scene. So I kept drawing and adding little details.

Balanced areas of pure black to deepen the contrast, and final touches.

I went for the big sketchbook, and the payoff was big too. I’m glad. I have been reluctant to do the 90 min sketches, but that was also a factor of the colder season. Now I am in the peak of PNW summer, so I will take this sketch as inspiration to sit for longer, and draw a little more. Push a little bit harder against the edges of my comfort zones. That’s where the magic lies.

This drawing will make a fantastic 10x20” or 20x30” print. I am going to frame one in my home as well. If you are interested in grabbing a fine art giclee print of this sketch, visit my shop and place an order!

New Members Welcome

Oh, by the way, new members are also welcome on my BuyMeACoffee page. Membership is a way to support my work with a small monthly contribution, equivalent to just a few cups of coffee. In exchange, I offer members various privileges like discounts on workshops and prints, bonus commentaries to podcast episodes, and “behind-the-scenes” posts from making SneakyArt and running the SneakyArt Podcast.

If that sounds interesting, or if you would like to simply support my work as an independent artist, check out my BuyMeACoffee page!