2. What is a field sketching?
• A test of your observation and recording skills
• NOT a test of your drawing skills…
• A method of showing visual information
• Allows you to interpret the environment according to the
way you see it and according to the question
• Decide how much details you want to put into your sketch
• Identify the important details and leave out the less significant ones
3. How to…?
1. Decide on the location to sketch
2. Carefully observe the location that you have chosen
3. Frame the area in a 3X3 grid BEFORE starting your
sketch
4. Add key features and details that are important to what
you want to study:
• Physical: Trees, Water bodies, Slopes
• Human: Large buildings, Roads, Other man-made features
• Others: Horizon line
5. Add the following to complete your sketch:
• Title of sketch
• Details of where (and when) it was drawn
• Annotations to identify key features
5. Self-checking…
1. Did I use a 3X3 grid to guide me?
2. Have I included all the necessary key
features and details to answer the
question?
3. Are the key features identified with
annotations?
4. Does my sketch have a title?
5. Did I include details of where (and when)
the sketch was drawn?
6. Remember…
• You don’t have to be an artist to do a good field
sketch!
• Unless you are very confident, always use the
3X3 grid to help you. (most of you SHOULD use
the grid…)
• It is not just about the drawing, the additional
information and annotations are just as important.
• Always keep your intention in mind when you
sketch: “What do you want to show in your
sketch?”
