Sketching: The Roadmap to Your Painting

When it comes to painting, sketching is often seen as a vital first step. For some, it’s an essential part of the process—a detailed map to guide the brushstrokes that will bring their artwork to life. But not every artist approaches sketching in the same way. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, your method of sketching (or not sketching) can vary, and it all comes down to what works best for you.

At our studio, we each have our own approach to sketching, and we’d love to share those insights with you.

Different Approaches to Sketching

Greg’s Method: Planning with Precision

Greg, for instance, takes a very structured approach to his work. Much like K.M. does when outlining her books, Greg sketches out his compositions thoroughly before beginning to paint. This allows him to visualize the entire piece, ensuring that key elements are in place and that he’s confident in the direction of the painting. For Greg, sketching is an essential step—it’s about having a solid plan before putting paint to canvas.

K.M.’s Method: The Freedom of Flexibility

On the other hand, K.M. prefers a more loose and fluid approach. While she doesn’t rule out sketching entirely, she rarely creates a detailed sketch on her canvas. Instead, K.M. finds that a rough visual guide is enough. To help plan her pieces, she often creates a Pinterest board filled with inspiration, colors, compositions, and reference images. This gives her a flexible framework to work within, but she leaves plenty of room for improvisation.

Instead of committing to a precise sketch, K.M. likes to build the structure of her painting as she goes, making adjustments along the way. This method allows her to remain open to creativity and spontaneity during the painting process.

Why Sketching Works (or Doesn’t Work) for Different Artists

Some artists thrive on structure and find that sketching is essential for mapping out complex compositions. A detailed plan can help guide them through the process, ensuring that the placement of elements and the overall structure are just right before adding color. For these artists, sketching isn’t just a tool—it’s part of the artwork itself.

For others, like K.M., sketching may be seen as too restrictive. Leaving room for the painting to evolve naturally as they work can feel like a more organic approach. It’s less about mapping out every detail and more about exploring and discovering the piece as they paint it.

Both approaches have their merits, and neither is right or wrong. The key is finding what works best for you.

Creating a Digital Plan (Pinterest and Other Tools)

One of the reasons K.M. prefers a digital approach to planning is the flexibility it provides. Instead of sketching out every detail, she creates a digital board on Pinterest to collect visual references. This might include color palettes, composition ideas, textures, and even scenes or objects that inspire her. It’s a flexible, evolving collection of ideas that she can refer to as she works, allowing her to make changes on the fly.

The beauty of digital planning is that it’s easy to adapt and change, which suits K.M.’s style of working. There’s no need to commit to anything set in stone, and she can always add new ideas as they come to her.

Conclusion: Find What Works for You

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to approach sketching. Whether you prefer a highly detailed, precise plan or a loose, fluid idea that evolves as you paint, the key is finding what works best for you.

Experiment with different methods and see how they fit into your painting process. Maybe you’ll start with a sketch and add to it later, or perhaps you’ll prefer to create a digital board full of ideas and references. Whatever method you choose, remember that it’s all part of your personal creative journey.

If you're looking for high-quality materials to bring your ideas to life, our store has everything you need—whether you're searching for the perfect brushes, high-grade paints, or premium canvas. Explore our products today and discover how we can help you take your art to the next level!