30-Minute Pears

2/18/18

I’ve been busier than usual lately with several volunteer projects with firm deadlines, and it’s been hard to squeeze in time for leisurely sketches. I usually spend an hour or so on a typical still life (a single fruit done with colored pencils), but the past couple of days I’ve given myself the challenge to make one in a half-hour or less and still feel like the sketch is finished. It’s not as satisfying to rush – I prefer the more meditative quality of taking my time – but on the other hand, it’s kind of exhilarating to move quickly the way it feels when sketching on location and the light is changing or the rain is about to start.

2/19/18