Not always a good thing. The one thing we all have plenty of, for one reason or another in these odd times, is a lot more time. Many have used it constructively (my garage has never been tidier, nor my books so organised, and I did make a start on tidying up my art materials, honestly), but having the pressure of deadlines, appointments and the like removed temporarily, is not always a good thing, at least in relation to my art, and the way I produce it.

My own feeling is that I’ve made my best art when it’s not been carefully considered, planned, thought about and painstakingly produced. (In my opinion) my best work has been drawn almost without thinking, as an afterthought, and this set of progress photos of a recent drawing in my sketchbook, will, I hope, demonstrate what I mean.

I spotted the scene as I drove back from my daily dog walk on a blindingly sunny day, and was taken by the tunnel created by the deep shadows revealing a sunlit spot at the end. I quickly took some reference photos, and mentally made a note to draw it at some point: my first mistake- I should have done it straight away rather than think about it for a while.

When I eventually started, I drew the bare bones quickly but carefully as I already knew in my mind how I wanted the end result to look. I left my book open on my work desk -second mistake, as I kept adding to the pen work every time I passed it. After a week of this ‘fiddling’ I decided it was ready for some colour, so I set to, and I now know that I should have added the colour washes in one session, rather than the three which I did, and that I should have stopped about 10 minutes before I did, then I wouldn’t have added the last, very dark, heavy wash to the greenery in the ‘tunnel’ which – to my eyes- has ruined it. I should have realised that the very detailed pen work was enough to suggest heavy shadows, overlaid with a simple wash rather than the heavy, dark green I used.

Contrast the stages in the sketchbook drawing with the two pencil and wash sketches I did after the fact: these took less than 5 minutes, and to me, they have far more life and vitality than the actual drawing. I might revisit the ink and wash drawing, but try it in one go……..

Here are the drawing stages, plus the two thumbnail sketches: I do hope you get what I’m trying to demonstrate, and I’m well aware that this is simply my opinion.I do appreciate that not everyone has the confidence to make art in this speedy style, but a good way to start is to set yourself a time limit: however long you usually take to do a painting, try doing it in half the time, or an hour. You’ll be amazed at the results.