Why do artists sketch first?
Most painters sketch before painting. Sketching clarifies ideas. When stuck, sketching helps generate ideas. Sketching saves time, effort, and supplies. However, drawing is not required before painting. Drawing skills help painting but aren’t essential to learn painting.
There’s no rule you must draw before painting. While detailed sketches can provide good reference, many painters sketch lightly or not at all before beginning a painting. Some sketch right on the canvas. Others plan compositions mentally without sketches.
Beginners should start on good surfaces:
- Primed canvas
- Wood
- Paper
Acrylics are good for beginners as they dry hard, allowing layers and changes. Oils also layer well but take longer to dry. Watercolors don’t layer well as washes reactivate lower layers.
Sketching distills compositions to their essence. It forces simplification to key elements. Sketches identify focal points and areas of emphasis. Experiment with values and compositions. Sketching isn’t mandatory but it can improve paintings.