Sketching on Canvas

[Anne Hall]

From what I have seen, you can 1) sketch in graphite, 2) charcoal or 3) with a brush using thinned yellow ochre or another earth color (raw umber or sienna). Detail follows:

1) I have not tried graphite myself but have seen the work of someone who does. I think she used a #2 pencil on medium textured canvas that was double oil primed. Check around for some information directly from someone who does this.

2) You can get a great result with charcoal using Grumbacher Medium charcoal sharpened to a very fine point with a handheld pencil sharpener or Xacto knife. To correct drawing mistakes, use a towel or rag to literally knock the charcoal off the canvas. When you are satisfied with your charcoal drawing you have three choices: a) knock all the charcoal offf and use the faint ghost remaining as your guide; or b), use your finger and carefully rub your charcoal into the canvas for a more visible ghost; or c), take very very thinned out raw umber and "ink in" your charcoal drawing with a fine brush.

3) Many teachers advocate learning to draw with the brush as good preparation for painting. You do want to use the earth colors in drawing stages because they dry more quickly than the mineral, organic or modern synthetic colors. Start with a lighter color such as yellow ochre and make corrections in a deeper color like raw siena or raw umber.