Dear Sarah - 007

Drawing vs sketching, noodles, peppers, and Little Red Riding Hood

Dear Nikki - January 7, 2025

Remember when we first talked about doing this challenge, and you said we could post any drawing--a stick man, even? I'm not sending a stick man today, but I am sending another old drawing, which I have unilaterally decided meets the requirements. I found it yesterday when I was looking through a bunch of old sketchbooks, and I was shocked by how good it was. Which led me to wonder why I stopped drawing back then, since I was obviously getting the hang of it. I can't remember, but I hope that the accountability aspect of this daily practice will keep me coming back to the sketchbook and sharpening my pencils.

I also started to think about the difference between drawing and sketching, and whether they are two different things, or two facets of the same thing. What do you think? Drawing seems more studied to me, while sketching is more spontaneous. Is it like the difference between classical music and jazz? Or ballet and hip hop? Same source, different expression?

Dear Sarah - January 7, 2025

Hello! You have hopscotched ahead of me as I’ve had a ludicrously busy couple of days exploring temples, moving from one accommodation to another, and having my back go out (which led to a rather fascinating experience with acupuncture at a tiny clinic not far from the new digs).

Re. the difference between drawing and sketching - not sure what the official definition is but I think of sketching as being quicker and looser and a drawing more polished/a complete work.

This post is an interesting way to look at the two activities.

As you pulled a past drawing from your stockpile, I am doing the same. Sketch, drawing, or comic? Or is a comic panel a drawing - or is the earlier iteration of a comic panel a sketch and the final, more polished version the drawing?

This was taken from a workshop on comic-creation where we had to take a simple story (Little Red Riding Hood) and create drawings of critical moments from the narrative.

More tomorrow (thank goodness there is always tomorrow) as I am now rushing off to catch a train to Yokohama where a noodle-making class awaits me…