Field note 02

Draw the object in front of you

Practice looking without shopping for supplies.

Pick a cup, a shoe or a folded towel. A pencil and a sheet of paper are enough. Set a timer for ten minutes and treat the drawing as a record of what you notice.

Start with the largest shape

Before adding details, lightly mark the top, bottom and widest points. Look at the space around the object. Comparing those empty shapes can help you notice when the drawing becomes too wide or too narrow.

Choose one detail

Add a handle, a seam or a fold only after the outline feels settled. Use a few light marks to show shadow. You can leave parts unfinished; the exercise is about attention rather than filling the page.

Keep the date

Write the date and one thing you found difficult on the back. Try the same object next week. Compare what you noticed, not whether the later drawing deserves a better score.