Sketching at open studio evokes a childhood memory of the feeling of working on an independent assignment alongside my classmates, earnestly, quietly and with focus. At open studio as soon as the model takes a position, sets the timer, and settles down, the artists fall into that same state of flow as they sketch away. Perhaps this has something to do with why I enjoy being there so much.

Today I thought about line as I sketched. I used a black water-soluble pencil to define the body outline. I also made thick lines with watercolor in the model’s hair, and used the hard edges of the watercolor to give shape to the body.