A new method of sketching to reduce erasing on art paper

Since my first art classes in middle school teachers have tried to encourage the use of contour drawing, putting down a continuous uninterrupted line to outline what you are drawing rather than short furry strokes. And from the time I was in middle school I have rejected that, it just doesn’t work for me. I have to experiment, try different angles, then darken the lines I am satisfied with and erase the rest. And this is just fine, except that over-erasing can be damaging to paper, specifically the sizing of watercolor paper. You can end up with areas of uneven absorption of the paint or smudging. I’ve tried sketching lighter, avoiding erasing entirely, but I have not been happy with the results. After all, I like erasing. It’s part of my established technique at this point. I even buy those twist-erase mechanical pencils (pictured) because otherwise I blow through erasers crazy fast.

So to let myself work how I am comfortable while not abusing my nice art paper, I am trying a new technique, which is to start my sketch on tracing paper, and then do my final outline with a sheet of black transfer paper above the working art surface.

sketch-sketch-erase-sketch-sketch-erase-sketch-sketch-erase

My first experiment with this went… surprisingly well. I was able to adjust a lot of the proportions of the dog instead of feeling compelled to accept imperfect lines out of fear of the eraser. No eraser even touched the toned paper, I went right from the transfer to colored pencil.

Now I look forward to trying this method with watercolor. And to also learn how many times a single sheet of transfer paper can be reused!

The dog remembering when she was a puppy, kind of a melancholy request by the person who commissioned the drawing but I am so here for it.