Sketching from life – especially moving subjects – is the best exercise for learning to trust your eye – hand coordination and mark making skills!

At the last Bluffton SketchCrawl, I arranged for the Bluffton Urban Sketchers to meet at Okatee River Farm. It was a true delight to be on this property that runs along the Okatie River. There were old barns, goats, chickens, river views, gorgeous live oaks and magnolias and… pigs!

This former farm girl has experience with holstein cows, horses, ponies, ducks, bantee hens, nubian goats, dogs and cats. Having access to pigs for the first time was so cool! I thought cows were nosey… Nothing compared to pigs. They were a delight to sketch. I love the sounds they make – even the squeals that certainly get your attention – their curiosity, mud-bath routine and just their sweet faces. I took pictures so I can further sketch and study these cuties.

I used a Sailor Fude fountain pen to sketch. It’s filled with Platinum Carbon ink that when totally dry is waterproof. I took advantage of hitting the wet ink with a waterbrush to create some instant shading. I also added a bit of raw sienna, burnt sienna and paynes grey in places. The pigs are constant movers. Thus a bunch of head shots. I’m looking forward to making more sketches from the photos I took. I want to really be familiar with their shapes for the next time I run into piggies : )