Drawing is back in fashion; I say it never went out!

The British museum is encouraging visitors to draw! Hoorah. They're right to get us all at it!

Sketches in my sketchbook from the British museum

Drawing in Museums and Galleries 

Back in the olden days when I did my A levels and my degree -  Drawing was king.
Life drawing, anatomy, still life, you name it. Regular visits to the variety of London galleries and museums always involved a day sketching. I loved it. 

Though over the past 20 years, high quality drawing skills, draughtsmanship if you like, was eschewed in favour of  pickled sharks and blurred videos by the big famed conceptual artists.
So imagine my joy to discover that the British museum have noticed a  rise in visitors wanting to sketch. They are now keen to facilitate this for their latest big exhibition - Rodin and the Art of Ancient Greece. And why wouldn't they, his sculptures and the ancient Greek sculptures are a joy to draw.

Sketches in my sketchbook from the British museum

Whenever I settle down to draw in a gallery, someone will always want to see what I'm doing. Don't ever let that put you off, as people just love looking at sketchbooks.

There is something truly wonderful about drawing. Now that many galleries have given up trying to stop people taking photographs, I see the light of an iPhone waved in the air the whole time; visitors keen to snap the moment and move on.
​But when you stop to draw, you notice more, your observation skills are sharpened and the experience heightened.

Just a sketchbook and a 2b pencil is all you need!

So how can you pluck up the courage and draw in a museum or a gallery.

The single biggest rule is travel light! Don't take loads of stuff. All you really need is a small hardback sketchbook and  a 2B graphite stick. Done.
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If you want to really go to town, take another pencil, a 4B!

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Sketches in my sketchbook from Salisbury Museum

Learn to draw standing up. If you have a little hard back sketchbook it's easier to draw holding your little sketchbook in your hand, you don't need to lean on your lap or a table.  Do multiple quick sketches on one page to get warmed up.

Sketches in my sketchbook, Natural History Museum.

​Once you've found something you want to focus on you can settle down on the floor or on one of those portable stools and take your time.

Sketches in my sketchbook, British Museum.

I absolutely adore sketching in galleries and museums and have tonnes of sketchbooks full to the brim of quick little sketches and wannabe masterpieces! They are a joy to look at, a record of places visited and a reminder of time well spent.
I can't recommend it enough!

I'll see you at the Rodin...sketchbook in hand.
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You can find more information on the Rodin exhibition on the  British museum website
here
​And you can read the Telegraph article about drawing in the British museum here -