I tend to compartmentalise sketching into the three following categories: Information, Ideas, Inspiration. Here’s an example of an information sketch.

It’s 35’c here in Puglia, Southern Italy, and I’m trying to find some shade by the pool, helpfully offered by this charming loggia. Sitting in moderately cooler environs than the poolside offers, with a cold beer, I notice the climbing plants on the wall and the shadows they are throwing onto the supporting wall. It is worth a quick watercolour sketch - it is information and it

requires a different approach to shadows than normal: shadows last. Here, I painted the wall first, shadows next and the the objests casting shade, last. Don’t think that your sketchbook needs to be filled with mini-masterpieces and breathtaking vistas - no, studies like this, information sketches if you like, are equally important. Do one of these, and you’ll be ready to use the wash sequence and techniques you’ve deployed into another painting of a similar subject.

Unfortunately, I got carried away with the loggia wall and shadow, and my lines of stones on the wall behind the plants demonstrates some questionable perspective; these problems are not my fault however. I blame the beer!