Gestural Animal Sketching Session
Along with worksheet and video footage
Hi All,
The other day, Emma and I got together at my farm in Devon for a fun and inspiring sketch session. Our goal was to develop our skills in capturing the essence and movement of animals using expressive, gestural lines—and what better place to start than in my goat shed with our lovely herd of pregnant nanny goats?
Gestural drawing is all about embracing imperfection and focusing on the flow, energy, and essence of your subject. Instead of worrying about every detail, you let loose, creating lines that feel alive and spontaneous. This practice helps you build confidence, let go of the need for a "perfect" outcome, and connect with what you're observing.
Sketching the goats was a challenge—they're always moving, shifting their weight, and fidgeting! But that’s the beauty of this kind of drawing: it’s about responding to what you see in the moment, not freezing it in time.
We've put together a helpful worksheet for you, along with an uninterrupted video of the goats, so you can observe their movements and features in detail. The video will give you a continuous, distraction-free view, perfect for sketching. You can take your time to study the goats, capturing both their posture and characteristics while following along with the worksheet for additional guidance and tips.
If you’d like to give this a try, consider upgrading your subscription to gain access to the worksheet and the accompanying video.
The exercises are perfect for anyone looking to loosen up their drawing style and capture the energy of live animals. It includes:
A super simple list of suggested materials to get started.
Step-by-step exercises to practice gestural lines and quick sketching.
Tips on observing movement and creating expressive, dynamic sketches.
Access to video footage of Nikki’s goats to sketch along with, bringing the farm experience right to your home!
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will help you embrace imperfection and focus on the essence of your subject.
Why not give it a go? We’d love to see your sketches!