Posted: 29 June 2008 at 8:06pm | IP Logged

Hi, Stuff...

I don't often do sketches...yet.  Two reasons, I think.  First, I don't often want to get caught up in the drawing and miss the "seeing".  And, I think it's one of those "But, I don't draw well" self-conscious things.

I plan a bit ahead for those I have done.  For instance, for planet or moon drawings I already have an outline ready to go (read as circle  ).  I am also at the point where I don't include a ton of detail.  I focus on the main points I wanted to observe such as the GRS on Jupiter or a particular mare or crater.

I did do a quick search and found this site:  http://www.rangeweb.net/~sketcher/index.html

It seemed interesting.

Oh, I noticed my copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (2nd ed.) has a page on sketching at the eyepiece by Gregg Thompson.  Do you have that book or access to it?

Posted: 01 July 2008 at 1:25am | IP Logged

I haven't tried sketching either. What I do draw is little charts or other helpful diagrams to depict what I saw. eg positions of Jupiter's moons, relative size of objects, position of background stars etc. These are drawn so I can confirm my observations next morning when I have access to computer or other resources. I have a series of diagrams of Comet Holmes' path thru Perseus last year.

Sketching is something I'd like to try, and I've heard that it's possible to do so with a Dob - sketch, push, sketch, push.

~P

Posted: 08 July 2008 at 4:33am | IP Logged

Stuff - I came across this book in one of the book clubs I am in.  It's called :

"Astronomical Sketching" By Richard Handy, et al.  Its a step-by-step introduction to the subject.  Looks interesting, has 390 illustrations and was published in 2007.

Here's the book description :

"Want to draw images from space yourself instead of relying on photography? If so, Astronomical Sketching is ideal for you. Five talented sketch artists provide step-by-step tutorials for sketching the Moon, comets, Sun, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies in a variety of media.
    Interested in the Moon? One chapter contains a series of sections that show in turn how to sketch it with a graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, and white chalk on black paper. Each section contains a list of art supplies, preparation advice, and a set of numbered steps accompanied by illustrations. Consider a graphite sketch of lunar craters. In nine steps, you’ll learn to create a light outline of the main features; “rough in” the most prominent shadows; and add detail to the crater rims and peaks. Subsequently you’ll heighten the contrast between the darker crater floor and brighter walls; blend these areas to match what you see through the telescope; and remove smudges.
    How about the Trifid Nebula? As daunting as this may seem at first, it can be done. In turn, you are shown how to frame and prepare the sketch area; plot the positions of stars within your field of view; and analyze the nebulae—all  before starting your sketch. Then we see how to brush in the base layer with graphite; build up brighter areas; and refine the view (a kneaded eraser will allow you to subtly remove layers of graphite). While the original sketch is prepared with black graphite on white paper, you can create a negative that matches what’s seen in the sky.  
    As for galaxies, the book suggests starting with the barred spiral M66 in Leo, a good subject due to its striking structure. An eraser shield can help create the dark lanes seen in other examples, such as the Sombrero Galaxy (M104).    
    Astronomical Sketching gives you the ability to record the beauty of the cosmos with your own hands."

Posted: 23 June 2009 at 6:16am | IP Logged

Hi Guys and Gals

Just catching up on this year old post on sketching.

Phill, excuse me being obtuse, buth what is Sketch-push? Please explain the concept.

How do you see in the dark and do your eyes adjust quickly enough for sketching?

Thanks to you all for the Book, site and info.

Lili

Posted: 23 June 2009 at 7:11am | IP Logged

Lili, I decided that sketching would be fun right after I got my Dobsonian scope last year. It was a somewhat ironic decision because for the previous 7 years I'd observed with a motor-driven refractor, and a Dobsonian typically has no motor drive, and an observer tracks an object by nudging the scope every few moments. Hence sketch-push the scope-sketch some more.

As for sketching in the dark, most observers have a dim red light aimed at their sketch pad.

Unfortunately, I've done very little observing over the past year, but am hoping to get my scope out more over the next few months - starting this Saturday night, if the weather clears up......right in tiem for mosquito season

~Phill

Posted: 25 June 2009 at 5:21am | IP Logged

Okay Phill that was good. Thanks. I knew that about the red flashlight, but does one have enough hands.

Get the Off for the mosquitos and go get em girl. We have all been under the cloud cover lately. This is the first June I can remember that had so few nice days you could count on one hand.

Posted: 27 June 2009 at 12:33am | IP Logged

I found one of those dual lights that strap onto the head (red and white light) at a local store in Kingston, NY ... Gander Mountain. (I believe they recently went online, longtime catalog business.) I got it for my SAR - Search and Rescue work, wish I had found it when first observing the stars. I always had the special red light, the flashlight painted with red and the dreaded white light flashlight to go along.

Getting a bit more "Off" the subject, but remember how Avon's Skin-So-Soft was supposed to repel the buggers? I am out in the woods alot and my personal body lotion is by a company called "philosophy", fragrance "Amazing Grace". I use this refreshing lotion often and those buggers bother me not! (I do spray the bottoms of my legs with yucky deet stuff.)

Posted: 25 October 2009 at 9:58pm | IP Logged

Just reading this post and stuff.............tossing out one book to make room for another? Hmmmm, what a "novel" concept. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun, well, okay, maybe I could, but where's the fun in that????) Which, of course, maybe why there are books all over my house!!

Corey, thanks for pointing out the book, sounds interesting.