Mariko Higaki - Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object

The basic observational sketching flow and samples of the author's work are featured in this chapter.

Observational sketching has been embraced by many people on social media and has become a movement. One of the intriguing aspects is that the objects observed and the tools used will vary from person to person. In this chapter, youll find an outline of the movement and some sketches by artists whose enthusiasm jumps off the page. What would you draw? How would you draw it? Enjoy the process as you find your own style!

Observational sketching means to observe and sketch objects in your daily life. In 2018, the spatial designer Masatoshi Yamashita posted some of his know-how on the web. This led to the popularization of the hashtag # (#ObservationalSketching).

In observational sketching, we observe objects in our daily lives. All of these objects were made by people. When we observe carefully, time starts to flow in a way that's different from usual. We notice certain functions and examples of design creativity for the first time, and the affection we feel for the item grows deeper. These are just a few of the things that make observational sketching special.

There are no detailed rules in observational sketchingthat's all the more reason to find your own style. In this chapter, we see how five artists have enjoyed observational sketching in their own unique ways.

Five Questions for Masatoshi Yamashita, who popularized observational sketching

Q: How long have you been doing observational sketching? How often do you do it?

A: 15 years. Sometimes I draw every day, and sometimes I dont for several months.

Q: What made you start doing observational sketching?

A: I started because my mentor taught me to observe and record things.

Q: What do you usually observe?

A: I observe a wide range of things, from products to human behavior and the environment.

Q: Have you noticed any changes since you started doing observational sketching?

A: Instead of just looking at the appearance of things, Ive started to hypothesize why things turned out the way they did.

Q: What do you like about observational sketching? Do you enjoy it?

A: For me, its becoming a habit and it makes me happy to see a community forming around it. With many people continuing to do observational sketching, I look forward to even better discoveries and inventions.

Masatoshi Yamashita

Head of Offreco, a store design studio in western Tokyo. Spatial designer for the NPO Slow Label. As a student, he learned how to practice observing and recording things from his mentor. He used that to develop observational sketching and presented it on the web.

Website: offreco.net

Q: How long have you been doing observational sketching? How often do you do it?

A: Seven months (since April 2018). Sometimes I do it regularly, but sometimes I dont. At most, I do two or three pieces a week.

Q: How do you choose what product to draw? Is there anything you look for in particular?

A: I choose objects in my daily life that I find appealing or that move me, or objects that make me discover something new. I look for things that have a high degree of perfection.

Q: Have you noticed any changes since you started doing observational sketchings?

A: To a certain extent, Ive started to consider what would look good to others, and I strive to complete drawings in a way that achieves that. I think Ive become better at noticing the sense of size of objects and creative measures used in their details.

Q: What do you like about observational sketching? Do you enjoy it?

A: Its a task of discovering the root of goodness of an object you find appealing, so in one sense, you get to know yourself better as you learn about the object. Its also great to be able share that appreciation with others when I post on social media.