The Importance of Sketching Every Day

Marco Mazzoni on how to develop your illustration style through sketching

Marco Mazzoni (@marcomazzoniart) is an Italian artist, originally from Tortona in Piedmont, who creates intricate still lifes and portraits inspired by flora, fauna, and folklore (and which often feature female herbalists from centuries past). He began drawing at the age of five, sketching on every piece of paper he could find while waiting for his father to finish work at the paper mill. Color pencils have always been his favorite medium of expression, initially because they were so affordable, and later because of the range of possibilities they offered.

During his teen years, Mazzoni started combining his passion for music with his love of drawing: he began creating music posters. Later, while studying at the Brera Art Academy in Milan, he would spend hours in museums in front of paintings, studying the artists’ use of light and dark. He found himself drawn to the Chiaroscuro technique and would begin applying these strong contrasts to his own color pencil illustrations–he had discovered the style that would become his trademark.

Mazzoni has exhibited in galleries all over the world and has published a number of books, including an illustrated version of “Thumbelina” by Hans Christian Andersen. In this post, he discusses the importance of sketching every day to develop your own style.

Allow your hand to move freely

When you’re sketching, your hand is free to move and explore the page. “Doodling is good for the soul because the hand works on its own,” says Mazzoni. It’s important to sketch every day and not to be afraid to make mistakes. In fact, making mistakes is an essential part of the process. A small detail of a sketch could form the basis of a bigger drawing–sketching is your starting point that will lead to greater things.

Discover your comfort shape

Great artists stand out for their own style, which evolves from their use of shapes. In artists' work, you should be able to recognize what Mazzoni calls their “comfort shape”–the shape they use as their starting point. Mazzoni takes the example of British artist Glenn Brown, whose work centers around circular shapes. He uses them as a base to create anything and everything. It is only by sketching every day, that you will discover your own comfort shape and develop your own recognizable style.

Experiment with your key subject

Mazzoni grew up playing in a garden full of flowers and developed an understanding of the flora around him that can be seen in his work. Flowers are a key subject in his illustrations, and it is his familiarity with them that allows him to draw them in a way that is unique and fresh. Mazzoni emphasizes the importance of exploring your own key subject by sketching every day. It is only through practice that you will find new and original ways to incorporate your subject into your work.

Take a sketchbook with you wherever you go

Never leave the house without a sketchbook. It doesn’t have to be as big as A4 or even A5. The less room it takes up in your bag, the more likely you are to take it with you and practice every day.

If you have enjoyed Marco Mazzoni’s advice, check out his course Chiaroscuro Creative Portrait with Pencils, in which you will learn how to apply the Chiaroscuro technique to your portraits in pencil to set a mood that and command the viewer’s attention.

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