Sketching out ideas before an artist creates them offers many benefits. The idea is initially drawn in it’s raw state. In other words, it is a kind of a regurgitation of the thoughts without any tweaking. Further sketching provides refinement of the idea by considering stages of process, possible materials, and the best way to visually transfer of the concept.
Once a concept is down on paper, the artist is able to consider if the art work intended is the best conductor of the idea. During the initial sketching process, the artist may build on the original idea and discover better ways to express the message in their work. This can mean that they totally change the art work, or that they simply make small changes to the original idea. This is an important process for every artist to employ. Often, at this stage, it is beneficial for the artist to share the concept with others and see if the intent is actually received by the audience. If not, insight can be gained by listening to other’s feedback.
Once the concept is clear, the artist can go on to the next phase of planning. During this phase the artist will break down the process needed to build the art work. It is critical for the artist to achieve this so that no time is wasted in production by realizing that another method would have been better or faster. Once again, depending on the project, the artist may need to interview experts on the particular process they intend to use. This can make the building process free of errors and increase the speed of learning new processes.
At this point, the artist is ready to consider what materials to use for the art work. The materials need to match the message of the work and the process. For instance, if the work was about aging , the artist would want materials that give the feel of something weathered, not something new and shiny. The artist also would need to consider their budget for materials. Often products needed can be too expensive. Artists can route around this by recycling old material, asking for product donations, or searching for grant money.
So the sketching process is an important journey that leads the artist to answer specific questions about their intended work. It is the bridge between the concept and the final work.