Pen and Ink Sketching on Tours

Sketching is an fun hobby that many artists enjoy doing on tours. Later, an artist can use a sketch to transform it into a drawing to be framed.

After years of traveling on tours with my history buff husband, I finally discovered it wasn’t so bad. I used to just tag along, hoping for a few quiet moments to rest my weary feet during those many historical tours. I often sat on the bus when the tour director warned us that the trek up the hill to see a historical landmark might be challenging. Now, I actually look forward to these trips as they give me the unique opportunity to sketch scenes I don’t see back at home.

Benefits of Sketching

A sketch is a preliminary drawing, usually intended for a final drawing or painting. This is how artists can record information. Even people naturally gifted in drawing can improve their skills by regularly sketching objects they see every day.

Sketching helps to sharpen observation skills and focus on tiny details of a subject. It also improves a person’s ability to draw freehand.

Sketching Tips

Before you even take your trip, practice sketching houses, churches and other buildings in your neighborhood. First, find a subject to sketch such as a house across the street. After studying it, ask yourself questions. What area of the subject is the brightest? Note any sunlit areas or shadows, determining the light source. Count the windows, porch steps and other items.

Then, take a pencil and draw the shapes that you see. This doesn’t have to be an exact copy of the building, although you can probably capture the subject’s essence. Next, use a straight-edge to straighten lines and make corrections. If there are some imperfections, realize that imperfections depict character if your house is old.

Ex. 1. Read and translate the text. Prepare for a discussion.

Граматичний матеріал: The Present Perfect Tense.

Study this example situation: Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it. He has lost his key. He has lost his key = He lost it recently, and he still doesn't have it. Have/has lost is the present perfect simple:

I/we/they/you   have    (= I've etc.)	finished lost done been  etc.
he/she/it   has    (= he's etc.)

The present perfect simple is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed (finished/decided etc.), but many important verbs are irregular (lost/done/written etc.).

When we say that 'something has happened', this is usually new information: •  Ow! I've cut my finger. •  The road is closed. There's been (there has been) an accident. •  (from the news)  Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery. When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now: •  'Where's your key?'    'I don't know. I've lost it.'  (= I don't have it now) •  He told me his name, but I've forgotten it.  (=I can't remember it now) •  'Is Sally here?'    'No, she's gone out.'  (= she is out now) •  I can't find my bag. Have you seen it?  (= Do you know where it is now?)

You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet. Just = a short time ago: •  'Are you hungry?'    'No, I've just had lunch.' •  Hello. Have you just arrived? We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected: •  'Don't forget to send the letter.'    'I've already sent it.' •  'What time is Mark leaving?'    'He's already gone." Yet = until now. Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences: •  Has it stopped raining yet? •  I've written the letter, but I haven't sent it yet.

Note the difference between gone (to) and been (to): •  Jim is on holiday. He has gone to Italy.  (= he is there now or on his way there) •  Jane is back home now. She has been to Italy.  (= she has now come back)

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences using today / this year / this term etc. 1. I saw Tom yesterday, but    I haven't seen him today.    2. I read a newspaper yesterday, but I ________________________ today. 3. Last year the company made a profit, but this year _______________________. 4. Tracy worked hard at school last term, but ________________________. 5. It snowed a lot last winter, but    6. Our football team won a lot of games last season, but we ________________________.

Ex. 2. Put in been or gone. 1.    Jim is on holiday. He's  gone  to Italy. 2.    Hello! I've just ___________ to the shops. I've bought lots of things. 3.    Alice isn't here at the moment. She's ___________ to the shop to get a newspaper. 4.    Tom has ___________ out. He'll be back in about an hour. 5.    'Are you going to the bank?'    'No, I've already ___________ to the bank.'

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