A few months ago, I visited the Art Institute of Chicago with a few fellow artists to view a medieval art exhibition there. We all brought our sketchbooks and wandered around the hall looking for subjects to sketch. I sat down on the floor and sketched the model of knight and armored horse for the next two hours.
Finding unusual places to sketch, such as museums, may offer you a chance to draw unusual and complex subjects. The foreshortening, the angle, and the costuming all presented challenges that had to be solved within a relatively crowded environment. People would walk in front of the subject constantly, and my angle was limited to where I could sit unobtrusively to draw. However, working through these challenges all provide growth opportunities as an artist, and I left feeling a sense of accomplishment in having drawn this complex subject.
By giving yourself the opportunity to try challenging subjects in less than ideal conditions, you will develop resiliency and grit as an artist, and you will open yourself up to the possibility of expanding your ability and subject matter.
Have fun!
