PS

The (Forgotten?) Art of Geological Field Sketches*

Jon Noad1

Search and Discovery Article #41853 (2016)**

Posted August 15, 2016

*Adapted from poster presentation given at AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-22, 2016
**Datapages © 2016 Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

1
Geological consultant; Geotrain Ltd., Calgary, Canada (jonnoad@hotmail.com)

Abstract

The use of geological field sketches to illustrate geological concepts dates back almost as far as geology itself. Indeed the illustrations of
erupting volcanoes from Roman times could be considered as early examples of the genre. However in recent times the advent of the digital
camera seems to have dealt a blow to the art, despite the many advantages that properly executed field sketches can provide. Why is a field
sketch superior to a photograph? First and foremost it can highlight the geological aspects of an outcrop in a way that a photograph seldom can.
Many significant surfaces do not stand out when viewed, despite their importance geologically. Secondly a sketch allows a viewpoint that may
not be possible to achieve in actuality, such as a bird's eye view of an outcrop. The sketch can be drawn in a notebook and worked on until the
illustrator is completely happy, proving the old adage that the geologist's most useful tool is his or her eraser. Finally, drawing the outcrop in a
notebook allows geologists to add as many notes as they choose, which are then preserved in a location that is easy to find and access years
down the line. How many times has one struggled to find an image or photo captured ten years ago, with the plethora of data that modern life
(and computers) generate? This paper presents ten tips to improve the quality of any geologist's field sketches, ranging from the use of
perspective, scale, and shading, to how to highlight geological features. In addition information will be provided on how to go about drawing
the more familiar objects encountered in the field: rocks, mountains, skies and clouds, trees, water and animals. There is no substitute for
practice, and getting out into the field and honing your skills, but applying the techniques described herein will certainly improve your
geological renditions.
 1. INTRODUCTION THE (forgotten?) ART OF Technique Comments
The use of geological field sketches to illustrate geological concepts dates back
further than geology itself. However in recent times the digital camera seems to GEOLOGICAL FIELD SKETCHES Hand position Try not to rest your hand or palm on the paper, as your pencil
lines will smudge. Use a fixative spray on completed sketches
have dealt a blow to the art. However a properly executed field sketch can often once back at home
be superior to a photograph:
Jon Noad What pencil to use Ideally use a 0.5 HB propelling pencil, and a Steadtler 2B for
shading
•  It can highlight the geological aspects of an outcrop, rock or fossil in a way Geological consultant; Geotrain Ltd. The importance of a This will ensure a balanced sketch, and make you aware of
that a photograph cannot (many significant features do not stand out due to
vegetation or grey rocks on grey rocks. jonnoad@hotmail.com thumbnail sketch potential challenges to completing a useful rendition of the
geology
•  A sketch allows a viewpoint that may not be possible to achieve in actuality. The use of colour Use three shades in your thumbnail, and a maximum of ten
•  Sketching forces to observer to view and interpret the field data. 4. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY values shades in your composition
The Stearne
•  A sketch is easy to annotate on the spot. Annotated sketches are probably anticline is hidden The use of If possible, you should decide on a focal point (and vanishing
•  It can be worked on until the geologist is happy – use that eraser! most useful in displaying structural beneath perspective point) for the sketch, in order to draw the viewer’s eye to the key
•  It is usually easy to find back a sketch in your notebook, data. They allow the positions and vegetation, but the elements of the art. If you have a horizon in your vista, try not to
character of faults to be overlain on field sketch allows put it in the centre of your sketch. Things nearer to the viewer
2. TYPES OF FIELD SKETCHES the underlying box should be drawn in more detail
the outcrop. fold to be shown. Drawing to scale Many laymen must have wondered why artists hold up their
There are seven main types of field sketches: brushes at arm’s length. The answer is to ensure that different
The photo shows
elements of the field sketch are to scale.
•  Structural – picking out faults, thrusts, folds Banff
Thrust
•  Stratigraphic – overlay of nomenclature on sketch the mountains, Shading Different shading techniques will be presented and evaluated,
but an annotated and recommendations provided for which style to use in various
•  Sedimentary structures – detail of how they fit together field sketch situations. These include line art, block shading and the use of
•  Cyclicity – coarsening up, sequence stratigraphic, etc. provides key shadow to create three dimensions
•  Fossils – may include details of morphology details of the The fracture corridors have been Experiment with You will be surprised at the impact of applying elements of
•  Alternative ways to look at geology and its interpretation thrusts that highlighted in this sketch of a quarry in styles differing art styles, such as Japanese, Medieval, Impressionist
•  Non geological: Views, wildlife, etc. Rundle
Thrust
create these Apicennia, Italy. and others. By trying out these techniques, you will add skills to
Sulphur Mtn
Thrust structures. your portfolio
Complex
5. SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES structural Annotations Feel free to write on your sketch, and to use arrows to point to
interpretation of details or to tie text to parts of the drawing
This sketch shows
an outcrop in Review your sketch Does it show what you wanted. If not, why not? Maybe you can
Jurassic scroll bars
the Pyrenees. change it, and certainly you can learn for next time. Is it worth
exposed on a
wavecut platform. starting the sketch again, using a different approach?
Interpreted
The structures are
structure from
difficult to view in
an outcrop in
outcrop due to a lack
the Rockies.
of colour contrast. 3. HINTS AND TIPS
Contorted white limestone beds The table above provides ten top tips to help you to maximise the value of
from the Cretaceous of Libya. your field sketches. There is no substitute for solid practice, but I recommend
6. STRATIGRAPHY
the use of perspective and drawing to scale. When drawing your thumbnail
Field sketches allow the
sketch, be aware of how the different elements in your sketch relate to one
geologist to append the
another – which point at the base of your drawing lines up with the highest
stratigraphy to the outcrop
peak, etc?
in a very simple way.
You can do whatever you like with
a field sketch, including using
different techniques to display This view of the Note how a simple sketch Jon Noad is a geologist with over
sedimentological information. Grand Canyon has details of the two 25 years of experience, the last 18
The sketch above shows includes information
lateral accretion surfaces
members included. in oil and gas. He is available to
on the Formations work as an exploration or
becoming muddier exposed.
upwards, tough to see in production geologist. He has
a photo. Complicated These classic shapes extensive core logging experience,
Simple geology can
stratigraphic demonstrate shading. and is happy to run short (or
be annotated The direction of the
Field sketches are a great relationships to provide longer) classroom based courses
lines should match the and field trips for companies at
way to pick out the details can be structural and
summarised direction a raindrop
of sedimentary structures, stratigraphic would flow down each
competitive rates:
and to simplify them. in a sketch. information. jonnoad@hotmail.com
plane.
 7. FOSSILS Burrows from Libya, showing
the Y junctions.
8. INTERPRETATIONS AND MORE For sketching rocks:
E Begin with the outlines and add shading. Indicate the
E
direction of a plane by the orientation of the shading lines.
Imagine the direction that a raindrop would take across the
surfaces. Next identify and add light and dark wedges,
B
D then add cracks as dark lines that follow the planes.
D C Finally add the shadows created by the rocks.
B A

A sketch showing interpreted

facies belts on a beach in South
Fossil tree exposed Carolina.
near Banff.
A
Interpreted facies belts in beach
Drawing skeletons Burrows picked out by chert outcropping and cliff outcrop in Nova Scotia.
forces you to near Exshaw, Alberta. An outcrop in Saudi
Arabia. The annotated
Water: the best place to start is by observing. What is dark
observe physiology.
sketch shows the facies and what is light? Use a side to side rocking motion to
belts, which are tied to create the impression of water. Reflections are critical to
the logged section. achieving a realistic water surface, as are highlights; points
CHANNEL
of light in the water. Consider what is at the bottom of
MOUTHBAR streams, and that water forms streams when flowing down
over objects. All streams and lakes have dark murky areas
TOP
to look for. For sea scenes, when looking at a wave
breaking, the foam will split and widen laterally.
9. NATURAL BEAUTY
TY TOP

BASE Mountains are typically represented by inverted Vs, while

Interstate rolling hills use curved lines. Bring ridges out from the
70
peaks, and add secondary detail to give the mountains
Two outcrops of the Ferron Sandstone,
Utah, have been interpreted and
more depth. Use sharply jagged lines to create snow caps
correlated in this field sketch,. or high grass lines. Draw rocks in the foreground to create
contrast. Add trees as tiny jagged triangles to help define
Outcrop of meandering channels scale. Shadows are very important to help to show the
from Dinosaur Provincial Park. rugged nature of the topography, and can be achieved
The sketches show a summary
of facies and an interpretation of
using basic hatching, spaced more closely for deeper
Such sketches make Drawing a tree is done by establishing a basic organic
your notebook a the depositional settings. shadows.
shape for the leaves, drawing in a trunk split into a couple of
pleasure to read back branches and outlining the whole thing in marker before
through. Make them
adding smaller details. Look for the underlying shape of a
simple or detailed.
10. ANNOTATING CYCLES tree. Draw branches that taper as they reach the edges of
Cyclicity the tree. Make the lines ragged. Make the branches diverge
in the
from the trunk in steps. Erase branches to show a tree in
Gething
Fm. at summer. Outline spaces in the foliage, and use shadows to
Sheep help to give a three dimensional appearance. Use scribble,
River. dots or shading to suggest leaves.

12. CONCLUSIONS Two examples 11. TYPICAL OBJECTS

Simple sketches are from Iran, where
worth a thousand words •  Field sketches are an incredibly useful tool for the Several objects come up time after time when creating
the well exposed
geologist. carbonates are geological field sketches. These include rocks (surprise!),
•  You do not have to be an artist to collect basic data amenable to mountains, water and foliage of various kinds. Practice drawing
and display it in your notebook. sequence these objects in a simple yet effective way. Often you will not
•  Practice will be rewarded with better sketches. stratigraphic have much time in the field to nail down the details, so
interpretation concentrate on getting the “feel” right. Shading is usually key to
•  Read basic art guides to help hone your skills “on the fly”.
•  Good luck out there! getting these objects right.