Are you getting ready for field camp and worried about your drawing skills?

Use
these tools to get you started, or check your progress and artistic/spatial analytic
skills.
It should be noted that geologic drawings vary based on purpose--for example: if
you are trying to encompass the structural details of an outcrop, it's important to
focus on big-picture features and outlines. There's no need to shade, for
example, if you are drawing an outcrop with a formational contact, as it is more
important to distinguish the rock types (by using a key with dashed
lines/bricks/dots/fill) than to cue into the way the light casts shadows on the face.
THINGS TO ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS DO:
1) Include location and date, time of day, and weather if appropriate.
2) Include a scale, usually based off of your stride (figure this out BEFORE you
go into the field!).
3) Orientation matters! For overhead type maps (you're a cloud, let's say) use a
North arrow. For Isometric or 3/4 drawings, use an "azimuthal gradient" (label
left and right compass directions, like East and West, or Northeast and
Southwest).
4) Focus on drawing what you see AND you determine to be important (label or
annotate it!). You could take a picture, but you're DRAWING the thing to get at
an interpretation, not to get a replica.
5) Don't color while in the field; do that crap at camp while you're not next to the
outcrop, where you're limited on time and will probably not return.
6) Sign your initials! You should be proud of the work you do! Don't compare
your drawings to anyone elses, and strive to do better each time you draw!
You'll do fine, and if nothing else, use these to improve your artistic skills and
become a more rounded individual!

Good Luck!
C