A paper, a pencil...
Is drawing out of date ? Not at all! True enough, the image is not as "objective" as a photograph (but is a photograph objective?) or a digital image.
On planets, competition with the webcam is strong. But precisely, it is interesting to compare the two techniques and the resolution reached on each case.
My first drawing of Mars,
1986/07/12
My first nebula drawing: M 42 in Orion, 1986/12/30, Puimichel (France, 04), 60x40R, North is down.
Outlines: from 0h to 1h13mn UT
(outside, on the observing site)
Development: from 1:33 to 2:01 UT (inside)
For deep sky visual rendering, drawing is the best choice: if photos or CCD images are more precise, only drawings will be able to render the visual impression of deep-sky object or a comet.
Moreover, no need to be Picasso to draw dots and fuzzy spots... but there are also some rules for this "art".
Excellent web pages on the subject: astronomical drawing, by Philippe Roux, location and drawings of comets, by Julien Leroux.
The drawing of planets
To draw the planets, it is interesting to use gauges which will avoid you to draw the planet disc with all its characteristics. You will find these gauges on the Nantes Astronomical Society's website (pdf format).
For Jupiter, the drawing has to be done in less than fifteen minutes, because the planet rotate very fast (10 hours). Here are the steps which will enable you to draw it quickly.
Deep-sky drawing
On the Ciel extrême website,
there is an excellent article entitled drawing the deep sky , by Yann Pothier.
In a 60mm refractor, objects are easier to draw (less details), but more difficult to detect because of the small instrument aperture.
With a computer and an adequate software , you can make your drawing session easier by printing star fields, thus limiting time spent outside in the cold night.