The art behind the art

Somebody once said to me "you're so lucky you can draw". I disagree, it's not luck, it's the fact that I've been drawing since I can remember. The more you draw, the better you get. I took art at High School and studied art after that. If I had the time, I would paint more. But even when I'm not painting, I'm doodling and drawing in sketchbooks and even in notebooks. If you find yourself drawing or doodling all the time then you just need to keep at it and you will get better.

I call it my play time, when I grab pens, pencils or pencil crayons and just draw, doodle and colour. That's when I let my mind go and just have fun. Through playing, I get ideas and there is something really therapeutic in the feel and sound of the pencil rhythmically moving along the surface of the paper. A sketchbook is not as threatening as the big white canvas, so ideas flow freely.

I have several sketchbooks, two are small enough to carry with me if I want. I will try out ideas, new pens and different drawing styles. I can be as silly as I want. I have another favourite sketchbook, it is an A4 spiral bound book with textured paper and I will often do my pen and pencil sketches in it. Sometimes I will start a drawing, get halfway and just leave it like that. So if you want to draw, then draw and don't worry about mistakes, or feeling "not good enough". You don't have to share them with anyone, just enjoy yourself and have fun.

Putting pen to paper

Sometimes it is nice to take a break from painting and just draw without any plan in mind.  The drawing above is done in my sketchbook with ball point pens, gel pens and highlighters. And it started off as a weird doodle. I usually draw like this when I am sick or unable to sleep, and while watching TV.  They are a wonderful distraction from everything around me.

I had so much fun doing the hair in the above drawing and that led to the doodle below. I think I got a bit carried away, but it was so much fun. This one was done with my sharpies.

Drawing doodles is almost like a form of meditation, I find that I get ideas for other drawings and paintings while doing these doodles.  

Sunday afternoon pen sketch

Sometimes it is nice to just sit and doodle in a sketchbook.  When I was young my sketchbook was always full of little drawings and sketches. I really don't do that enough anymore.  I think a sketchbook is important, it's where we get to dream and play around on paper.  That is how many great paintings come into being.


Well it's good night from me.  I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.

Black Gel Pen - A4 Sketchbook

Twisted

I'm don't have any new work that I'm ready to share yet, so instead I'll show you another one of my doodles.  This one started off quite simply and then took on a life of it's own, I enjoyed working on this one and was afraid I might not know when to stop.  I used gel pens on A4 black sugar paper.