This is how I want to feel everyday. Lightly skipping through a day filled with sunshine and without a care in the world. Getting out my pens and feeling inspired gives me that much needed boost of vitamin V.
I have used my Rotring pen, nib size .25. ( I break them if they are smaller) and a spot of computer generated colour, although normally I would add colour with ink or watercolour.
I find that my drawings are better if they are not totally coloured in so I have gone for spot colour. Gives it a bit of bounce and red, yellow and orange are ideal punchy colours. Use your colour to say something that we cannot guess for ourselves ie that the sky is blue, buildings are brown. Colour can manipulate our senses, feeling joy or despair. Hopefully I have created a sense of joy with this one.
I tend to have a specific style when I put a pen in my hand. I am not really sure why I draw this way, possibly because I want to look and feel like this. I love pen because it simplifies things, allows you to concentrate on observation and line. Sometimes a palette oozing with delicious colours can be a little overwhelming and I can get carried away. A biro is a great way to get yourself into doodle mode. I try it on reluctant students who often end up sticking with the biro or pen. The biro isn't a proper art tool so there is less pressure than the pencil, and rubbers just allow us to keep making the same mistakes without really observing where we went wrong. I also encourage my pen and wash students to do a quick sketch without pencil, to loosen them up. I do a pencil outline first for something like this but just to get myself going, doodling and not worrying about what I can get wrong, can be a great help.
I like this drawing, the way that she struts across the page. I also produce an incredible amount of absolute rubbish, which is actually very important. From every mistake I think ooh and ah and then it can lead to something much much better or sometimes worse, if the muse has angrily stomped off.
I like images that have a bit of stretch, running or strutting people or animals, or people angrily shouting, like my supermarket one. I generally just have an idea and then let it tumble out of my head. I am inspired by everyday nonsense and drawing is just a way of unwinding, like dreaming. I teach art because I think that having a mindful hobby or creative outlet is extremely important and my students inspire me just as much as I, hopefully, inspire them. Vx
Comments