Illustrator Journey: Learnings from 9 months of consistent sketching and drawing
Some things I’ve learned that will maybe help you too…
Firstly #sorrynotsorry for this article being a little bit ‘bad’ and unpolished. After months (years!) of hemming and hawing and doubting myself, plus dealing with the fear of visibility (more on that in the future!), I decided to just get something up there and make a start – however messy. I mean that’s what being an artist is all about right?
I’ll do another post introducing myself properly soon – basically this is me deciding to finally take my art seriously (as in as a career, not suddenly donning a beret and talking about pretentiously about my art practice as a metaphor for life)
I’ve kept a sketchbook for years but only in recent times have I drawn regularly – I’ve got 9 months of sketches, ideas, random scribblings, drawings…but how to push forward and develop?
I guess it’s not rocket science – I just scribbled some notes in the back of my sketchbook. Here’s the essence of it and some things I’ve learned that maybe will also help you:
Liked/Successes:
· I liked the life drawing with watercolour pencils and fine liner – though working in A5 for life drawing is quite restrictive – stick to larger formats for life drawing.
· I’m getting better at drawing people by doing quick sketches
· I’m good at drawing dogs :-D
· I’m slowing developing my own styles/shorthands…
· Subjects: Imperial War Museum was really boring! (Sorry history and military buffs) Though I quite liked how the pen drawings of the military uniforms turned out.
· The imaginary townscape! It just came into my head so I got it down on paper then developed it later on the iPad – the start of my own visual language/style? Ditto the Norwegian town.
What didn’t work? What needs improvement?
- I didn’t stick at Mike Lowery’s Portfolio Challenge (sorry Mike, it’s not you – it’s me) – maybe because I felt like I already had to have a developed style – or I just lost interest/momentum.
- Hard pencils! Why?? I was too lazy to go and put other pencils into my pencil case. Switching to Bs was much easier for shading
- ‘Stylizing’ characters is developing but I can see it needs more work…
What I’m taking forward:
- Practising more quick poses/gestures
- Use subject matter I like from Unsplash to develop my style.
- Try the Skillshare course from Alanna Cartier again but with dogs as the subject
- Keep sketching people from life
- Continue with the Sketchbook Meet ups and take my sketchbook with me on walks
Things I’ve learned/tips/handy hints:
- Use Unsplash or similar photography app to find inspiration and practice subjects you’re interested in.
- Museums are good places to draw people regardless of the subject matter of the exhibitions (and usually free!) – people tend to stay still for a bit longer whilst they are perusing the exhibits.
- Try Quickposes.com to practice drawing figures, hands, and faces.
- Try a Skillshare class to develop your skill and styles
- Join a local sketchbooking group – I go to one through Meet Up
Hope this helps anyone interested in improving their drawing/finding their style.
