I hate ballpoint pens. Really. I don’t like the amount of pressure you have to use on them; my hands get tired. I don’t like the way the ink globs up sometimes. I don’t like the spindly quality of the lines they make, as the ink fades in and out.
But, holy wow, look what you can do with them, if you know what you’re doing:
Via Samantha Hahn’s blog, Maquette: “Art, Design, Inspiration. Eye candy for the visually hungry.”
For those of you who don’t spend a lot of time in the online drawing world, you might want to check out Illustration Friday.
Illustration Friday is a weekly creative outlet/participatory art exhibit for illustrators and artists of all skill levels. It was designed to challenge participants creatively. We believe that every person has a little creative bone in their body. Illustration Friday just gives a no-pressure, fun excuse to use it. No clients looking for a particular thing. No one judging the outcome of the work. It’s a chance to experiment and explore and play with visual art. So welcome, novices and pros alike.
Every week, there’s a new theme. This week, it’s “hats.” (Though, note that it doesn’t have to be a literal hat. You can be as free as you want in your interpretation of the theme.)
So if you’re strapped for subject matter today, consider a hat.
Watch a video of Danny Gregory drawing the contents of his medicine cabinet (at ten times actual speed).
It’s interesting to see how other people go about drawing—for example, he starts at the top left corner and works his way across, and then down, firmly drawing major contours and then filling in details. Whereas I would probably have sketched in a light underdrawing first, to make sure everything was going to fit, and then inked over that and erased the sketch.
This is no doubt why his drawings are energetic and light, whereas mine are tight and heavy.
(Via Notes on Design)
11/4-6/2006: Gerry Road, Camarillo, Calif. I started this one on the fourth but wasn’t able to finish it till the sixth, so I’m counting it for Day 6. I’m still figuring out how to draw shadows in the hills, so if anybody has advice, I’d love to hear it.
By the way, you should check out the blog Drawn!, if you haven’t already done so. A lot of the links are to cartoonists, which doesn’t interest me as much, but it also links to some excellent illustrators. And the “More Inspiration” sideblog along the left is always good for, um, more inspiration.
For those of us who are more task-oriented than inspired, here are some drawing assignments. Also check out the Everyday Matters list of weekly challenges.
Add your own suggestions here, either in this very post (if you’re a registered DrawMo! blogger) or in the comments; I’ll add them to the post (otherwise we may have problems with multiple people trying to edit the same post at once).
The new Graphics issue of Tin House magazine is full of Lynda Barry goodness and other relevant artsiness.
I went “shopping” in the bottom drawer of my dresser last night but somehow can’t find my set of those Derwent pencils. Or my big box of colored pencils. But I now have a felt bag full of lots of markers and a Moleskine and another Moleskine and some vintage #2 pencils and Mars eraser. Ready? Well, here’s hoping!
Drawing exercise suggestion: While listening to a favorite album/CD/playlist, make a drawing for each song.
T-minus 1 day to DrawMo! And T-minus 2 days to discount Halloween candy! As some appropriate silliness for anyone who needs more than a sugar high to think about drawing, here’s one of my recent fortune cookie fortunes for your aid and comfort:
You have a potential urge and the ability for accomplishment.
Hooray! Other bits of sugary carb wisdom bestowed (from the same meal, the cookie gods were excited that day):
• The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms.
In this case the Drawmonauts are the world and lil’ ol’ you the talent! Cause in general that fortune might be debated by Van Gogh, blues muscians, Dickinson . . .
• At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgement.
So I have an excuse for not being witty, yet still having an unstoppable will for posting.
• Love.
Aw. Fluffy.
Lastly, I got a huge kick out of flipping through the Motorcycle section of Talk the Talk: The Slang of 65 American Subcultures* the other day. My favorite bit was the term “shiny side up.” As in, when riding your bike safely you keep the shiny side up and the rubber side (tires) down. I love this country.
So, starting tomorrow, let’s keep the eraser side up and the pointy/inky/brushy side down. Good luck everybody!
*To the designer types: the typeface on the cover seems familiar/interesting. Anyone have a guess as to what it is? India to the rescue: Brothers Bold Alternate.
Artist and drawing instructor Carol Rosinski wrote on her blog a whole nine months ago,
I’m always amazed by how much anyone’s drawing skill can be improved with practice. I hear so many people say they can’t draw or can’t draw well and the truth is that they could if only they would make it a habit to practice drawing everyday. Here is a challenge for you, draw something everyday for thirty days and see how much your drawing ability improves.
Something very interesting happens when you slip into your “drawing mode” everyday for four weeks. The whole process suddenly becomes easier. The ability to see things abstractly and in their true proportions improves and the sense of value sharpens. The simple act of reaching for pencil and paper becomes a pleasant and natural extension of yourself instead of reminding you of an unknown area that triggers doubt and fear of failure.
So there. Look forward to that.
Carol does superrealistic drawings in graphite and charcoal, and she describes on the blog how she gets certain effects. She also offers a lot of instruction, both free and not free, and has a book forthcoming in 2007. Go explore her empire.
… or in english: A little bit about me.
I’m Norwegian, married, and live in Oslo with my husband and two daughters (5 and 9). Oslo is the capital of Norway, in case you didn’t know that.
I work as a graphic designer in one of the biggest publishing houses here in Norway. Up until now I have worked only with children’s books. Children – in this case – meaning every age up to 18. I do both covers and interiors, and art direct other designers/illustrators. Starting in January I will cover all ages, and will do even more art directing. Not quite sure how that will turn out, but I’ll find out soon enough.
I studied both graphic design and illustration, and after I finished school I worked mainly as an illustrator. So my stick-men are ok, but my drawing still is quite rusty. Last year I started a blog where I try to post one sketch each week in order to draw more often, and that has got me drawing again.
When I’m not at work I’m usually either cooking, blogging or collapsed on the couch watching TV. I’m really good at watching TV! And I try to work out. Actually – and I never believed I would say this – but I’m actually enjoying it too. Who would have thought. I also enjoy taking pictures. Often of the food I’m cooking …
I’m really looking forward to DrawMo. I’m sure it will be great fun!
DrawMo! 
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