Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Less Control Loosens up Your Line

On our way home from a recent outing, we stopped through the state park briefly to look at the lake.  I didn't have much time, but I was hungry to make a sketch.

Mechanical pencil and nature journal in hand, I experimented with something I'd recently been reminded of:  holding the pencil far at the back (eraser) end to loosen up my lines.

 Give this a try right now, and just doodle anything. 

Does it feel weird and out of control to sketch this way?

Yup, that's what I experienced.  My Hobgoblin (inner critic) was shouting all sorts of terrible judgements.

But I kept sketching and turned the page to try again.

Later, looking at these pages, I realized how alive the milkweed pods looked to my eye -- as if they were dancing.  I love that!

Losing total control of the drawing can be the very thing that adds vitality to it.

I hope you try this technique soon.  Having a list of experiments to test out can be a great way to fill a sketchbook and build your drawing skills.

Happy Creating!

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