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.
