I had a breakthrough this Sunday while meeting with my writing group! I have started attending this group late Sunday mornings for the past few months. Since this year timing is so unpredictable with work and weekends, I created a schedule for my artistic life. I like to call this my “part-time, weekend job.” I have lately been looking for opportunities to carve out drawing time. Every couple months I write down what my drawing ambitions are going to be. This month I am starting on the illustration parts of my graphic novel. For the past couple days I drew the character’s first impression of each of the co-characters. That was fun because the character that I’m working on during February sees everything as an analytical puzzle and tries to tie other’s reactions to something she knows well. Some of her first impressions are logical, but in the long run, not necessarily true. Then last Sunday it was time to draw her self-perception, illustrating this by having her looking at herself in the mirror with an expression of judging her appearance. Breakthrough! She doesn’t realize it at that point in the story, but she views the whole world through that sort of judging lens. Yet, she expects perfection from herself, even in her daily activities. She notices others’ flaws and she doesn’t give herself any slack.
While I’m drawing these young adults, I’m imagining how the entire story will fall together from each person’s point of view. Each character’s story is told separately, but they fit together like puzzle pieces. This is fortunate because every chapter will hold an air of mystery, something that the characters must figure out.
Anytime you’ve ever started something with a goal in mind, you know it doesn’t always go like you planned. Life can be like that, too. I enjoy finding moments in my week to draw for fun as well as work on projects like this. Sketching is similar to the writing process for me, but with a little less commitment.
- Art doesn’t have to be perfect – Most of the time what I create comes from a place of needing to get something out. I use this more than journaling. Even if I end up doing something with the art later, I know it comes from a real place within me. To help me with this concept, I’ve recently been drawing in pen!
- Playing with art is fun! – One of my students this week was showing me what he had worked on, adding more to his picture until it resembled something that he’d imagined. This was a technique that I didn’t start to embrace until I was an adult and I applaud him for learning to play with art at such a young age! If you are a young artist or just starting to learn about this creative method, I encourage you: Don’t be afraid to play! Art can be done again and again!
- Express yourself – There is benefit to copying someone else’s work. This helps to judge distance in figures, like the art I’m using in my project; comparisons in facial features; and even brand new art techniques. Once you’ve picked up on a few things you’d like to try, go for it! I have a tendancy to want to learn more, just in case I might like another method better. But that doesn’t help me make new art! I have to practice methods to make them personal and develop my own technique.
- Always learn something! – Whether I am learning something from a class or watching a professional at work, I remind myself that I am not ever going to be the best at anything. I just need to keep moving forward with learning and, above all, to LOVE the art that I create! That is going to be the only thing that keeps me focused on this artistic endeavor.
My plan for drawing is to build inspiration as I work my way through this writing project. I find that I’m my best self when I allow myself to go a little crazy now and then, without expectations of publishing or producing work attached. It puts me in the head space that reminds me I do this because I love it. I want to express the daily activities I see around me, and to share with those who see my work: We are humans. We make mistakes. And that can still turn out beautiful.
It can be difficult, but one can also find beauty in the chaos.
Have fun creating!
– Hannah Marie.
