Our Journaling Group Inspired me to Draw Today

The weeks are rolling on and I am still lacking the discipline to develop a regular drawing practice, in preparation for our weekly Drawing Group. I’ve been feeling guilty about it, as a lazy group member can drag the whole group down.

I have been wondering just where I was going to find the inspiration to keep up with the homework. There was no idea in my head to draw today at all. Today is our Journal Group and my focus was totally on that. To my surprise, after a productive afternoon with paint and crayons, I suddenly felt, yes, I can draw a portrait now. So I didn’t loose the moment and tackled this portrait. The technique is a bit scrappy but that is my usual style anyway. The likeness is a bit off but it’s my first one really, using some of the learning from the group. Now I just have to keep going!

Inspiration from Picasso and others

Inspiration from Picasso and others

There is really no excuse; I know it and I am sure you know it too – if you want to produce some artistic work, then you simply must start working.  I am the world’s worst at the excuse “I wasn’t in the mood”.  How lame is that!  I have homework to do for my drawing class and my progress is halted because I haven’t found the right set of circumstances, or the correct mind set, to begin.  Events conspire to get in the way all the time but excuses are lame – work must start.

I Love my Koh-I-Noor Versatil

Graphite on 80g sketchbook paper

This is not a product review – just an appreciation of a new tool that I am really enjoying working with.  I have fancied a chunky drawing pencil that takes refill leads for some time, so when I placed a recent order with Jackson’s Art Supplies I decided to try the Koh-I-Noor Versatil 5347 and 6B Koh-I-Noor chunky leads.  Total cost was £6 and I am very satisfied with my purchase.  Next time I order I think I will buy the silver 5640, which has a built in sharpener.

Koh-I-Noor 5347

 

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Graphite on 80g sketchbook paper

The Philosphers Mail is always such a good read.  Entertaining and thought provoking in equal measure, I only wish I could devote more time to reading and digesting it thoroughly.  I catch up with articles when Alain de Botton posts the link on Twitter (@alaindebotton).  I’m not sure if the articles he links to, are written by him or not.  I cannot work out who the authors are and, if anybody knows, or can work it out, please let me know.

This article is very timely since I am currently trying to develop my drawing skills.  What I found particularly interesting, was that John Ruskin (who anticipated the iPhone / ‘InstaBook’ generation in a sense) was not especially interested in a person becoming skilled at drawing but more to be skilled at recording their life and experiences.  I realise there are many active groups dedicated to daily sketching and sketching their lives and I wonder if they realise the debt they owe to Ruskin, the 19th century art critic.