Drawing

Bella Sketch

One of my favorite things to do as an artist is to draw. I use drawing to help me problem solve and figure out product designs for things like Orchid pots, candle sticks, coffee cups, or anything that I’m thinking about creating, I draw it out first and take notes. Drawing for me is visual brainstorming which is something I love to do. Creating things is kind of an obsession for me and drawing is a part of that process.

I recently completed a set of Antler Candle sticks that were made of actual deer antlers and ceramics. Prior to starting construction on them, I sketched out my ideas for the ceramic piece so I could visualize how they would look with the antlers.

When we took our trip to Ireland for Andy’s 50th birthday a couple of years ago, I sketched out different ring designs on the plane ride over because I knew we were going to make rings in Dublin. 

Prior to starting a painting, I always start with a drawing or a sketch. I use it in portraiture to familiarize myself with the proportions of a person’s face and to study individual facial features. This strategy helps me problem solve before I put paint to canvas, if I can figure things out in my sketchbook first, I find I make less corrections in the painting as I’ve already done most of my problem solving in the drawing. I didn’t always work this way, but over the years I’ve learned that rather than focus on the end product it is more enjoyable to slow down and savor the creative process and see where it takes me. It is a meditative process that takes time and as such helps me slow down which is something I have a hard time doing. 

I always have a sketchbook and pencils with me as I never know when an idea or something inspiring will occur! Included in my drawing kit is a kneaded eraser, a coffee stir stick (great tool for measuring), a makeup brush (fantastic for brushing away eraser fluff without smearing the drawing), pencil lead and most amazing pencil ever made! It is a KOH-I-Noor Toison D’Or 5900 mechanical pencil in design but the lead ranges from 2B – 9B, versus the extra thin leads you’d find in a standard mechanical pencil. What makes it even more brilliant is the top screws off and you have a built-in pencil sharpener! You buy your leads separately and in a pack. I also include a fine point sharpie in the kit. I use it more for note taking than sketching, taking notes with a pencil can sometimes be problematic because it will smear or disappear altogether over time. 

I’d say one of the biggest things I like about drawing is it allows me to get my ideas down on paper. Once down, I can revisit them or work on them right away it just depends on what I’m working on at the time. Some concepts are random ideas and rather than risk forgetting them I will draw them out in my sketchbook where they will percolate until the time is right and they can be developed into something spectacular!