Growing an interest: art

 

Discovering Art:  Drawing

Last year, I took up art – pencil drawing, actually – and all I needed to get going was a sketchbook, pencils, a rubber and pencil sharpener.  I try to draw birds, wildlife, pets, buildings and landscapes and I have to say that I think I’m finally making progress.   I look for shapes in things, draw the shape very lightly and then start adding detail. 

The Internet is a godsend – there are sooooo many videos on drawing, and I’ve found a great channel I love called Easy Art Pencil Drawing Tutorials - the tutorials take you through a drawing step by step.  

The videos are free (yippee) and they are about 10 to 15 minutes long so they don’t take up too much of the day  You don’t have to leave home to do them – a plus in winter and there’s no travel costs – and the guy explains stuff really well.   As he says, to begin, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil.   Nor do you need a lot of time to have a go – I try to follow his videos almost at the pace he’s going at, and of course you can stop and start videos as you go. 

I copy pictures from magazines and books I’ve got in the house, so I don’t have to buy any books or anything.  

It’s also a very relaxing thing to do in the evening, (so long as the drawing is going well!!!!!!!). 

I’m finding as I do more, I want to improve my skill level.  I did think about doing a course – one, or two or three days – but finding the time is difficult and they don’t come cheap.  And I know I’d find it difficult just sitting all day and being captive somewhere, so I’d rather work to my own schedule.

Finding a new interest can really give you a new zest for life and a new lease of energy.   I was hopeless at art at school (I used to bag bottom place in the art exam with my best friend) and I’m really loving having the chance to try it again as an adult. 

I have to say I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve wanted to develop my art, though, and I’ve put together some ideas of what I want to improve on this year – almost like my own course which I’ve planned!     This year, I want to do videos on things like drawing fur, feathers and eyes, to help with my drawings of animals, and I want to do more to develop the background I give the animals, so for instance instead of a picture of a bird, there’s a bird perhaps sitting on the branch of a tree.  I'm starting to think about the best pencils to use, and what paper is best.   I'm now looking to have an ideas sketchbook and a sketchbook for my more serious attempts.  

Of course, you can let someone else come up with the outlines.   Colouring in means someone else does the outlines and you colour them in.  You can also print off colouring in sheets online.   You can find sites with different colouring in themes, too.  These can be really therapeutic, and give your mind time to wander as you colour in. 

Right, time to stick the kettle on and have a go!