I've certainly stated before that I almost always start a composition in an analog fashion. Usually I start with a marker sketch or pencil drawing depending on what I'm working on and the way I plan to finish the piece. Sometimes I just happen to be doodling when on the phone or in front of the TV, etc. I wanted to relate the reason why and the relevance of such in this modern digital age of Wacom tablets, and cintiqs. First of all I'll admit something. I draw poorly on tablets, even on my intuos 4. I've have many tablets and upgraded over the years trying to find the magic bullet, and finally came to the conclusion that it just isn't the tablet. It's me. I draw in long sweeping arcs with my arm, and very little with my wrist, aka I draw like a painter and not like someone writing. With that said I realize that embracing the digital works for some, and I'll be the first to say that if it works for you, then you don't need to be reading this! My drawing skills were learned largely while ignoring my teachers and spending my school days creating in notebooks intended for other purposes. I'm rooted in the pencil, pen and paper world, and I'm cool with it. I'm also much faster and more dynamic with a pencil in hand. I simply can't hold my Wacom stylus right for how I draw. I hold my pencil at it's very end and lightly sketch, refining and darkening lines as I go but rarely grip my pencil toward the tip until the very end of a drawing when I'm heavy into detailing. Ok enough technical stuff. There is an even more important reason I use the pencil rather than embracing all the wonderful digital tricks and such. It's just that, I want to avoid the digital tricks and relying on them. I know them. I use them but I don't want them to become part of my style and be a slave to them. Every time I screw up with a pencil guess what? I have to erase, evaluate and do it over. Do you know what effect that has on me? It forces me to learn from every mistake and to improve henceforth. Consequently my learning curve is better and faster simply by using a pencil and paper and allowing myself to mess up and correct things. I know that you're thinking, 'Oh but that's so much work!' My answer is simple. You should not be thinking of drawing as work, period. It's fun and even if you are a professional, the mindset that drawing is work, lends anxiety to your effort which ultimately hinders you and steers you toward comfortable places within your skill set, taking shortcuts, and settling for sub standard work. You have to be fearless when it comes to your artwork, and unafraid to take chances or throw something out. I mean come on, if you mess up, it's only a piece of paper and some time spent at your desk. If you learned from the mistakes or came out the other end with a really kick ass drawing that you never would have thought possible, then you have lost nothing. Time has to be irrelevant to you. Besides every time you overcome challenges, you know that you've improved as an artist, and that is a great feeling, even after a long day of struggling with something hard. It can be mentally taxing, but it can be ultimately rewarding to win at the end of the day as well. I love the feeling of turning off my light at the end of the day and know that I struggled through, didn't accept defeat and nailed it in the end. It gives me more confidence to approach the next day's artwork. See what a pencil can do? As always this is just my insight and what works for me. I think the mindset can be applied to anyone's working style and it is indeed the mindset that matters. For me the pencil and the analog is the way but for you just using fewer digital tricks might be the way to mastery. If you understand the value of mistakes and working through them then you're already well on your way to being great. Once again I hope my ramblings on technique and artistic mindset are helpful to you in finding your inner greatness. Best Wishes and much love to all!
IIID
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