Project: Masks with Brush Pens
About a month back, I was sucked into a Youtube rabbithole of artists drawing with just ink pens and brush pens. The more I watched, the more anxious I got. I've been drawing masks for 20 years. My process is to lay pencils down first, then ink boundaries and shade, then apply colors with markers or color pencils.
But these artists, they were fearless. Pen nib to blank page and their art was beautiful.
I resolved to commit to try. I went to the art store, bought a couple different brush pens. I pulled some square sketchbooks out of the stack that I've accumulated over the years.
And I started.
And a month and a half later, I've started a new sketchbook. Sometimes I am able to do 5-6 in sitting. Most days, after I pick up my coffee, if I have 15-20 minutes before I absolutely HAVE TO log into work.
Other days, I log off from work, walk away and draw. It's helping me unplug. But also don't forget the spiritual benifits of creation. That replenish what the hectic day to day can leech from you.
My one tweak to all of this, is I need one more sketchbook to carry with me all the time - a practice sketchbook. A place to just play with the pens and experiment with lines and shading.
This is all really exciting. I feel refrshed. And starting with a new blank page isn't scary anymore. It's ok to make a mistake. I'm learning something new. But at the same time, it's pushing to do better at my craft.
:)
Pics to come one of these days. That's another project.