I havent been very long into more serious drawing, but I am quite sure most here have experienced not having the right touch sometimes when drawing.

As for myself, I sometimes feel a bit "shaky" when drawing, like my lines arent getting the right curve or straightness, and off course this bugs me a little bit.

So I was wondering what people do when trying to get in the best possible mindset for drawing ?`


Regards

Tommy

Hi Tommy..
Good question.. I can only speak for myself.. Hmmm ,I think for me it is all about the subject .. When I find that it calls to me and I am excited with it and inspired all at the same time .. I forget about the shaky lines and things that bug me..I do feel the anxiousness and wonderment for how it will eventually end up .. but that's the thrill we all get isn't it? One more thing I need is a background music.. Calms that Pesky beast that jumps up and interrupts concentration., Not for everyone but it works for me..
Will be interesting to hear from others.

For me it's a little time spent doing very informal quick sketches, doodles, with lots of loose lines and arm and hand movement. Nothing that will be shown to anyone but me, plenty of room for mistakes. For the loose quick sketches, I like big newsprint pads and charcoal, Sharpies and scratch paper are wonderful for the doodles. I've heard that blind contour drawing is a good warm-up and may try that out sometime. Occasionally, it's just a fact of life that we don't want to draw at that moment - then is a good time to break out the journal and write a few ideas or observations in there - it really clears out the cobwebs and rust in the brain! I will share one doodle - this one done a couple of days ago while dreaming of snow!

Click to view attachment

For me too its the subject that fires me and gives me the ability to see something through to the end. No lines will ever be perfect, but they become absorbed as the drawing advances. Drawings go through many phases from the initial sketch, to the ugly stage, on to completion. We're generally never pleased with our progress, but that's just the nature of being an artist and being so close (literally) to your work!

So find a subject that entrances you and you will get lost in the process of drawing and forget about shaky lines or poor curves.

I rarely use background music when drawing, but sometimes do when painting. I seem to need to concentrate more when drawing and music is distracting to me.