November Drawings
My Second Month of Sketching
During my second month of the process of personal discovery through drawing, I faced fears and insecurities, but I also discovered new techniques that left me in complete ecstasy.
Drawing can be, even for those who already have little experience, a very intimidating task. So I started with simple sketches in a small notebook.
But many factors can make us give up:
- Searching for the perfect frame.
- The fear of not going as expected.
- The shame of people seeing us draw in public.
- The doubt and insecurity of not knowing if we have the skills for what we want to represent.
- Not having that specific pen or pencil that would be perfect for that drawing.
- Compare ourselves to that artist who draws perfectly.
- The blank sheet is intimidating, and it always feels like we only have one sheet to try.
Yes, I have been through and still go through all these imaginary obstacles that our mind creates to convince us to stay in our comfort zone. But I can tell you one thing: every time I’ve finished a drawing, no matter how it turned out, I’ve always felt better than when I started.
So let’s move on to my experiments of the month:
Lunch with Andrea
As I hadn’t drawn people in a while, I took a chance during lunch with my boyfriend at a charming restaurant in the center of Porto.
I was particularly proud of myself for not caring about the people around me.
Yes, his head became smaller than it really is, and I didn’t dare to draw with a pen. But guess what? I still had a whole month to perfect my technique, and I decided to set myself this challenge. It was time to draw human figures.
Arrábida Bridge
I confess that I didn’t really like this drawing, but everyone who saw it loved it.
Sometimes that happens, doesn’t it? We, as born perfectionists, find fault with every “wrong” line, but I have made an effort to remember that it is exactly in these “wrong lines” that something very important is found: authenticity.
Dionatan in College
If you’re a little unsure about drawing faces, find a friend who wears glasses and has a beard! This means you don’t have to draw the two hardest things: eyes and mouth. Believe me, it makes a lot of difference.
There were two drawings lasting less than 5 minutes that gave me the confidence and enthusiasm to continue taking risks. No matter what they say, sometimes we do need to win to feel like we are on the right path.
Andrea in Bed
After a very busy week at college, I took out my notebook and decided to draw Andrea while he watched an Italian comedian on the iPad.
It’s particularly impossible to draw him because he can’t sit still. It seems like he does it just to annoy me.
Consequently, this was the result: I didn’t even know where his mouth was.
I tried again a little further away, so I could also draw his body. Even though in both drawings he doesn’t really look like him, I thought they had an identity.
It’s very rewarding when we learn to draw and not blame ourselves if it’s not perfect. We have to learn to enjoy our process, whether or not it turns out as we expected.
“Remember that art is a process. The process is supposed to be fun.” Julia Cameron.
Self-Portrait in the Mirror
Okay, this one is in my #Top 3 (the first one)!
Again, it’s not perfect, but it’s like, when I look at the drawing, I can see Jade. The Jade who has tried SO hard to become a better person, a better artist, a better daughter, a better partner, and a better student.
Even though it’s my first attempt at representing myself, and I was in a rush to get to the gym, it’s the self-portrait so far that I’ve enjoyed the most.
Cooking Nights with Andrea
Even though it was a simple and quick drawing, the 25th was very important: it was my first drawing of a 100-day drawing challenge.
After reading Rhiannon James’ article, I dared to take my sketching habit seriously. This was already a goal that I wanted to add to my routine, but reading about Rhiannon’s experience was the push I needed.
Plants and a wine bottle
May I present to you my #Top2!
Once we start drawing frequently, a big problem arises: “What am I going to draw this time?” Yes, it seems like we’ve already designed everything the world has to offer.
I remember that, when I started a drawing course, the first thing the teachers did was create a random composition on a table and set us to work. I did the same.
To be honest, I’ve never been very good at drawing plants or organic things. Maybe that’s why this drawing impressed me so much. I want to try this month with colored pencils.
A little bit more of Jade
When you don’t know what to draw, remember that you have a body and a mirror.
I loved when Rhiannon James said she discovered that her muse was herself. Maybe I am mine too, I have to find out.
Classes
I arrived late and sat at the very back. The performance was boring, but the ambiance of the place was incredible.
This was my #Top1.
A lot can happen in a month.
November was, for me, a moment of discovering that I can trust myself, my talent, and my determination and not be afraid to share my achievements and my art with the people I love.
However, it is important to remember that this is only the beginning. It’s very easy to feel intimidated by artists we see on the internet who already have a lot of material and perfected techniques, but we have to trust the process and produce our art without comparing ourselves to others because each one has its own path and time.
For December, I want to experiment with new materials and different techniques. Baby steps.
“The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner’s humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step.” -Julia Cameron.
If you liked my drawings and want to see a little more of my process, check out my October sketches!
Thanks for your time. Let me know which one is your favorite!
