When You Don't Know What to Draw...
Making your choices easier.
What happens when you want to draw but have no idea where to start?
Perhaps the answer is closer than you think.
Drawing from reference images or real-life
You don’t have to have an ongoing project to jump into or a set plan, just look around the room and draw what you see.
Not interesting enough? No problem.
Set yourself up for success by having several activities you already know you could do to get started. Drawing in my sketchbook is the perfect example. I know I get new ideas for comics from random drawings in it, but what I decide to draw isn’t as unexpected as it looks.
When I open my sketchbook, I know I can draw people in poses, look at photo references and faces, or draw environments like urban sketching.
Depending on my mood, I can make those drawings in a more realistic style or cartoony,. Making a point of sitting and drawing at my drafting table helps me feel like an artist and gets me in the mood to create faster.
“Motivation is overrated, environment often matters more.” ― James Clear
Sometimes, I create new characters and put them in a new comic story, or I improve my figure-drawing skills. Either way, the time spent drawing is never a waste.
And there’s no reason ever to say, “I have nothing to draw.”
Draw while watching TV
So, you’d rather watch your shows or a movie?
I hear you.
Have your sketchbook right next to you. Do a quick sketch or gesture drawing of one of the actors moving or pause it and try drawing their faces. It might not seem like much, but you’re getting in your practice time while watching something you enjoy.
I did this the other day after discovering all the Indiana Jones movies are on Disney+.
I sketched the actors that grabbed my attention—not caring so much about getting their likeness spot on—while watching Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (my favorite of the series), and it was fun.
Using a black pen forced me to commit to each line and work with any mistakes I made.
When you find a way to make it fun while growing your skills simultaneously, you’ll always have something to create.
Assignment: Watch TV and draw! Yes, that’s right.
A teacher is actually telling you to go and watch television.
Of course, you’ll need something to draw with and some paper or a sketchbook to draw what you see on the screen. Fill one whole page with either faces, gesture drawings of poses, or drawings of buildings, spaceships, or cars you think look cool from what you’re watching.
Let me know how you did in the comments.
Have fun!