evolution of scribbles

jumping around light and shade

initial test sketch with new settings

i love shading drawings. i rarely know what they’ll end up being and it’s when they really come to life taking on their final form. i have poor eyesight, so often am so close to it i don’t see them until i put the pencil down.

i’ve been in the process of putting together old sketchbooks of series i did back when i first began working this way and have been frustrated in my tools not working the way i’d like. years ago to accommodate my odd grip, wrist and hand issues i became obsessed with finding the perfect pencil and lead. the problem is it was many years ago and after decades of use the pencil broke and had been discontinued in between. my hands and eyes got worse along with losing my art materials and workspace in a move across country, so i switched to working in Procreate instead. it’s easier on my hands, eyes and doesn’t require space.

the dilemma i had initially was wanting to work with it the same way as i do on paper (wanting imperfections of human error without smoothing, etc.) it took some time, but i finally found the perfect pencil, pen and brush that mimicked my old favorites. they were perfectly tweaked to be exact to the pressure i apply and stay true to my shakiness or heavy handedness with graphite, ink, paint and water. it felt really good to be able to keep creating the same way i did in traditional mediums.

past tense because my old ipad died last year taking all my work, perfect brushes and palettes with it. there was no way to restore it. i’ve been in a weird creating space since then. i got a new ipad, but none of it was familiar to me and a lot had to be started from scratch. i figured i might as well stretch in trying to use tools i wasn’t as comfortable or familiar with and while i was at it learn new techniques. in much the same way as switching to it in the first place it’s been similar to me in the feeling of using a #2 pencil or discount kids brushes when you have nothing else, i just went with it, but, oh how i missed my old ways.

second draft with more detail

today i was fooling around with the procreate brush settings and somehow stumbled into getting it exactly as it used to be. i made these pieces to test it out and in the process found that what i learned in between has given me more flexibility i wasn’t aware of.

finished piece

‘Ghost’ an experiment with softer pencil outside comfort zone

another titled ‘weird hydra’ to play with lighter tones just because.

i consider these evolutions good reminders to always keep stretching.

these weekly posts have been therapeutic in slowing down while getting more done. getting some of my old tools and ways back should speed up the progress on projects greatly. i’m already starting to miss winter before it’s completely gone because being hunkered down lends so much time to work that spring through autumn won’t. at the same time i do look forward to exploring the seasons outside again with the bub. i feel torn between if i focus too hard i may miss the picture zoomed out. lately apropos in being applied to everything.

wishing, no, willing love and comfort to all.