Lines and Mark Making.
My first lesson was about mark making, getting familiar with my tools, and looking at lines. I looked at influencers with minimalist aesthetics, exploring how I can use the tools I’m learning using references that aren’t complicated with different elements like a bag, a chair or jewellery drawn in a minimal style. Illustrations by Mipimebou Musamabik.
Step 1~
Becoming a beginner- again
I have an A Level in Art but stopped drawing as soon as I left school. I don’t remember learning techniques. Learning how to make lines using your wrist, forearm, or shoulder, grids and weight seem to have absolutely disappeared from my mind. I have joint problems and injured my dominant arm. I thought, ‘well DAMN what if I can never draw ever again??’ So I bought an art course in a book! Making marks using an iPad helped me keep up my fine motor skills when my hand and arm were swollen and I couldn’t type (can still barely type) and helped release my frustrations.
Drawing (or learning to draw again) helped me feel less distress over my days being reduced to icing, compression, elevation, painkillers and sleep. Every morning it felt like I was being punched in the boob, but at least I could make something almost pleasing to the eye by sunset (because I slept at literal sunset). I looked at influencers on instagram such as @itsdemib, @LbyLise, @NatashaNdlovu, @CocoBassey, @itsreallyNaNa, and @RajniJacques. They had simple, minimalistic aesthetics that made it less overwhelming to try and draw them. Have you found references that are less intimidating to use? Share them if you can!
Apple Pen, Charcoal, Graphite pencil
Charcoal, ink, watercolour, graphite pencil. Using different media was really helpful for my very slooow recovery. Seeing and feeling the difference between analogue and digital canvases has helped me with my anxiety and joint stiffness after being in a sling. Drawing in Procreate feels like it has such a high barrier to entry when you start. It comes with so many brushes and every tutorial is using even more brushes that you can buy before you even move on to the next one. It can be so overwhelming! Plus a blank digital canvas is just as intimidating as a blank linen one. Being able to approach this as play and a celebration of things I wanted to create helped to take some of the pressure off and I was grateful for the exercises. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM?
Two Stripes, Three
Rajni Jacques and Coco Bassey sitting on a vintage white chair. Books I used, videos I followed- the actually useful bits 😀
If you’ve found any resources that could help me or others, please share by contacting me through this link to my contact page Illustrations by Mipimebou Musamabik.
Creativity and Resilience
So I had a minor freak out/ panic when I started following exercises from my books. I was scared that once I learnt the techniques, I wouldn’t be able to create anything original or express my unique feelings, experiences or perspective. So I thought about prompts! How can prompts help me develop and improve on this creative journey? Could they help me build emotional resilience? Drawing and making marks has helped with my anxiety, and joint stiffness, why not more? Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
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Pink Action Shoot
Dancing is good for the soul. Dictum quisque repellat leo consequuntur senectus bibendum consectetur expedita congue, nemo cubilia non viverra, laborum nemo officia erat, cillum, temporibus, dis ultricies senectus, mus. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
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Ghost Riding on the Van
A refurbished van in a field of grains. Lacinia dolore tempora, potenti aptent diamlorem incididunt pretium eu cras diam? Facere quod similique ea. Totam, perspiciatis? Mollit saepe necessitatibus cillum ipsa ultrices, corporis sapiente quas ut. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
Meh Dor Wu 