Sketch Diary: TBT - the Trio water, air, fire

Taking me back to college here. I remember working on this sketch for my illustration class. I was working on adding themes and little stories to my sketches. Obviously, these are some of the elements - water, air, and fire. But I think I also was meaning them to be representative of the Fates, too. Water is the old crone, steady and powerful. Air is the young maiden, whispy and wild. Fire is the matron, passionate and relentless. Or something like that. Sketched in 2007 but probably wasn't colored until 2009 when I started playing with prismacolor markets (before I discovered copics).

with love - M

Sketch Diary: short hair portrait practice

This was one of those drawings that started with an eye which is a practice that I don't recommend. It's fun to draw eyes without anything around them. You can focus on the details of the eye more easily that way. But if you then decide to add things around that eye, it's tough to figure out the space to place it in. It feels like working backwards.

I used to do that method ALL the time when I was young. Then I started following more conventional gesture drawing methods and it helped speed things up tremendously. Now I can crank out a figure drawing in minutes instead of hours. And little to no erasing. That's the goal. If you have to erase a lot, best to just start over. Count that discarded drawing as a stepping stone on your path to greatness.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Gesture practice dancer jumping

Another quick gesture sketch but this time... in motion! Conveying movement in a drawing can be a difficult skill to learn. I really struggle with it sometimes.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Gesture practice dancer with veil

Quick gesture sketch. Wasn't planning on adding any details (like eyes and clothes and such) but it looked like a bellydancer with her veil maybe so I played with it. The angle of the shoulders and shape of the hips/butt are weird. Should've checked against a reference.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Gesture warm-up bathing suit lady

I'm gonna take a WILD guess that I was shopping around for a swim suit and coverup kimono when I drew this. Just a WILD guess. Also, you don't have to finish all your drawings people. It's ok just let it go. This thing was going no where fast. Whatever.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT - Mohawk rainbow

That arm, those legs, that head! Proportions are for wimps, clearly. Throwback to 2008... that's almost 10 years ago, guys. A decade. Let us reflect on that.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Half-buzz profile

Still in-love with this sketch. Like, I would totally take this person out for dinner and a movie hah. For real though, that nose-lip-chin combo is pretty sweet.

The thing on the arm/shoulder is supposed to be the tip of a large star tattoo. Idk why. It just is.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Getting ready in a crop top

My drawing titles have either devolved... or evolved?! Heh.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Loosen up with scribbles

Even when I'm just wildly scrolling my hand around the page, I still draw mermaids.

So why are you uploading scribbles, Mere?! Because the best way to show you how I warm up is to... well, show you. Sometimes the mind is willing but the body is weak. Gotta loosen up those fingers and most importantly, the wrist! That's where the magic happens, for me anyway. If my wrists are tight, I can't draw diddly-squat.

If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it. Here's what I do:

1. Put pen to paper (pen is better than pencil if you have a habit of wanting to erase all the time, no erasing!). 
2. Then I close my eyes and start slow, building speed and then slowing down as I meander around the page. 
3. Once I feel I have adequately made my mark and loosened my wrist, I stop and open my eyes. 
4. I look for shapes. Usually I see postures like a torso in movement or something. 
5. Once I see the shape clearly enough, I play with is further, now looking at what I'm drawing. I add details as I feel like it till I'm as done as I want to be with the drawing, usually about 15 minutes or so.  

And that's it! Enjoy.

with love - M