Pencil Drawings - Borrow a pencil

I have this strange habit that If I use someone's pencil to draw, the outcome looks better. It may be that I feel im not responsible for doing a good job if I use it. It could also be the spontaneity that happens and you had to do it right the first time because you need to return it soon. 

Pencil Drawings - Be inspired

To be successful in pencil drawings you must always have the energy and state of mind to create something. It doesn't have to matter if your doing the same drawings again and again. All your drawings still come out differently from the last. But the best thing to have is inspiration to do so. This doesn't have to mean that your inspired by someone as the typical notion goes. It's those sudden gush of insight from something that you need to capture and take note. And I do mean take note of it! Earlier on my way home, I saw this print on someone's shirt that amazed me. The print was at the back of the T-shirt and it was just a silhouette of a dog, but the way it was done gave this strong vintage feel to it. Then I was stuck thinking about things that I can do with the same style. But I need to act fast, because once the energy has lost it's luster, then its wasted.

Pencil Drawings - Draw Ugly

One practice that breaks any creative slump that I'm in is to draw ugly art. You can't really create anything nice unless you're too stressed about something. So instead of trying to create something beautiful, create something opposite!

It is actually harder. Your mind gets busier because of the chaos that you're trying to portray. You're like teaching your mind to take a weird route that even you are unsure of. But I promise you, the accidental lines that you create will benefit you. Deliberately creating something ugly will loosen your mind.After that, you will be able to do things with spontaneity. 

Pencil Drawings -Don't Care!

The best advice I can give to anyone who is starting out in pencil drawings is to not care about what other people say. You can't please everyone! It's either they love it, or they hate it! Don't care, just draw!

After sometime, you'll notice that you'll start to build confidence and find your style niche.

Most people have this notion that if you are into drawing, you should be doing caricature or realistic renderings. But that is not the case, you are drawing because you are having fun with it. So It's better to do what you like than get bored or feel wrong about what you're doing.

Like for this drawing. What exactly am I trying to say here? Honestly, I just saw a scene from a movie, I got inspired, and then I drew it.

HB Pencil for everything, and Mechanical pencil for the shading.

Pencil Drawings - Forget the Eraser!

When you're drawing using a pencil, forget the Eraser! Don't erase your mistakes, instead draw over them or just let them be. Sometimes mistakes are what gives a drawing personality.

You should have all the freedom of expression to create any piece without thinking about other people's opinion. Once you have the thought of pleasing other people, that's when your drawing becomes bland and predictable.

Here's a pencil drawing I did with an HB pencil and later on a mechanical pencil for the line shadings.

Tip for the day: Don't erase! you'll appreciate the amount of pieces you've created in a short span of time.

Pencil Drawings - The Foundation of Art

Pencil drawings are definitely the foundation of anything that can contribute to a work of art. Using the pencil alone has this distinct feel that everything is still raw, unfinished and spontaneous. I personally love to draw using pencil. The simple act of sharpening the pencil using a cutter gives me the drive to start with any piece. You seem to get a feel that you are sharpening your weapon of choice.

In my succeeding posts, I will be stating the pencils I'll be using and the manner the drawings are made.