The extremely calming pencil drawing

Pencil sketch and drawing

For me, many of paintings start with pencil sketch or drawing. It can be a marker or a simple black pen, too. I’ve never counted my drawings, but there are numerous of them, many hundreds. Every time when I give an art class, I create an outline sketch, value sketch or quite a detailed drawing. Compared to other medium choices we have, drawing is the simplest and the least dependent medium on anything. We need just something to draw with and on, but the rest can be imagination, real items, even a photo. In my opinion, pencil drawing is the beginning of any art which displays realism to some degree.

Easy drawing process

Pencil drawing doesn’t require timing your process. It allows to start, put off and continue any time afterwards. With water media, such as watercolor or acrylic, timing is an extremely important factor. The same goes for humidity, ambient temperature and similar aspects. Quality of water media art is strongly affected by the quality of art supplies. Pencil drawing can be done even when we do not have special pencils of different hardness, we can draw even without eraser and pretty much on any paper. I do regret that many of my drawings are done on transparent paper since I needed them to be transferable onto watercolor paper. They don’t look that good when photographed and cannot be presented as finished artwork, although, many are. In fact, any large and very large drawings are problematic to photograph.

Sketch and draw real things

I’ve noticed that people, who haven’t been using photos as reference for creation of their art initially, develop the ability to draw more effortlessly and it is easier for them to understand the mechanism of capturing something which has volume onto a flat surface. These, who have started out tracing, copying and using somebody else’s drawing, have more difficult times. It’s probably because they don’t trust their eyes, have less confidence and don’t want to take risks or experiment. However, all it takes is seeing your subject in an artistic way. Seeing is the part which many of us are lacking.

Drawing shadows
Quick marker drawing on shadows

All buildings and one-point perspective drawings are constructed and drawn from imagination, without using any reference.

Constructed one-point perspective drawing, full size 24 x 19 in or 61 x 48 cm

Distorted photo images

I come from a different background; therefore, I simply didn’t have photos and couldn’t take them either. That worked out as an advantage eventually. If you look online at photo images, you cannot help, but notice how distorted they are. That most likely comes from the frequent use of phone cameras and the way perspective, as well as colors are automatically adjusted. What we get, is a profoundly wrong reference which is no good for drawing or painting. If you pay attention to shadows or reflection, solid structures and their dimensions, or for that matter, comparative size of separate parts and their proportion, the absence of correct linear perspective is very notable. If the reflection or shadows stretch for miles, it simply looks wrong. It will be even less acceptable in a painting. The same applies to buildings and street views.

Drawing buildings
Drawing from pre-pandemic art class, also imagined, constructed drawing, no reference needed
Drawing buildings
Drawing from 2018, 1 point perspective, also just lines and linear perspective

Live art classes

Since private art classes resumed, we’ve done a few drawings, pencil sketches, as well as watercolors and acrylic landscapes. My younger students usually aim for filling up portfolio, therefore, they want to learn about perspective, shadows, direction of light and similar aspects of drawing. That is fantastic because regardless of medium, any more or less realistic art consists of the same parts: composition, linear and atmospheric perspective, values, contrast, light and shadows, as well as size and proportions between parts. It is interesting that younger students eagerly want to learn about perspective, correct proportions, types of shadows and ways to display play of light on their drawings and paintings. One-point perspective is a very good subject for beginners.

Painting process simplified

The fastest way to learn about all aspects of a successful painting is using pencil. Pencil drawing allows seeing the essence of your subject easier and in a more impressive manner. Students love the fact that they cannot do drawing wrong, hence, we can erase anything if want to. Pencil drawing is a fantastic pastime for people, who have time, or the best artistic practice and preparation step for artists, established and beginning. It is a calm and soothing activity. There’s no rush as with water-soluble paint which might dry too fast, get tacky and so forth. There are no worries about water flowing where you don’t want it or pigment acting weirdly. Pencil dances on the paper and this allows creating our phantasy or reality. Whichever we choose, we are the winners. Pencil drawing is extremely rewarding in any regard.

Mastering drawing

Taking or making time and being observant is difficult for folks nowadays, but drawing requires seeing things which people normally do not notice. This activity makes our world bigger with every single pencil line. Due to preparation work for art classes, as well as the huge time that was necessary for setting up the outdoor classroom, I have not been able to post practically anything on both my blogs. Well, here you have it. My pencil drawings are not done just within a few hours. My drawings are usually large, up to 29 x 22 in or 74 x 56 cm, and they take plenty of time. I would say, to post this article with images which come from different years, and to take and edit current photos, took me at least a month. Many hours go into every single drawing, most often, 20 or more hours for the large ones for sure. However, it is time well spent.

Line drawing, pencil outlines intended for watercolor painting

Online presentation and new art classes

You will obviously see the small online images. The paper was bright white, yet, it didn’t look that bright on my pictures. Well, it is what it is. Enjoy and join the art classes if you live around Ajax, Ontario:

Group art classes

Private art classes might be an option: Private art lessons

I have added the artistic prints page, it takes to another site, so, click on the back arrow to get back onto my site:

Artistic products and art prints

My other blog is about life and getting the best out of it. Many people who click on “like” from the Reader, do not know I have it, but I write also poetry and stories, about my observations and interesting facts which became notable after many decades. You might like to have a look:

Life school blog

Have a great time in August!

28 Replies to “The extremely calming pencil drawing”

    1. Thank you so much!
      Indeed, it is simple. I was just upset I didn’t get very good pictures. I suppose, when the drawing is small it’s possible to scan it, but with these, some very big ones, all I could use was iPhone. Well, I hope, it still makes some sense.

    1. Thanks very much!
      I have extremely many things to do. It appears to be a bigger load than I anticipated. I’m trying to accomplish as much as possible, yet, the day has only that many hours.
      It is still uncertain how everything unfolds, just taking any task one day at a time.
      I hope you are safe! Have a good week!

    1. Thanks very much Maria!
      I was just embarrassed about photos. I tried to take other ones, but not enough time.
      Oh, it is a fantastic process and very pleasing result, too! I could worked out some more, but I have to rush ahead. Every new class means a new drawing, and there’s certainly no time to bring them all to well-worked out stage.
      I agree, that it is very worth sketching. In my case, I have to always go very large, so that students can see every line from the distance.
      Maybe I will get some more money in the fall, I really need a new laptop and new camera, the old one doesn’t work. I could do more then, right now, I can only do the live teaching, currently private classes. Virus is still around, so I have them outdoors.
      Have a good week!

    1. Thank you very much Carmen!
      The drawings with buildings normally start with perspective lines since I need to explain students how they draw, in this case, one-point perspective since there’ s angular, too. We just go line after line and add some elements here and there, and that’s how the drawing evolves. I think, my imagination always returns to the Latvian views, however, you could see something similar in Canada, as well, down East, for instance or along the road in rural areas. For the fruit, we had fruits set up in front of us. I actually wanted to have just outline, but I ended up with more elaborate drawing. For me, drawing is just natural, I was probably born with that ability.
      I appreciate you stopped by! Your own blog is so inspiring.
      Have a good week!

    2. You definitely have a God-given talent from birth! Thank you for explanation, I’m sure memories of Latvia give you inspiration. I’m glad we can inspire one another! You make the world a more beautiful place! ❤️

    3. And so do you! Multiplying beauty is a very worthwhile thing and it certainly fills up the other gaps which we have gotten this planet into.
      I live here in an area, (GTA) where the similarity to Latvia is quite high. Except, the box-type of row buildings you wouldn’t see. We have endless rows of them, dysfunctional bulky, unattractive boxes with small windows. Residential architecture sure is lacking a lot.
      I used to do a lot of sewing for myself, sometimes for others, from wedding dresses to simple coats, jackets, not to mention extra basic things like pants or tops. Recently, I don’t have motivation for sewing. I still have lots of fabrics, etc. I also have very many clothes. The ones I have sewn even 20 years ago, still fit perfectly, so I don’t think I need more at the moment.
      I love your outfits and the tasteful presentation. I’d love to do something similar, but, hey, the day has only 24 hours and we have to prioritize.
      Have a pleasant evening!

  1. that is an interesting perspective and , oddly, one that i have never given thought to until recently. i am one of those who started and still uses photos for references. Thank you for bringing this to my attention . You are correct in that i have struggled more, likely due to using photos. Recently i have just been happy to do more free hand sketches because using paper blocks instead of regular paper disables my automatic use of a light table for proportions. And i am now FINALLy more comfortable with free hand stuff. But now i have this new challenge!

    1. Thanks Lovie! You are not alone! Drawing from photos has deep roots in North America, not so much in Europe.
      Over years, I have observed many students, and some of them were unable to draw anything when the subject was a real thing, like a view of a street, a set-up of still life and so forth.
      I think perfection has also something to do with that and the fact that we don’t believe the human eye can see everything in much better proportion.
      Free-hand simply gives more freedom and we are not tied up with what’s on the photo. We can interpret any subject to our liking by leaving out some parts and creating in more detail some others.
      I have had students who told they couldn’t see anything when it came to drawing from reality: no shadows, no perspective and no contrast. Well, photo is flat, 2-dimensional reproduction and when we are seeing everything with its volume, it requires understanding of a few principles, as well as practicing seeing the subject in the way which allows re-creating its volume and proportions on a flat paper or other surface.
      Freehand drawing is very good for you, hence, it activates the brain cells, grows new ones and gives longer life span to the existing ones. Basically, the brain is more active and we have created something unique also.
      Good luck!

    2. thanks- i have been attending live figure drawing for the past 2 years and yes, it has helped immensely with my judgement and proportions. I hope to be able to translate that to other real life items eventually:)

    3. That’s fantastic!
      I’ve never had a chance to participate in something like that, but I think I didn’t need it. About 40 years ago when I was studying at the University, I was able to make some extra money drawing portraits, just in pencil, on large sheets, and my fellow students loved that.
      I think once somebody has developed the ability to see and send that signal to their hand with pencil or brush, they never lose it.
      If you can draw, you can draw anything, the same about painting. It’s true that some people choose a tight expertise area, but the ability is there, therefore, choices are broad and many.

    1. Thanks very much Shawn!
      Since they are pieces created for classes and for the most part, during art classes, I cannot add too much detail. Like you’re saying that’s good because too much detail takes away from the main subject. Timeframe is also having an impact of how much goes into each piece.
      I agree, kind of a quiet country scene. I wish the pictures had more clarity. I think I’m attracted to quiet country scenes, they are such an opposite to busy cities.

    1. Thanks very much for visiting!
      With the current private classes, I don’t seem to have much time for anything.
      Last night I thought, I’ve never had a normal life. Busy, exciting here and there, abnormal hours of work, but never normal. I do read a lot, though, cannot stand TV, but real books, they allow me to relax after there’s no energy to do something else.
      Husband received his notification about Canada pension. I will have mine in a year. Wanna guess how big it is? He’s worked way more than 40 years and paid taxes every month and now he will get $600 a month. That was a shocker. That’s like 3 trips to grocery store at current prices.
      Other than that, I have to start doing something more or better.
      I love drawing, always have, but I never have time to get my personal ideas on paper, it’s mostly for classes. However, it’s fine whatever we create. I’m certainly happy I have art supplies still and can draw and paint.
      Have a nice evening! Good to hear from you!

    1. Thanks Cindy!
      Basically, it’s very calming to draw for me since it comes to me absolutely naturally. I’ve been always god with drawing, right away from early childhood. That’s why I never had to learn drawing, I just took a pencil and drew whatever I saw. I helped myself through university years drawing portraits from fellow students who were willing to pay for their portrait. I don’t do portraits now since I need to look at a live person, not photos for my drawings, just as with any other subject.
      I am glad to hear that looking at my drawings feels calming to you!

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