This week I have been mostly drawing pictures!
It has been a while since I have done any drawing. I was trying to do a sketch every day after watching some of the excellent videos on Sketchbook Skool. However, that fell by the wayside due to life and fluctuations in motivation.
What changed this week?
I woke early on Sunday morning and, while laying in bed, I looked at the chimney breast in my room. It is painted wait and there is a nail there waiting for a picture to hang there. I keep meaning to get a picture frame for a poster, but I cannot seem to get around to it.
However, a thought popped into my head. Why not paint something on the wall? Many moons ago, I had painted a huge mural of Death’s Head, Marvel’s freelance peacekeeping agent, yes! That was covered over years ago.
There is an image, a film still of something that I feel would fit perfectly. A figure standing in mist or steam on a city street. I have yet to find it so have not started.
While that was not moving forward, I did feel the familiar tickle at the back of my head that I always get when I have the urge to create some art. The blank wall had inspired me to pick up a pencil.
With that in mind, I finally had a crack at drawing Ripley from Aliens. The scene when they see the dropship crash and Newt says “the mostly come out at night.”
This was the result and I am quite pleased with it.
I have always been able to draw. As a young lad, I used to copy pictures from the Fighting Fantasy books and various comics.
Now I draw lots of portraits after finally cracking how to do them properly after drawing Vincent Price.
I do a rough sketch to work out what goes where and then start shading (I generally use a 2B pencil) in an eye and work outwards from there. It always feels like I am breathing life into the piece.
Currently, I am working on a Predator picture. Still a ways to go, but it is heading in the right direction.
I do find the process relaxing and good for my mental health. I just have to remember to relax my back and shoulders as they can get scrunched up and achy.
Maybe I should get a drawing desk….but maybe I should just enjoy the simple pleasure of drawing a picture. The muse isn’t always with me, but it is good to have it back, even if it is just for a little while.
I have got lots of my art in an album on Facebook if you want to see them all, but here are a few of my favourites - When sketching (as with The Wicker Man image) I use a pen and The Bride of Frankenstein is in acrylics. I really must get some more colour into my work.
You always amaze me.