I admit, that when I sit down to do some drawing, I can get into quite the staring match with that blank page. It can become a serious show down, with the blank page sometimes coming out on top. So here are a few ideas and simple tricks I use to win the battle and get myself drawing.
Start with Simple Shapes
When your stuck, or finding your creativity just plain blocked, the trick is to go back to the beginning and simplify. I remember receiving advice from a friend that when you get stuck, go back to the place you know worked. For me, this is simple shapes. I go back to the basics and work my way forward from there.
Any basic shape will do. Circle, diamond, teardrop, heart, just pick one, or two, and get them on the paper.
Repeat The Shapes Around A Centre
Ok, I picked my shape, now what?
The next step is to start drawing them in simple patterns. I find one of the easiest patterns is arranging the shape around a centre point.
And voila, a flower is born. Yep, it is that easy!
Use Grids For Placement
Since I enjoy drawing my shapes around a center point, I find simple grids are handy to help me with placement.
You can make these by hand. Just draw a circle and draw three lines through it to divide it into 6 sections. Don’t worry if they are not equal or straight, you are just creating a guide for yourself. Then you fill each section with your chosen shape.
All these exercises and grids are ready to go in my new workbook
Once you have given these small grids a try you can move on to more complex grids.
These you may want to create with a ruler and compass and maybe even a protractor. You can make them on the computer as well, or you can check out my workbook where I have pages of different sizes ready to go.
I like to keep a few of these around to place under my page and reuse again and again.
Know Your Shapes First, Then Develop Your Style
I was always told first to learn the rules and then you can break the rules. Well at least in art!
In my Simple Flowers Workbook, I give you all examples to trace of each shape in their symmetrical, “perfect” form. I suggest tracing these until you have the feel for them. Then go for it, freeform, create your own style.
Once you understand a shape inside and out, there is so much you can do with it.
Experiment with different pens, thick, thin, brush tip and various nib styles. Start to add in different details.
You can take one style in it’s pure form and give it lots of personal flair in so many different ways.
Imagination One / Blank Page Zero
Now you have the basics and know how to get something simple onto the page. Your designs will start to take on a life of their own. With a little practice, you will be pleasantly surprised with what shows up on the page.
You’ve done it. You’ve beat that blank page.
Enjoy and see you next time,
Jane xo
Thanks for joining me and getting creative. ~ Jane ~
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
