Saturday, October 11, 2008

Week drawings


We all know drawing can´t be on the bottom of the priority list, right? That will just make you a grumpy and dull person. This is the reason I have come up with a new cunning plan to get some drawing done even when I have too much work to do and there seems to be no time for drawing. I am going to make a weekly spread in my sketchbook from now on. I start Mondays, mark a spread with week number and year, and then I just draw on the same spread throughout the week.

I think it´s a super plan; a spread isn´t that hard to fill in a week (depending on your sketchbook size...), I have no pressure to finish every sketch I start, no need to stick to a certain technique, and no need to rush anything. I will still have the feeling of accomplishment when the week is done and I sit there with a spread of fresh new drawings, plus I will have the benefit of NOT becoming that grumpy person due to lack of drawing. :)

I tried it this week, and it works like a charm. Of course, this will not be the only drawing I do from now on, but this will be the minimum in a week. Even busy weeks.

So... are there any followers out there? Huh? Weekly drawings, anyone? Aw, come on, you know you want to do it!

26 x 15 cm, PITT brush pens, Neopico fineliners and watercolours on Fabriano Artistico hot press paper.

24 comments:

Ann said...

This is lovely and what I great idea! I do want to do this too but I don't know that I would have such a well composed page as you achieved here. I will give it a try though and see what happens :)

Anita Davies said...

I often do this during my day but never thought of doing it for a whole week. It does offer the possibility of some really interesting results and scope in subject matter.
I like the result you achieved, mostly I am looking forward to more frequent posts from you :)

Margaret Ann said...

Cool idea Nina...I think I am going to give it a go...Hmmm...LOL :)

Timaree said...

Hmm, my spread will not look as nice as yours but that is a very good idea. I haven't tried to mingle sketches on a page before so this will be something new in that way too. Tomorrow is Sunday, the perfect day to try this idea.

Penny said...

This just might get me back to regular drawing, I have slackened off for a while so I would love to join in too.
Thanks for the inspiration Nina, but my drawing wont be as lovely as yours.

Olha Pryymak said...

hi! Very solid technique you've got here on your blog (found you on new Urban sketches contributors list, I'll be doing London). I think a snapshot of a week is a great idea, unless you specifically sit down to make a sketch, usually things on the go never fill up the whole page and look unfinished, whereas a few of those things on a page sum up to a greater whole. Will try that. Is that a Moleskine you are using, btw?

Ricardo Sérgio said...

Great work! Love it, it's beautiful.

Nina Johansson said...

Thank you all for your comments.
Olechko: No, this is not a Moleskine, it´s a homemade sketchbook with Fabriano Artistico paper in it.
It´s great that some of you will try this too, please give me a note when you post your weekly drawings, I´d so much like to see them!

Linda T said...

This is a good idea. I'll try it. Thanks for inviting us along.

Laura Frankstone said...

Nina, this is a wonderful idea! I'm so eager to see what you do with it over the next weeks. I'm on a painting jag at the moment, so I won't be able to participate, but I'll certainly enjoy looking!

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Wonderful idea. I'll be watching anxiously.

Monette Satterfield said...

I like the great assemblage you've made with this. I'm just mulling over a new book and maybe will incorporate something like this.

Liz Steel said...

Great page Nina... I was thinking along these lines 2 weeks ago and spent a whole week drawing my teapot on my desk at work
http://borrominibear.blogspot.com/2008/10/teapot-doodles.html

...I should try and do it every week. So I am in!

Lindsay said...

Fantastic idea! And you might even see some ideas coming together that you might not have considered otherwise. Great plan.

Anonymous said...

Great idea, Nina, and I LOVE the montages this would create.

I'm heavy into working on my book right now, so don't want to make commitments I can't keep, but I'll keep it in mind and SO look forward to seeing yours and others' work...

Jennifer Lawson said...

Great spread Nina. I love the colors and the overall design is so artful. I am tempted to try this as I am struggling to get started sketching again in my new home.

kazumiwannabe said...

Love this drawing,and the idea. I think I'll try!

Anonymous said...

Your work is awesome!
I like to work that way, too--I think the developement is better than if I rushed it or HAD to do it a certain way--due to an fall accident I have been unable to draw and it is hell---but the pages will be there for me---E J Mordasky

Anonymous said...

hi nina, i found urban sketchers a day or two ago, and it is so inspiring! so today i went out with my sketchbook in hand and it is awesome! i have just moved to Malmo from india, and sweden is so, so beautiful. now i am drawing everything i see! i love your work and it's very inspiring! best, soo

stupot said...

I think I'll give it a go Nina - just because it's a really nice collage of situations. Good thinking....

no way said...

I think I might give this a crack, Nina! What a great idea. Tomorrow-Monday-I'll get started!

E-J said...

I have done weekly (and weekend-ly) spreads in my sketchbook before using the grid approach, and more recently in an abstract zentangle sort of style, but never freestyle like this. Your weeklies so far are brilliant, Nina! I think they must require more skill than grids in order to keep one drawing/style flowing into the next. I may well join you at some point!

Claudia said...

Super Idea, Nina! I will try it, too!

melissa said...

A great idea. The overlapping and mingling is a nice touch.