On Not Drawing Well

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2021-08-04

I have a MFA but I don't draw particularly well. They are sketchy skribbles at best. But that is okay:

1. I enjoy drawing as a process, and I enjoy my sketches

2. Everyone can do drawing or make art. Art is not only for 'experts' or virtuosos.

3. I can't be good at everything or even many things.

4. There is no single definition of 'good'. Most photorealistic drawing, as just one example, bores me.

Lately I made a very simple drawing program for use in a web browser, meant to be called from within vimwiki so that I can do a quick sketch and save it inline in my wiki. Because the software works in a browser and is so simple it works on a phone or tablet or my laptop. I've been sketching with it for the past few weeks.

A sketch of Donovan during Zoom co-working, made on laptop
A sketch of Donovan during Zoom co-working, made on laptop
Still life of cafe table, made on laptop
Still life of cafe table, made on laptop
Nephew, made on tablet
Nephew, made on tablet
Drawing based on photo, made on tablet
Drawing based on photo, made on tablet
Loose sketch of beer bottle on my dresser, made on phone
Loose sketch of beer bottle on my dresser, made on phone

I did not build in 'saving' features. You can screenshot or click and save canvas. You'll see part of the UI in several of the screenshots.

Despite my degree, I like to think many of my art-making processes are self-taught or peer-taught or learned from a book or workshop or youtube video. My sketching is intuitive and amateur. I may integrate it into my 3d and digital processes. Or it may stay as just a sketching practice. And either way, that's okay.

weird drawing tools

vwsketchpad

NoPaint

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