sketch

Unexpected outcomes, part two

| Anna Cull
Toy museum – ink sketch and final image.
Toy museum – ink sketch and final image.

An unexpected outcome doesn’t always add magic to an image. Serendipity is a wonderful thing but, unfortunately, not all accidents are pleasant surprises.

Toy museum is a good example. It’s an ink sketch that I scanned and coloured digitally. While I was drawing it, I realised it would have to be reworked ― a stray line here, an unfortunate expression there ― but rather than starting again (something my tutors at design school would have insisted on), I kept calm, carried on and decided that I would correct modify those bits later. It’s not cheating; it’s a kind of mixed media that includes digital tools : )

If you compare the sketch with the final image, quite a few things haven’t changed at all, but I had trouble with some of the faces and so I edited them in Photoshop. I tweaked a few other things as well but not too much — I didn’t want to take away the personality of the drawing.

Ironically, knowing that I CAN change something later means that I tend to relax and enjoy my art more and then, more often than not, I DON’T NEED TO change anything. And I like it when that happens too.

Unexpected outcomes, part one

| Anna Cull
sketch ink drawing stamp
Penguins — sketches and final image

Some people call them mistakes. I like to call them unexpected outcomes.

It can be very frustrating when a drawing doesn’t turn out as planned. Why can’t I draw a straight line? Why isn’t the perspective right? The figures are flat. The colours are wrong. The ink has dripped onto the paper and now the sky is frowning.

Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this kind of creative struggle. Quite the opposite. I believe that unexpected outcomes are an essential part of the creative process. They’re an indication that we’re exploring possibilities, stretching ourselves and continuing to grow as artists.

You start with a blank piece of paper. You draw. After ten minutes (or an hour or a day), you’ve created something that NOBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD has created. Something new exists because of you. Okay, so it’s not what you imagined it would be and maybe you’re a bit disappointed. But sometimes, sometimes it takes your breath away. I did that? How did I do that? I wonder if I could do that again?

Sometimes the very thing that we didn’t intend is where the magic happens.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Objet d’art

| Anna Cull
sketchbook journal ink watercolour sketch art objects photograph cabinet
Objet d’art, sketch and photo, 2013.

I enjoyed a little sketchbook time while away on holiday last month and thought I’d use one of the pages for this week’s Shoot it, Sketch it ― although it’s really a Sketch it, Shoot it. The drawing I originally planned to post today is still a long way from being finished. Why, oh why do I tackle such complicated illustrations? You’ll see what I mean next week.

Also taking part in Shoot it, Sketch it are Clouds of Colour, The Little Leaf, Lunch Sketch, Poppytump, Two Scamps, Baaps and 30 Minute Art.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Room with a view

| Anna Cull
Room with a view – ink, watercolour and digital, 265 x 195 mm, 2013.
Room with a view – ink, watercolour and digital, 265 x 195 mm, 2013.
My new workbench and the view of our beautiful plum tree.
My new workbench and the view of our beautiful plum tree.

I’m so thrilled to have a workbench I can stand at to draw and paint — it is SO MUCH BETTER than sitting at a desk all day. It is perfect for me and I love it. Goodbye horrid old computer desk that didn’t even have enough room for an A3 sheet of paper. Hello beautiful (and, let’s face it, unashamedly sexy) oak workbench with cupboards and drawers and lots of space. What a great way to start the new year.

The sketch was done with a dip pen and ink. I’m afraid some abuse of the pen was necessary to get those scratchy textures — but it has survived to dip another day. The watercolour ‘tree’ was painted on a separate piece of paper and added in Photoshop.

– before –
before
– after –
after

~ new year ~ new work space ~ new outlook ~ and a new WordPress header : )

Also participating in Shoot it, Sketch it are Clouds of Colour, The Little Leaf, Lunch Sketch and Poppytump. Why don’t you join us?

Shoot it, Sketch it: Little angel

| Anna Cull
Little angel – ink and watercolour, 230 x 160 mm, 2012.
Little angel – ink and watercolour, 230 x 160 mm, 2012.

Anna Cull Little Angel

The little angel on the top of our Christmas tree inspired this week’s Shoot it, Sketch it (yes, it’s a fake tree — I’m allergic to the pine variety). I knitted her years ago using one of Jean Greenhowe’s wonderful patterns — she was a fairy in the pattern book but I turned her into an angel by making a halo instead of a bow. She’s about 100 mm tall.

Others participating in Shoot it, Sketch it are Clouds of Colour, The Little Leaf, Lunch Sketch and Poppytump.

Happy Christmas, everyone : )