Friday Archive

I stumbled upon an old notebook I'd forgotten about whilst cleaning up last week.

The few drawings in it were from a particularly melancholy patch where I struggled to get out of bed let alone draw.

Previously I've experimented with naive art as a release from intensive technical drawing periods and the quest to translate actual onto the page.

When I was the most depressed, drawing became my nemesis because I lacked the drive, attention span or the nimbleness to complete anything "realistic". Allowing myself the freedom to work with simple geometry and a basic palette, slowly coaxed my brain and hand to work together without any expectations.

Intellectualisation aside, it was just plain fun. The simple joy of unpretentious newsagent colour pencils and paper.

As far as aromatherapy is concerned, the smell of a box of pencils always fills me with a sense of serene excitement. It is possibly my favourite smell (closely followed by toast and puppy tang).

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this style of drawing still really appeals to me. Its simplicity belies the depth of emotion behind it.

So be prepared to suffer more over the coming weeks!