Warm up exercises?
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In between projects, what kinds of drawing/painting exercises do you do? I want to keep my skills sharp, so I'm looking for ideas. Maybe master studies? I sometimes take out my sketchbook but I end up doodling and I'm not sure I'm pushing myself enough.
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I recently reassessed some of my morning drawing warmup/routines. As of now, I spend about 20 minutes doing life drawing, some of those are quick 1 minute gestures, and some are longer 5 minute ones. Then, I am working on a personal project where I am writing down vocabulary in the languages I am learning then just doing a quick sketch of whatever it might be, and later I might make a personal coloring book out of it.
I am finding that this latter part is really freeing in the sense that the stakes are low, there aren't any sorts of story or emotional attachment to drawing "lamp" or "argument", just drawing. If you wanted to make this an exercise geared more towards narrative, you could illustrate somebody turning on a light, or something interesting like 10 people having an argument (you get the idea
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ALso, as a side note, I think that the foundations course, How to draw everything(?) goes over some basic warmup linework exercises.
I have also been doing some master studies. -
@Katt That's a great idea to combine words with the sketches.
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@Laurel-Aylesworth Glad you like it. I am also really trying to fine tune my style, so looking up 'watercolor/ink" pics on pinterest of said words is helpful to see which style I am really drawn to, particularly inanimate objects that don't have an emotion with them so I can make a decision just on that. Good luck!
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I play a game that I call thumb tiles.
To play you need a random colour marker, a pen with permanent ink and a scrap piece of paper about 3"X3".The rules are:
- No erasing.
- Pick an animal at random, they are your main character.
- Roughly block in your animal with marker.
4.Adding detail with your pen, give your animal and activity and an environment. - Come up with a caption furthering the narrative.
I love this exercise because it puts you on the spot and sharpens your creative chops and it's so fun. It also really helps build your confidence in drawing from imagination.
"You say it's been in your family for how many generations?"
"That's it, I'm not tipping."
"Swarming like locusts"
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@Tash This is so fun! Great idea.
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@Tash that's a good one, very fun.
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Gesture drawings of photos, drawing something using a photo reference, like an animal, vehicle, hands, etc. or still life like a household item, or that house out your window. I recommend specifically drawing on paper with a pen, pencil, or sharpie.
Or even paint to canvas like doing some “plein air” if you’re feeling fanciful/whimsical on a beautiful day and and want to do something spontaneous.Pick something and do it for however short or long you want, and do it repeatedly if it gets ideas flowing and is relaxing, or if you want to improve in something small and specific.
If it’s sketches, avoid the eraser/undo button and work with a timer. Allow yourself to make crappy sketches
(The digital ones were “draw this in your style” challenges as I learned how to use Procreate)
