Its been a strange year for me in several ways - one of which included a strong case of artist's block. I was unmotivated, lacked the energy or focus to work. My attempts at painting in acrylic all felt like fails. So, on following some good advice, I decided to PLAY, not work at my art.
I love pens - thick, thin, double sided. I have a great collection. So - to keep everything as simple and unpressured as possible, I found a small notebook and my thin colored sharpie box, took myself outdoors into the sunshine and began a series of continuous line faces. This was my only rule - draw a face without lifting my black pen. Then, use color markers in ANY way I liked. I've done many. This is the latest.
The process is relaxing, needs very little equipment, requires no clean-up, can be done anywhere, and has been instrumental in easing me back into other, more complex, projects.
One thing that became immediately apparent is the influence of my fashion art training and the classes I teach, on the faces I am drawing.
In my classes, Peter Max is one of the most popular artists to emulate. With his vibrant colors, Pop Art images and charming imaginary places, his work opens the door to beautiful work and lots of fun in the creation.
