Drawing and the Art of Skills Maintenance

Okay, not the most elegant riff on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. But establishing a daily artistic practice for drawing has always been a struggle for me. Here's how I plan to keep my pencil-work as fine-tuned as possible from now on.

My pencil sketch of a belted kingfisher, one of my favorite birds

Keep a Sketchbook

Simple, right? Sketchbooks are so cool these days. The covers (unless you're a minimalist). The paper options. All the different sizes! Unfortunately these are the reasons why I have so many.

But do I use them as much as I should?

Nope. My collection of half-used sketchbooks is embarrassing. I start with great enthusiasm then quickly forget about them.

But it's becoming clear to me that the foundational gathering of ideas by hand is essential to a consistent, productive artistic practice.

So starting tomorrow I'm taking these vows:

• No more cell phone Notes: I will jot down titles the old fashioned way. Let them stew for a while, in my own handwriting. Cross through words and pencil in revisions. The editorial iterations are important to mindfulness and a deeper connection with my ideas.

• No more perfection-seeking: Life is messy. I like crisp, clean lines and the most flawless sketch I can make. I hate it when my proportions are off or my drawings aren't confident on the first try. I need to remind myself that a sketch isn't seeking perfection. It's seeking process, focus, and skill building.

• Five minutes every day: Maybe it's the rough outline of a bird or a teacup silhouette. Nothing fancy. Just a quick dedication to pencil on paper to warm up and get comfy with the gist of something that may invite a more complex concept to evolve.

  
  

Experiment with Pencils and Paper

2B or not 2B? I'm a 4B kinda gal. Pencils are cheap. Go test some out at a local art supply store (hopefully they still exist in your area), or order a range of options online. Dick Blick has a nice selection.

For paper, I prefer spiralbound medium-weight paper, but here's where in-person shopping is super helpful. What is the tooth of the paper like? The nuances of its color? I like for my sketchbooks to open up flat with cream or bright white paper . Again, Dick Blick offers a lot of choices if you don't have easy access to a brick and mortar store.

Take a Class

My recent experiences have been with online instructors. Social media may push some expensive options your way, but I've found some real gems related to bird and nature drawing in recent times:

• Cornell Ornithology Lab: I learned a lot from the talented Liz Clayton Fuller who periodically offers affordable courses through Cornell's awesome bird nerd hub. Check out their current art and technical skills classes. If Liz is listed, seriously check out her workshop.

• Wild Wonder Foundation: I found this organization during the pandemic and continue to explore their online events. From brief, focused sketching to a full conference on nature journaling, they have quite a selection. Many classes are free with with suggested donations. Their annual in-depth conference is delivered both in-person and online. Check out these recorded classes, their big Nature Journaling Conference, and this complete calendar of events.

  
  

  
  

Now It's Your Turn!

Will you join me in committing to daily drawing? Got other tips to cultivating a sketchbook practice? I'd love to hear from you!