Drawing with colored pencils as an art medium is very calming, and for that reason alone, I find it well worth the effort.

Introduction

I have been drawing quite a bit lately. Or rather, I have started again. The drawing paper fills up in no time. When I return from work early in the afternoon, there is still plenty of time before the sun sets. At such times, I have art supplies that allow me to start on a drawing right away.

Today is a story about that.

Common Art Supplies

I have absolutely no intention of painting a masterpiece. In fact, I find it more enjoyable to find little pockets of time in my daily life to draw bit by bit. I draw things that are close at hand. I used to use oil paints, but I am renting this place. Since it is a rental and the walls are white, I am not even considering using paints that are difficult to clean up. It is probably time to get rid of the tools I have been adding to and using for nearly 40 years.

Instead, I often reach for colored pencils. They are truly smooth and easy to draw with. They are very common, domestically produced stationery that my child used to use. Despite that, they are easy to work with. I use them by sharpening them with a utility knife.

Familiar Motifs

Since I draw almost exclusively at home, the subjects are things around me. Recently, I have drawn things like amanatsu oranges and a piggy bank. I also use photos I took when I traveled in the past.

Since it is difficult to ask someone to be a model, I sometimes draw based on photos I was given permission to take in the past as well. In any case, I always start with a light sketch using a 4B pencil, then layer the colored pencils on top.

To Make Time for Drawing

It takes about an hour, I suppose. During that time, I focus on drawing without moving much. Since housework doesn't get done during that time, I naturally have to find free time for it. Conversely, when I decide to draw, I finish my other chores quickly to secure the time.

If I just do chores sluggishly, I can never secure time for myself. I try to decide to do specific things. Unless I carve out the time, the day will eventually end with nothing but trivial tasks. It could easily turn into a life of just being tired and going to sleep.

As a Hobby

It might be the first time in a while that I have been so proactive about securing time for what I want to do. Perhaps I started to do this until a while after my child was born. Before I knew it, I got caught up in the busyness and it stopped. After that, I would restart as if I had just remembered it, but then suddenly, a job with heavy responsibilities would come my way. I would spend most of my time on time-consuming tasks, and I ended up losing interest in drawing.

Later, when things settled down, I finally tried to find a teacher to start over from the basics, but as expected, work meant giving up weekends and constant overtime, so I couldn't receive instruction. Then I ruined my health and changed jobs. Even after that, I would start and then interrupt it.

Conclusion

After many interruptions, I have been able to return to drawing again. Or rather, drawing remained with me. When I am immersed in it, I feel absolutely no stress. One might think that a hobby shouldn't involve stress, but depending on how you go about it, you might feel it. For example, I have no intention of joining an art group or engaging in group activities where I have to worry about human relationships.

There is no point in wearing myself out like I did before. I always carry these colored pencils with me.

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