There are merits to both drawing pictures quickly and working on them carefully and diligently

Introduction

Lately, drawing quickly suits my temperament. It is not that I am impatient, nor am I in a rush. It is not that I cannot draw carefully. If I divided my time, that should be possible. Why I do not do that and instead finish drawing quickly is...

That is what I will talk about today.

Taking several years

I used to paint oil paintings often more than 20 years ago. When I started one, I could not touch it for a while until it dried, so I would start others at the same time. I would find time to work on them alternately like that. The time spent on one does not change that much. Of course, if it is large, it takes time accordingly, but if it is a thumbhole size, it can be completed in a few sessions.

Therefore, there were many small paintings, and the frames I had on hand to store my works were all small. If there are too many small, fiddly pieces, I start wanting to draw free-flowing lines and want to head out to a place with a wide landscape to sketch. Usually, I would get into that mood precisely when I was busy.

That said, there are cases where I carelessly started a large canvas and it finally took several years to complete. When it spans across years, it is difficult to maintain motivation for that painting. Interest and attention shift elsewhere.

Instead

When I became busier, I instead started working on croquis sketches of people. Whenever I found time, I would ask people close to me to be models. I would then concentrate for about an hour, taking breaks, and draw five or six sketches.

Thanks to the people around me who were willing to cooperate, and because I was conveniently able to be taught by a painter for a while, I managed to draw reasonably well. There were several interruptions, and each time I had to restart to be able to move my hand again. That is how I managed to maintain it.

A little faster

What I learned from that: Croquis is fast drawing of poses lasting 5 or 10 minutes. I repeat that many times. The ideal form is to be able to do it like a daily routine. Indeed, persistence pays off, and I am able to grasp forms better than when I first started.

Along with that, I began to pay attention to various perspectives, such as where I should draw firmly, balance, and texture. That period is the most fun. Of course, there are still more times when things do not go as planned, but I leave that as it is and write the date on the paper. When I look back later, I can gradually see what is strange and how I could do it a little better.

Fast and careful

As I get used to drawing quickly like this, I start to think that it would also be nice to work carefully, so humans are selfish. Oil painting answers that demand to some extent, and I recently realized that colored pencils are quite excellent as an art material.

I can keep them at hand, take them out and draw immediately, and put them away as soon as the time comes. Works are completed through that repetition. I try both the method of working on the whole thing every time and the method of finishing it part by part little by little. Both are interesting.

Conclusion

This time, I intend to do both drawing pictures and looking at pictures. Through appreciating the works of painters, I receive the feeling of 'alright, I will do it too' from them every time I return home.

That becomes the trigger to start the next painting. I think that is fine. I intend to do as I please and as the mood takes me.

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