Monday, November 26, 2007

Forgetting How to Draw

In a recent interview with author and illustrator Brian Lies at Greetings From Nowhere (part of Robert's Snow- Blogging for the Cure) one of the tips Brian shared was to draw as much as you can. He said:

My ability to draw waxes and wanes. When I'm in the writing stage of a book and don't draw for several weeks, my drawing becomes terrible. It's only after drawing daily for a week or so that my skills return, and the mental muscles get back into shape. But it's important to build those mental muscles first--and the only way to do it is by spending time practicing.

I totally relate to this! I actually think most of life is about practice-- whatever skill you are trying to master. And it reminds me to keep a sketchbook with me wherever I go. Even for the smallest of scribbles.

2 comments:

gail said...

This is so true! I know I tend to get tunnel vision. When I'm writing that's all I can think about, when I'm drawing...let's just say my family is lucky if they get dinner.

I need to work on using my sketchbook more.

Jennifer Thermes said...

I know what you mean about dinner! Thank goodness for take-out pizza.