Learning to Trust my Brain
It all started with a small sketchbook and a 14B graphite pencil a friend gave me for my last birthday. In early January, I sat down with my morning coffee, opened the ‘inspiration’ folder on my phone, and decided to use my new-ish gifts to draw the black and white photo of Anna May Wong. I instantly loved the smooth feel of the 14B pencil and the contrast it offered to the ‘B’ pencil.
I carried on using it for a few more drawings.
Then I moved to my bigger sketchbook to give me more space for the illustration, and I guess I remembered I wanted to carry on practicing mixed media?
I don’t remember what exactly prompted me to use watercolour for the parts that weren’t skin, though maybe there was a subconscious inspiration (more on that below). In any case, I started with a wash of green that I didn’t especially like.
At that stage I thought I would use graphite to bring in the shadows and hopefully save the drawing. But, once again, my brain came up with a different idea seemingly out of nowhere: I should use the watercolour pencils that had been lying dormant for years in my ‘craft box’.
I had tried them before, with no success whatsoever. This time though, it worked out! I don’t know why I keep underestimating the fact that practicing different types of medium makes ones I once struggled with, or even completely new ones, easier.
I really like the depth and texture it gives the jacket. And I like all the different textures from the various types of medium.
I started drawing my next illustration, and my plan is to follow a similar recipe. Though, based on how the last one went, maybe my brain will decide on something else entirely as I go along. Can’t wait to find out!
Judith xx
Monthly inspiration
My friend Jennifer Dionisio is an extremely talented artist and illustrator. Her very cinematographic work is moody with an undercurrent of mystery. And the composition is always perfect.
She draws her characters in pencil and colourises the illustrations digitally, with a limited colour palette. Which I realised is, in a way, what I did with my drawing except I used watercolour to add colour. Sorry I copied you Jen!
Below is the art poster of The Wizard of Oz she created for Mondo. She shared a close-up of Dorothy / Judy Garland’s head on her Instagram, along with the original pencil illustration:
You can follow my illustration and graphic design work here.