Experiments in pencil, and other reflections.

The humble pencil. 

Ever since I’ve left middle school art classes, I’ve completely forsaken coloured pencils. Maybe I thought I was too good for them. I moved on to more “serious, adult things” like watercolours and alcohol markers and ink pens. The whole idea of using coloured pencils was forgotten. I mean, why bother anyways?  

I am still struck by how inefficient this material can be. Imagine wanting to fill in a particular surface area with pencils. Imagine the amount of work required for that when it could be done so easily with a paintbrush. And imagine if I want to mix a color? Do I rummage through to find the perfect one or do I layer multiple colours? Some of you don’t have to imagine, some of you enjoy this! 

I’m an optimizer and colored pencils were not optimal to me. I was just never patient enough with them.

This summer.

I’ve been looking at a lot of art this summer. I’ve been doing that more than I’ve been making. Which is different than how it usually is for me. And looking at colored pencil artwork makes me feel nostalgic for some reason. It’s interesting that a simple material used in a particular way can carry with it the ideas of childhood, innocence, play.  

I was given this keychain on my birthday. I enjoy this drawing.  

There’s this feeling of “I like this drawing”, which I would describe as an orange fuzzy emotion. But this time, there was also the bright blue spark of “potential”. “Hmm, this looks like it could go somewhere. It’s still new but if I developed this further, I could make some really interesting looking stuff.” I wonder if this quality is something you can see in others’ work, or if it’s a personal thing. I’m sure someone would look at the above image and think it’s uglio.  

I’ve been in a bit of a slump this summer with my art. But I feel like I’ve been looking in the empty wells of painting and drawing. But now that I’ve found this material (colouring?) it feels like a brand-new brimming well has been unlocked (bad analogy, bear with).  

This is all to say…

If you are feeling bored and uninspired in your practice, and materials and process are something you value, why don’t you try something new? Or something you always disliked. Or something you never took seriously.  

More experiments in coloured pencils are coming soon. I have a summer project that needs doing and this post was a commitment device to get started. Stay tuned! Unless it turns out bad and in that case I most likely won’t upload them. But still, stay tuned!