A journey to confidence

My relationship with drawing has been challenging over the years.

In childhood it was my go-to means of expression. Yet, as I developed a love for writing, my confidence in drawing collapsed. Even in art school I was told my drawing skills were not strong enough and I sadly chose to turn my back on the practice rather than commit to improvement.

In the last ten years I’ve addressed the imbalance and rediscovered a love of line and mark-making.

For me, creating a drawing is like rehearsing a dance:  the confidence in the mark-making comes from knowing the “movements”.   I will make a drawing so many times that it is almost committed to memory.

I like to “riff” and try different things (and media) as the confidence grows. This allows me to lean in towards abstraction and see the building differently. Often I like to combine perspectives: seeing from the front, side, from above.

It means that I get to know the structure better with each drawing, expressing its quirks, playing with them, having more fun with them; trusting them.

The marks become relaxed and playful as the building’s shapes grow more familiar.

In earlier encounters my hand is tentative and timid; in later ones, more relaxed, until a freedom fills my hand and body. My drawing process becomes a happy medium between knowing and feeling.