5 Simple Tips for Gaining Confidence when Drawing from Life for Creatives

I really enjoy drawing from life, I find it is often the best way for me to push past creative block. It can feel like a bit of an indulgence, but it gives me some much needed mindfulness as I really focus on my drawing.

Drawing from life is a great way to capture a moment, a bit of body language or a funny detail. Looking back at even very rough sketches can take me back to a time and place in a way nothing else can.

However, there can be something very daunting about taking your sketchbook into a public place - so here are some of my top tips for pushing past that discomfort and getting started! 

Work Small

Working small means people are much less likely to notice what you are up to, and minimise people craning over your shoulder or coming over to chat. I try and keep a tiny hardback sketchbook in my bag at all times (they are a similar size to an iPhone but the hard back gives you something to lean on.)

Even if I only have an old biro with me I have something to scribble down anything interesting that I can see, and it is nice and lightweight for drawing standing up. This feels much less daunting than a big A4 piece of paper, much less pressure and perfect for a quick scribble while you wait for a coffee or the bus.

Limit Materials

I used to lug a whole ‘en plain air’ kit around with me, watercolours, brushes, pencils, ink, making sure I had every colour and different mediums. This ultimately isn’t very practical and sometimes working with a tinier palette and just a few materials leads to more decisive work that can be more interesting and playful. I love the immediacy of drawing from life and too many materials just distract from that.

I tend to stick to ink based (no rubbing out allowed!) and I pick a small palette before I leave the house, usually three split complimentary colours (easily worked out on a colour wheel depending on what I feel like - inspired by my colour workshop with Juliet Docherty) I love things like promarkers, tombow pens, caran d’ache neocolour crayons and coloured pencils for vibrant materials that are easy to transport and don’t spill or leak.

Allow Imperfection

Don’t put pressure on yourself to create a masterpiece. Drawing from life is more about capturing a bit of a feeling and is quite rough and playful. Purposely aiming for an imperfect drawing and not worrying about the result being instagram worthy takes the pressure off. If you’re ready struggling - stand up, get outside or set a timer for just a minute or two - just to get your pen moving across the page whatever the result.

Find the Right Location

If you’re feeling self conscious about drawing in public start off somewhere private, a nice view on a hill, a quiet corner, or even looking out of your window are good ways to start. 

I like to have an objective, or plan to draw a certain subject. Animals can be a great subject as you have the tricky aspect that they don’t tend to hold still but are a lot less daunting to draw than people. 

If you’re based in Wiltshire one of my favourite places to draw is The Gourmet Goat Farmer at Avebury. I’m lucky to have this great little cafe on my doorstep that also has lots of animals to draw - and serves the best hot chocolate! There are adorable boer goats, white park cattle and stunning views.

One of my favourite subjects to draw are people. A good place to start is on a bus or train, your subjects are relatively still and often distracted. A cafe table outside with a slab of cake and some good people watching is great, but my favourite place to draw people is from a good old fashioned pub. People tend to be distracted with their friends, their body language is quite animated and people are generally very relaxed. If people do spot what you are up to they just tend to be very intrigued.

Have Fun!

Drawing from life is such a fun exercise and can make your brain and pen work in unexpected ways. I find I come up with ideas I never would have at my desk. In all my years drawing out and about people have only ever been interested in what I’m up to and been very kind. My rule is not to be precious about my sketchbook. It’s never happened to me, but if someone ever spotted me drawing them and wasn’t happy about it I’d have no problem ripping the sketch up. Likewise if friends or children are interested I’m happy to share my pens and sketchbook for them to jump in and have a go at drawing from life too. 

I’d love to know if you have any queries or questions - drop a line in the comments and I’d be happy to answer.

For More info check out -

walk to see is an amazing hashtag on instagram of people drawing from life - have a browse and join in!

Helen Stephens has some amazing tips and advice for drawing from life, sign up for her wonderful Pencil Pals newsletter which is full of inspiration and ideas.

the good ship illustration has some wonderful free audio prompts for drawing from life and run a free artclub most fridays on instagram.

Being an Exhibiting Artist at Marlborough Open Studios This Summer.

I was absolutely delighted to be included in this years Marlborough Open Studios trail. 

I’ve always really enjoyed visiting different artists studios each July and getting a sneak peek into their process. The Open Studios trail has artists opening their doors all over Marlborough and the surrounding villages, from the Pewsey Vale to Devizes. This was my first year as an exhibitor and I had a wonderful time in July welcoming visitors and chatting about my current illustration projects and commissions.

It was a little daunting as I prepared for the exhibition, between covid  lockdowns and then a year on adoption leave I’d not done any in person events for quite some time. I decided to hold my exhibition at the beautiful St Peter’s Church on Marlborough High Street. The church were lovely about me turning the space into a makeshift studio and exhibition space. I lived opposite the church for much of my childhood but I learnt so much about the history of the building during my weekends there and chatting to the very knowledgable guides. I had ample opportunity to sketch the amazing characters in the beautiful stained glass windows in between visitors.

It felt exciting to print out work ready for framing as so much of what I’d been working on had been edited into its final form digitally and there is something really lovely about holding the work in your hands.

As part of my exhibition I also offered the opportunity for visitors to pose for a live illustrated portrait for a donation to the church. It was really fun to have an interactive element to the exhibition and it was lovely illustrating some of my visitors, and other people were able to observe me at work. It’s tricky chatting to your subject, putting them at ease and quickly capturing a likeness and sense of them on paper all in such a short time, but I was so pleased visitors liked the work.

It was really lovely after all the instagram algorithm changes to hear visitors reactions to my work, it was so valuable getting feedback and seeing what resonated with people. I’ve recently been painting more portfolio work, pieces based on small family moments and memories, both from my journey as an adoptive mum and from my own childhood. I was a little worried that the pieces might be too niche, but it was lovely to hear that people saw their own children and grandchildren in the pieces.  

for more information on visiting St Peter’s Church and their historical, art and music events

https://stpetersmarlborough.org.uk/

Keep up to date with MOS plans for next Summer’s trail here

https://www.marlboroughopenstudios.co.uk/

MOS is currently looking for more associate artists so anyone keen to exhibit in July 2023 has until 1st November to apply. 

https://www.marlboroughopenstudios.co.uk/call-for-artists/call-for-artists