Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Rediscovering Creativity Through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Back to the drawing board, literally. I’ve been afraid to show you the uncomfortable part of art. The part that looks like nothing before it becomes something. But this is where it all begins. This is practice. This is a process. This is human. You don’t have to have it all figured out; you just have to start.
I did something I haven’t done in years.
I pulled out my sketchbooks and chose a pencil, not a brush or a camera
As creatives, we often find ourselves caught in cycles of experimentation and chasing innovation. But what happens when that creative spark dims? For me, the answer was simple: go back to the drawing board. That’s when I enrolled in the intensive drawing workshop Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. I began filling sketchbooks with simple line studies, gesture drawings, and still-life sketches. I focused on the fundamentals: form, perspective, light, and shadow. Without the pressure of creating finished pieces, I found freedom in the act of drawing itself.
My lines were unsure at first.
Too dark, then too light. I laughed when my eyes on my self-portrait looked alien and out of sorts, but I kept going anyway. By week’s end, I filled nearly a dozen pages. Not one of them was perfect, but that's ok. I'm here to remind you that you don't have to be perfect to keep going. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was a reminder for me, too.
There’s something meditative about putting pencil to paper.
It reminds me of why I fell in love with art in the first place.
New Inspiration, New Directions
After weeks of this back-to-basics approach, I returned to my work with a fresh perspective. By refining my signature, film grain-filled minimalist style, my photographs became more dynamic.
The Power of Starting Over
My journey is a reminder that progress in art isn’t always about adding more; it’s often about revisiting what we already know. When creativity feels stagnant, going back to the basics can reignite the joy of making.
For any artist feeling stuck, I offer this advice:
- Step away from your usual medium. If you paint, try sketching. If you sculpt, try quick line drawings. Change the pace and remove the pressure of creating something “important.”
- Observe and study. Go back to classical techniques or explore the raw, unfinished works of great artists.
- Embrace imperfection. Let go of overworking and allow your marks to be loose and expressive.
- Draw just for yourself. Fill pages with doodles, studies, and experiments without thinking about an audience.
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I invite you along on this journey of 100 Blog Posts in 100 Days
There will be times of triumph and struggle, but I will show up through it all.
71/100
Day 72: Muir Woods National Monument
Resources
- Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Intensive Workshop
- Winsor & Newton Art Supplies
- Tombow Art Products
