Tools: Pen(cil)s
Writing and rough sketching are important for the stifled artist. Writing your ideas down in text and images is the first step to hatching them. Your text and images will clean your mind and clarify your ideas. While drawing (formally, let's say) is another article, there is something here for everyone to take note:
Write with something that you like.
This seems obvious, however, we don't live by this guideline and the proof is shown by our lives. Most of us slave away at our work sites using the supplies that the office manager likes or whatever happens to be lying around. At home there are no writing implements at all; except maybe some crayons or freebie ballpoints taken from the bank. Add to that, nothing good to mark on, and it starts to become clear why we are repressed.
Take a little time to try out a few different types of writing implements:
[pen: ballpoint, rollerball, fountain, felt-tip, technical, etc]
[pencil: #2/HB, grease, carpenter, golf, colored, charcoal, mechanical, etc ]
[where to find: office supply store, art store, drug store, online, supply cabinet ]
In most cases, we say, “Don't be a collect/worship whore!” but this is one area where you can revel in your stuff-fetish just a bit. If your excited about what you use to write/draw you will enjoy your creative work more. Since most of us enjoy enjoyment, you will do more creative work to increase it. More creative work leads to better creative work and ultimately a productive artisan.
Formulas are taking shape here:
fg + wi = (e+cw>)
[feels good] + [writing implement] = [enjoyment + more creative work]cw + cw> = bcw
[creative work] + [more creative work] = [better creative work]e + cw> + bcw = artisanp
enjoyment + [more creative work] + [better creative work] = [productive artisan]
See, its pure mathematics.
An idea should not have to suffer behind the veil of unintended handwriting or inappropriate strokes. A good pen(cil) can even make a grocery list look sharp.p>
“What's good?” —you define it. When you write/draw do you feel stifled by the pen(cil)? Would you feel insecure if somebody saw what you did —solely based on the way the text/strokes look? That's not a good pen(cil) for you. There is much to be said about talent, ability and practice but not in this post; maybe not on this website. The whole idea is to get your creativity flowing and your motivation producing. If a specific style of pen(cil) does the trick, then go with it
I hold pen(cil)s in a death-grip. My strokes are hard, scratchy and ungraceful. Most ballpoint pens and their viscous ink translate my renderings into a frantic scrawl.
For some reason roller ball pens work extremely well for me. The friction caused by a pencil lead & felt tip pens is usually enough to restrain my strokes, too.
When I write with my preferred pen(cil)s, I love the way it looks. It makes me feel good about my writing. If you don’t like the results of your marking tools… don’t use them.
My choice marking tool: Pilot G-2 roller ball pen with black ink @ 1.0mm; go find yours.
Buy them in bulk. Gather up all the other marking tools in your house and work site and put them in a coffee can with a ‘FREE PENS & PENCILS’ note on it. When no one is watching, place the coffee can in the kitchen at your worksite or on a park bench in a busy park.
Now, go break in your new pen(cil)s.
Tools | Feed Back! | Permalink | art, drawing, pencils, pens, writing
