Drawing Routine for Writers & Storytellers

Why would you want to Draw your Characters?
Your Environments?
Your Stories?
Because they’re Yours.

Summary – What would you Draw as a Writer?

Start with a Test Session.
1. Try all you want to try right at the beginning
Continue with Characters.
1. Once you’ve warmed up, it will be easier to get better results on Character’s drawing.
Then the Compositions.
1. You’ll want to Integrate your Characters into Settings.
2. As well as Focus the Public’s attention on your main subject.
You also want to display Characters’ Relationships clearly.
1. You can do this by using Visual Thematic Contrast.
Finally, end with some calmer drawings.
1. Each session will finish with an enjoyable sensation if you end up with low-stakes drawing.

Developing your Stories through graphical elements will make your books more Unique.
Your Words need to meet your Brush.
The more Skills you possess, the closer to the Original Vision will the Story be.

This Process is designed for 50-60′ a day of Drawing.
It is easily scalable.

Experimentation : 5-10′

Tests
What do you want to Try?
The experimentation phase opens you to New Stories.
You can try New Topic.
New Subject.
New World.
And maybe Unusual Settings.
It’s the occasion to find an Original Story Topic.

Unusual way of Drawing
It also helps you to discover new ways of Drawing.
Drawing with Non-Dominant Hand.
Drawing with eyes slightly closed.
- Wherever it is to develop your perception of Values.
- Or to test the effects of light on the forms.
Experiment.
Play.
Change your perception.

Experience new Media
You could also Acquire a New Perspective on non-traditional drawing methods & ways.
Do you usually use Pencil?
Do you want to try Ink?
Or maybe Painting?
Do you want to try 3D?
Traditional Sculpting?
- Wood?
- Clay?
- Rock?
Or Even Digital Modelling & Sculpting.

Digital & Paper
Learning Digital will allow you to integrate your Illustration directly in your Books.
You could scan your paper drawings.
But Digital will allow you to design your Illustration directly on a Virtual Canvas.
Digital may be less enjoyable than Paper.
Especially if you begin with a Screenless Tablet.
- And you probably should Start with a Screenless Tablet.
- Develop Hand-Eyes coordination.

Characters : 15-20′

You can’t hope someone else to draw a Character as you’d Imagine.

That’s true for all elements of your World.
However, Characters are more inclined to be Deformed on the Archetype Wheel, if they are drawn by someone else.

Flow & Gesture – Beginner
Flow is the Fundamental dimension of Graphical representation.
It give the Public a clear representation of The Character’s Intentions.
- Or the Setting’s Atmosphere.
In the beginning you’ll want to Focus on drawing Flexible Characters.
- Rather than anatomically accurate ones.
Draw Believable Moves.
Basic, Clear, easily Readable Moves.
Display the Subject’s Personality.

Structure & Light – Intermediate
Once you’ve got Gesture, you can focus on Structure.
3-Dimensionality add depth to your Subjects.
It gives them a sense of Solidity.
And allow you to represent Perspective.
Representing Forms becomes the most Important Skill.
- Simplifying Forms into Shapes may also help you.
You want to represent Planes clearly.
And decompose any Complex Object into simple Blocks.
The Work on Light & Colors comes after this stage.
Once you know how to represent Planes, you’ll be able to represent Light intensity on these Planes.

Anatomy & Textures – Advanced
The last dimension is Anatomy.
When you’ll want to diversify your Characters even more.
And enter the domain of Texturing.
Anatomy & Textures give you the most control over your Subject’s identity.
Offering you the possibility to fine-tune them.
That’s why it’s at the end.
- You do not need Anatomy & Texturing to create Identity.
- You need them to get the most Control over your subject’s Identity.

Compositions : 15-20′

Blocking
Compositions, wherever it is a Subject Study or Freeform, starts by defining the Major Forms.
- Or shapes, depending on the level of simplification you’re using.
Using Attractive Shapes is essential.
Shapes that will catch the Public’s Eyes.
Go for the simplest, clearest shapes.
Separate Urban from Natural Environments in the Beginning.
It will help you define a clearer picture.
Gradually you’ll learn how to let the Forms merge together.
As the limits become more & more discreet.

Main Subject
What is the Fundamental part of your Composition?
Which Subject do you want to highlight?
- Which part of your Subject do you want to highlight?
What defines your Subject?
Where should the Public’s attention be focused?
How do you Focus their Attention?
Use Perspective to focalize eyes on your Subjects.

Relationships
Your Canvas is a 3 by 3 grid.
Place your Subject in your favorite part of the canvas.
Place 2ndary Subjects just next to it, to create a sense of proximity & intimacy.
Place 2ndary Subjects away from it, to create a sense of Distance.
Here, you know how to use a composition to display relationships.
There may be other aspects…

Relationships : 10 – 15′

Silhouettes & Roles
An easy way to Display relationships between Characters is to use different Shapes & Forms.
Using different Body Types allows you to immediately identify who does what.
- Or who is likely to do what.
Use Attractive Shapes.
Clear Shapes.
You only need clear Silhouettes.
You don’t need to add Details yet.
Clarity is the Goal.
And a clear Silhouette purvey an Easy Identification.

Diversity & Consistency
You need Different Characters.
And Settings.
Contrast will make your World more believable.
It enhances your World’s Consistency.
By displaying Different types of Characters.
It helps to create more Complementarity.
Synergy between the Characters.
And between the Characters & the Environments.
A diversity of Character profiles helps you to display every Character’s Function or Role.
The Role of each Character in a Team can be transcribed through graphic design.
Clear forms make clear Scenes.

Quirks
Quirks are the last way for you to create an Immediate sense of Identity.
They could be Accessories.
They could be Gestures.
There are Quirks of all sorts.
All that matter is that they make your Characters memorable.
It helps if they create a sense of Belonging.
Use Familiar Symbols is most effectiveness.

Relaxation – 5′

Therapeutic Drawing
Drawing could also be used to
Finish with a simple drawing session.
Attractive Shapes, for yourself mostly.
They help you develop your sense of space.
How you use the canvas.
And how you develop pleasure through drawing.
For it is the most essential goal of drawing : pleasure.

Easy Subjects
Find a subject you enjoy.
You could look at some Surrealist painting.
Or some attractive Characters & Landscapes.
What matters is that you enjoy the Subject’s study.
This study has low stakes.
Which would help you develop your skills more progressively.
Choose a Subject which Focuses the Attention.
Make it as Attractive as possible.
Eventually it will look good for your Public.

Automatic Drawing
Letting your pen flow on the canvas is another way to become more intuitive.
Much like the introduction to your daily routine, you’re testing.
Except here, you don’t need any preliminary procedure.
You’re truly experimenting.
Looking for Shapes & Forms that may not exist.
Inventing new Shapes.
Navigating between 2-D & 3-D.
Focusing without tiring yourself.
This last exercise is the most effective to Develop a sense of Pace.
Look for your Ideal Rhythm.
Altern between Large Shapes & Small Shapes.
Between Drawing Fast & Slowly.