I’m back with Little Tips with Big Results- if you’re just joining us make sure to check out the first post in the series- Using A Sketchbook
Oh…Use a pencil first. Such a hard hard tip for me to learn (and sometimes to remember). Have you ever watched a video of someone doing a really awesome hand lettering project? The first time I saw this timelapse video by Sean McCabe, I was so amazed. And my number one takeaway was that he sketched out what he wanted it to look like first and THEN he used pencil on the entire thing first before even touching it with a pen on the final product (and I’m sure there was a lot more prep before the filming started). You can see why though…it’s such an intricate process you wouldn’t want to mess anything up you can’t erase.
Even still it’s such a hard to thing not to just jump right in with the ink and go to town. But, just like the sketchbooks I think it’s so much more rewarding in the long run and my work usually turns out more like how I was wanting. When I made my handlettered book I penciled everything out first right on the paper and it worked out so well!
Pictured I’ve got some pencils and a kneaded eraser. I’ll be honest, I usually just use whatever pencil I have closest to me (and it’s usually a pretty pink and gold mechanical pencil from the Target dollar section), I don’t have a favorite fancy pencil. If you do, I’d love to know what it is! The kneaded eraser is also good for making the pencil marks lighter before you start inking anything and it can erase those marks you make when you smear the pencil with your hand accidentally :) It also doesn’t leave any of those messy little eraser bits which is always a plus for me.
So, what do you think? How good are you at slowing down and taking a minute to do a pencil sketch or are you like me and want to dive right in?
PS- This week I started a just for fun series on Instagram with some chalk art hand-lettering designs. If you like the chalk designs I’ve been putting on the blog this week and last, follow me @megleeron. I’ll be posting everyday!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Like Me on Facebook
Check Out My Etsy Shop
Portfolio & Services
I think this is so cool! It’s unfortunate that I don’t sketch enough. I just pop right in photo shop 90% of time. I don’t think about paper until I have to print. LOL This video makes me want to start drawing and painting again. Thanks for sharing Meg.
I know! The video makes me want to stop and take my time more on projects. That has to take a TON of patience and time!
love this because it works for design and for brainstorming biz ideas. Whenever I’m mapping out a new idea I love to grab a pencil and begin scribbling. Thanks for sharing this cool video too!
It totally does!! And I always jot down brainstorming ideas too- a piece of paper is much less intimidating than the blank screen of a word document.
Hand-lettering is such an amazing art and while I don’t have the talent for it, I think the idea of “using a pencil first” can be applied to almost anything! Start with a rough draft that you can easily erase, adjust, change, or add to until you’ve got the vision in your mind on the paper in front of you. :)
Exactly! And it’s always so worth it to take that extra time.
Yes, a lovely reminder, thank you! People thought I was crazy when I was first learning about user experience design; I automatically reached for a pencil, ruler and eraser to sketch out wireframes and people looked at me agog and said, “Sara, we’ve got SOFTWARE for that!” I’m inspired to sketch more, though I don’t do it well, I don’t much mind. :-)
Wait, you mean sometimes you ink straight away without using a pencil first? I’m not sure I ever did that… Yes when I’m just doodling and fooling around, but not on anything remotely “serious”.
Some months ago I discovered a new favorite tool of mine – red mechanical pencil lead. I use it on my first drafts to block in guidelines and try out different things, before I go over it in regular pencil. I also use it in my illustration sketches. That way when I go to color or vectorize the thing digitally, it’s easy to hide the guidelines without bothering with erasing.
Great advice! I’m sharing this one for sure :)