PAINT AT HOME

Make the most of your enforced stay indoors with our 15-page technique special focused on lockdown subjects, from mirror self-portraits to drawing from windows

BEAUTY IN THE EVERYDAY

FELICITY HOUSE kicks things off with a look at how to develop good routines

Just when we thought our enforced stay at home would mean we had plenty of time to make our art, we discover how difficult it is to be motivated. A lack of motivation is familiar to many of us, especially when worrying thoughts fill our mind and we need to get over the task avoidance.

A way forward I found helpful was to establish a 15 minute-a-day routine of drawing, setting myself a particular time to do this every day. Regular drawing practice improves our coordination and observation skills, and 15 minutes is an achievable amount of time to set aside.

Start with a fresh new sketchbook. So many different drawing tools are available, but I recommend reacquainting yourself with a pencil. There is something very calming about pencil drawing, it’s easy to forget how good soft graphite feels on paper – a 2B or 4B would be great.

Draw something small, simple, and to hand. It should also be something you like – a leaf or two on a plant, half a tomato, a shell, a sofa cushion. There’s no need to be too ambitious. You might draw a family member watching TV. A pet is another great subject. If he or she moves a lot, make several small drawings on one sketchbook page in the 15 minutes.

Begin lightly, making marks as you see them. Draw over these softer lines with harder marks to correct or improve the drawing. Build up tones using a series of close marks.