Rediscovering my Drawing Style

I've started this year to attempt to rediscover my drawing style.

When I was younger, I was very good at looking at images and redrawing them myself. I started to peak with my art style around 15/16 years of age and then started to work a full-time job from 17 years old; I no longer had the time to draw as much as I did. I soon began studying child care and working in the industry, so drawing and art in my free time became a thing of the past.

Now that I am home learning to adjust to my chronic illness and wanting to do something for myself as I get used to my 'new normal' drawing regularly is something I think that I can achieve. Without putting unnecessary pressure on myself, I'll try and draw once a day and build my skills back up.

I recently discovered a fantastic artist on Instagram, Mimimoo Illustrations. I then found she also has a Youtube channel - she has been a great source of inspiration for me to start drawing again.

Mimi has a great resource of drawing prompts that I will add links to below - they are free with the option to donate whatever you feel you can manage. A great way to think of it is shouting her a virtual coffee for putting in the time to come up with something other artists can utilise.

So armed with Mimi's prompts, I have started to draw again. I was a bit nervous about picking up a pencil and creating something but was surprised that I wasn't as rusty as I thought I would be.

Another aspect of my worry is not being able to develop a style that is my own. As most of my work when I was younger was drawing artworks of other people, I never got to the stage of developing a style or characters of my own. So there is always that back of the head niggle of copying. Going to do my best to avoid this!

When I was working in child care, the kids often asked me to draw them. There were usually around 30 kids in a class, and once children see a teacher doing something fun for one child, they all want a turn. I had to come up with a doodle that looked enough like them but was quick enough to knock out fast to keep up with the mass demands of toddlers. This consisted of a simple bulbous head shape, beady eyes, little down or upturned noses and simple smiles. It was easy to do, and I had to use the correct pencils to individualise them and appease their requests.

As this was my last mental reference of anything resembling a style, I've decided to start from there.

I have a long way to go. They are far from perfect, but I think they have potential. Again, I was surprised that they didn't look too terrible and put me off completely.

I also know repetition is vital. I'm not putting pressure on myself to make massive artworks. I draw for 10 to 15 minutes a day, and then I leave it.

I've used Mimi's prompts three times already - and that has been a significant help! Sometime's, the battle is coming up with a subject to draw; to have that part taken care of makes it easier to focus on the task.

I have Procreate, so the idea is to upload their shots from my art pad and then finesse and fine-tune them there.

I will upload anything that I finish and am happy with to Instagram. Keep an eye out!

Hopefully, this time next year, I can look back and see how much I have improved in personal style and ability.

Mimimoo Illustrations - Instagram

Mimimoo Illustrations - YouTube

Mimimoo Illustrations - Drawing Prompts - don’t forget to shout her a virtual coffee if you can!