Hey! It’s Chou-Tac
For today’s video, I went to draw at one of my favorite cafes: O’HARA in Saigon to draw people.
However, the cafe was empty! I had no more reference available.
So, I had to figure out a plan B: I took my phone, play a Netflix movie and Sketch!
Drawing while watching a movie is amazing to fight distraction
I clicked on the first thumbnail in the list: ONE CENT THIEF.
That’s a pretty cool series from Malaysia of 8 episodes (Inspired from real life events).
Since I lived in Singapore for a few years and get quite a bit familiar with Malaysia, I felt a bit nostalgic.
Glad to see a Malaysian movie on Netflix library. :)
Anyway, let me know if you like this “SKETCH & CHILL” format, I found it super cool and inspiring to make.
I would love to create a 2nd session.
You will find below 2 videos:
- The speed with narrative version,
- and the Real time sketching video of 34 minutes.
Sketch and Chill: Drawing While Watching Netflix
Hey Design Sketchers!
Today, I want to share a fun and unique way to enhance your drawing skills while enjoying your favorite shows on Netflix. If you’re someone who often finds it hard to focus when sketching, this method might just be the perfect solution for you!
The Concept of “Sketch & Chill”
You’re in a cozy café, sipping your favorite drink, and instead of just watching a show, you’re actively engaging with it through drawing. The idea is simple—while watching a Netflix series, press pause whenever something catches your eye and sketch it out. This allows you to enjoy the entertainment while practicing your art skills simultaneously.
Why Netflix Can Help You Fight Distraction
For those who get easily distracted, combining drawing with watching a show can keep your mind engaged.
Your brain kept being fed of inspiration, references, actions, decors, props, environments, expressions. You are the artist and designer to decide on what you want to focus on for your sketching session.
Here’s how:
- Visual Inspiration: Characters in movies and series appear from various angles and expressions, providing a rich source of inspiration. You can capture these features in your sketches. You may study how to draw a face from different angles using the Loomis method.
- Relaxed Environment: Being in a café or any comfortable setting helps create a relaxed atmosphere where you can focus on both the screen and your sketchbook without pressure.
- No Pressure for Perfection: The goal isn’t to create perfect portraits; rather, it’s about improving your skills over time. Embrace the mistakes! They are part of the learning process.
All Time Favorite Tool: The Ballpoint Pen
When sketching during your Netflix session, I recommend using just a ballpoint pen.
Here’s why:
- Quick Sketching: A pen encourages you to commit to your lines without the temptation to erase. This helps you develop confidence in your strokes.
- Hatching for Shading: Use hatching techniques for shading instead of pencils. This method allows for quick results and adds character to your sketches.
By focusing on the essence of what you see rather than striving for exact likenesses, you’ll find that your sketches become more expressive and unique.
Draw your Movie with Fun!
As you draw, take your time!
If you need to pause the show to catch a detail or wait for a character to reappear, or even rewind, that’s perfectly fine. No space for stress here. It’s all playful.
Enjoy the process!
- Experiment with Angles: Try drawing characters from different viewpoints or scales. This not only enhances your skills but also makes for interesting compositions.
- Add Background Elements: Incorporate simple backgrounds that complement your characters. Even if they are rough sketches, they add depth and context to your drawings.
- Fill Your Paper: Don’t shy away from filling up the page with sketches. The more you draw, the more comfortable you’ll become with different styles and techniques.
BONUS VIDEO: REAL-TIME 34 minutes
Before leaving, I thought you may like having the REAL-TIME LIVE version of 34 minutes video.
Take your time to see and study my drawing process:
Conclusion
Drawing while watching Netflix is not only entertaining but also an excellent way to practice and improve your sketching skills. It’s all about enjoying the process and allowing yourself to experiment without fear of making mistakes. You can practice anytime of the day. If you are a night sketching person, that is a great opportunity to draw for hours with no distraction.
You could Binge Drawing with Netflix!
I invite you all to give this method a try!
Grab your sketchbook, find a comfy spot, and let the creativity flow as you watch your favorite shows.
Remember, the key is to have fun!
See you next time!
Happy sketching!
Chou-Tac
PS: I love drawing watching movies in a plane like I did with the Grand Budapest Hotel.
Feel free to recommend me a movie in the comments below, or by email choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com.
PPS: I discovered on Reddit I am not the only one drawing using Netflix movies as reference.
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TRANSCRIPT
HEY GUYS
SO TODAY WE ARE IN A CAFE
AND I’M GOING TO DRAW
BY WATCHING NETFLIX
SO WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE SOME FUN
AND DRAW
HERE AND THERE
JUST PRESSING PAUSE
WHEN IT’S NEEDED
AND
HERE WE GO!
ALRIGHT
SO LET’S DO A
SKETCH AND CHILL
SESSION
SO I’M JUST WATCHING
A VIDEO ON NETFLIX
AND
WHENEVER I FEEL
SOMETHING INTERESTING
I JUST DRAW IT
ACTUALLY
AT THE BEGINNING
I WAS GOING TO THIS BAR
TO THIS CAFE
TO DRAW SOME PEOPLE
BUT UNFORTUNATELY
THERE WAS
NO ONE AROUND!
SO I DECIDED
TO TAKE OUT
MY PHONE
AND WATCH NETFLIX
AND SEE WHAT
I COULD DRAW WITH
SO THE IDEA IS THAT
WHENEVER YOU DRAW
YOU JUST PRESS PAUSE
WHENEVER YOU NEED
OR TRY TO WATCH THE MOVIE
AND ENJOY IT
AND SEE THE
FEATURES OF THE CHARACTER
YOU ARE DRAWING
ALONG THE MOVIE
AS SINCE THIS IS
THE MAIN CHARACTER
IS GOING TO APPEAR
FROM DIFFERENT ANGLE
MULTIPLE TIMES
AND JUST ENJOY
TO DRAW ALL ALONG
YOU DON’T HAVE
TO BE PERFECT
YOU DON’T HAVE
TO DRAW EXACTLY
THE PORTRAITS
OF WHAT YOU SEE
WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO IS
TO IMPROVE
YOUR SKETCHING SKILLS
AND TO PRACTICE
FOR QUITE A LONG SESSION
FOR 1 HOURS
2 HOURS
UP TO YOU
AS SINCE
THIS IS A NETFLIX SERIES OF 8 EPISODES
YOU CAN DRAW
AS LONG AS YOU WANT
SO THE THING IS UH
IS PRETTY CONVENIENT
FOR WHOEVER
FEEL DISTRACTED
FEEL EASILY DISTRACTED
AND NOW YOU CAN UH
ENJOY BOTH OF IT
LIKE
ENTERTAINMENT AND DRAWING
AT THE SAME TIME
SO HERE WE GO
SO WE ARE
CHILLING WITH UM
JUST SKETCHING
ALL AROUND
TAKING YOUR TIME
SO FOR SOME
DETAILS HERE
I LIKE TO DRAW
ONLY WITH MY BALLPOINT PEN
AND FOR SHADING
JUST DRAW WITH HATCHING
SO I TRY TO AVOID THE PENCIL
DRAWING SUCH AS TO
FOR
HOW TO SAY
IT’S JUST
PRETTY CONVENIENT
FOR QUICK SKETCHING
AS YOU CAN
COME OUT WITH
SOME IDEAS
YOU CAN COME OUT WITH
SOME UH VERY FAST UM
RESULTS WITHOUT
MESSING UP EVERYTHING
WITH A PENCIL
WITHOUT ERASING
YOU YOU WANT TO
DO MISTAKES
AND LEAVE THE MISTAKES
AND ITERATE ON TOP
SO THIS IS HOW
YOU CAN ACTUALLY
PROGRESS MUCH FASTER
SO IT’S OKAY
YOU JUST WANT TO
PRACTICE ALL ALONG
WHENEVER
I’M ENJOYING THIS SESSION
UH I DON’T
I PRETTY TAKE IT EASY
AND TRY TO BE
FOCUS ON THE MOVIE
AND WHAT I’M DOING
SO I HOPE THERE IS
IS LIKE
ONLY ME
IN THE WORLD
NOBODY TO DISTRACT ME
AND JUST ENJOY
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE
LIKE THE CHARACTER
HAS
DIFFERENT ANGLE
AND I CARRY ON
BY DRAWING THE LIPS
HERE
I JUST TAKE MY TIME
I MEANS IF THERE IS
SOMETIMES
LIKE YOU DRAW
AND THEN
YOU PAUSE
FOR A FEW MINUTES
LOOKING FOR A DETAIL
THAT YOU MISSED
ON YOUR CHARACTER
AND YOU’RE WAITING
FOR HIM TO
REAPPEAR AGAIN
IT’S FINE
HERE WE GO
AS YOU CAN SEE
I ADD SOME VALUE
WITH THE HATCHING
HERE WE GO
SO WHEN I
WHEN I TRY TO DO
A COMPOSITION
IT IS INTERESTING
TO DRAW
THE CHARACTERS UM
FROM DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS
AND ALSO DIFFERENT SCALE
AS WELL AS
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IS
WILL BE THE CHARACTER
THAT IS STANDING
AND I BRING SOME CONTRAST
FROM THE TWO PORTRAIT LINES
IN FRONT
AND I PUT IT IN
BEHIND
AND ALSO
THE LEVEL OF DETAIL
IS DIFFERENT
THAT’S CREATING
ALSO MORE CONTRAST
WITHIN YOUR
DIFFERENT CHARACTER
THAT YOU SEE
ON YOUR BOARD
HERE I ADD A BIT OF
BACKGROUND
WHICH IS A DOOR
BEHIND HIM
AS YOU CAN SEE
I DON’T GO
INTO THE DETAIL MUCH
AND THE THE WAY
I DRAW
THE DOOR IS MORE UM
INACCURATE
MORE CLUMSY
THIS IS ADDING
ALSO SOME CONTRAST
WITH THE CHARACTER ITSELF
HOP
I ADD ANOTHER ONE RIGHT HERE
WHICH IS A VILLAIN
OF THE CHARACTER
OF THE EPISODE ONE
SO GETTING
PRETTY NERVOUS
SO HERE WE GO
I DRAW SOME ZOOM IN
HERE OF THE EYES
SO MY MY GOAL HERE
IS JUST TO FILL THE
THE PAPER
AS MUCH AS I CAN
THAT’S IT
SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT
AND I SEE YOU
FOR THE NEXT VIDEO!
I INVITE YOU TO TRY AND UH YES
ALWAYS HAVE FUN
SEE YA!
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