Hello from the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Los Angeles.
My wife and I (we just got married a few weeks ago!) went to the bookstore to look for art and design books. In Los Angeles, it’s pretty common to find Starbucks everywhere, including inside Barnes & Noble bookstores. We stopped here for a bit to enjoy a Vanilla Coffee.
A. Draw a Portrait on Napkins
I love drawing on napkins or anything else that has the potential to be a canvas, like a coffee cup. Today, Starbucks gave me a beautiful, perfectly square napkin without any folds, which is quite rare!
So, my mind didn’t see a napkin, but a canvas with a cushioned texture.
What should I draw? Simple—I chose to draw Ma Chérie (My Darling, in French).
I’m not a pro at drawing portraits; I believe I’m better at product design and concept art. But I enjoy sketching, and that’s what matters most.
B. Marker Drawing Tips on Napkins
- The marker’s lines are pretty bold and do not give room for errors. So, I used the ghost drawing technique carefully to simulate the hand movement first before committing to drawing the line.
- The markers’ink get absorbed by the napkin fibers and may go through.
Make sure to do not stain the table accidentally.
C. Choose a Frame and Display it
We drove then to Ross store to find some frames, and Kimi choose ones that are transparent. That was a great choice as we then decided to display them at the window, where the light could shine through.
What do you think of our frame?
D. Create Instant Memories (Like a Polaroid Camera)
If you are a beginner at drawing, yes, your drawing may turn out clumsy! But who cares? The goal is to create a genuine and lighthearted memory. I personally find beauty in life events that are not extraordinary. For example, I prefer street photography, polaroid or Lomography compared to perfect photo studios.
These fast sketches are more related to urban sketching than hyper realistic portraits.
Do you see what I mean? 🙂
E. Drawing Anything Within a Safe Place
After I finished drawing my wife, I asked if she wanted to join in and draw me as well.
At first, she didn’t want to draw, claiming she can’t draw portraits. So, I encouraged her to just have fun. It’s not a competition, and my idea was to frame our drawings no matter what we created.
Some may see framing the drawing as extra pressure, but actually, it’s all about accepting the present moment by freezing time at that instant. I push her a bit out of her comfort zone showing that she is in a safe place drawing anything.
The comfier you are with your mistakes, the higher chand you have to face them and overcome them.
So, if you love drawing or you feel you like to but you don’t dare, take life lightly.
Doodle, sketch whatever you can. As long as you give a chance to your passion to show on paper, you are taking the right direction.
Someone said something like that:
“Any skills can be acquired pretty fast, but it can take an eternity to make the first step.”
So, just do it and feel free to send me your creations by email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com! 🙂
I wish you a wonderful drawing day!
Cheers,
Chou-Tac & Kimi
BONUS: Art Book Discovery
I found an amazing book called: Sketch with Asia at Barnes & Noble.
I found her pencil sketches full of expression. Check out her website and Instagram’s!
I just ordered one for my niece whose goal is to become an animator. Hope she will like it :D!
This book is not only about drawing and colour tutorials, but a collection of thoughts and personal advice for young artists. She would share for example her point of view about finding your own drawing style. I thought you might love it too and feel inspired.
Learn more about how to draw from anywhere
Your blog is a breath of fresh air in the often stagnant world of online content. Your thoughtful analysis and insightful commentary never fail to leave a lasting impression. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
Haha, framing napkin drawings? Brilliant chaos! Reminds me of when I framed my coffee ring as Ornate Coffee Stain Art. Love the ghost drawing tip – basically high-tech practice without the guilt. Who needs perfection when youve got lighthearted memory mess? Seriously though, brilliant reminder to just doodle and not overthink it. Cheers to that!vong quay may man
Wishing you happiness every day.
Haha, framing a napkin drawing? Brilliant! Reminds me of the time I drew my coffee stain as Abstract Art – framed it immediately. Love the ghost drawing tip – sounds like a high-tech way to say practice makes perfect, or just give up before you start. And yes, who needs hyper-realism when you can have genuine and lighthearted memory chaos? Seriously though, great reminder that its all about having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously. Cheers to that! basketball stars