june at noon

The sketch you see here is more (but still not exactly) like what I had been envisioning when I started the drawings you saw in my last post. In my head it was much more … roundish. The chair was smaller than the person, instead of the other way around. The coloring was more “digital-looking,” more saturated. In fact, I was almost picturing some variation on Edna Mode from The Incredibles. As I started drawing, however, something else began to take shape. Same idea, but different stylistically, and it changed the whole feel of the drawing.

It’s strange to me how that’s even possible, to put pencil to paper not entirely knowing what’s going to come out. But many artists will tell you the subconscious really does take over when you’re “in the zone.” (See Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain for fascinating insights into the brain-creativity connection.) Sometimes I will consciously wrestle back control and force the drawing to conform to my original thought. Other times, like in this instance, I like what’s happening, so I continue and wait to see what comes of it.

After finishing the drawing and all of its variations, I felt compelled to do a quick sketch of what that original vision was, just for comparison’s sake. I know some of you enjoy seeing the creative process as it unfolds, so I thought I’d share it here.

What about you? Do you find yourself frustrated or pleasantly surprised when the final product doesn’t match the original idea?