2 DRAW FIRST

Loosen up by experimenting with preparatory drawings says Hero Johnson

THE BENEFITS

If you normally plough straight into a painting, letting loose on paper with basic drawing materials first can free your work up and take it in unexpected directions.

THE PROCESS

This is a challenge I recently set for myself. I had an idea for a painting but I was unsure how to find a way in to the subject. Ordinarily I have a controlled approach to composing on the canvas and I rarely make preliminary drawings, but this time I decided to try something new and see what might emerge instinctively.

To do the same, set yourself up with large sheets of paper and whatever basic drawing equipment appeals (I used A1 cartridge paper and a cheap box of oil pastels). Don’t use your best materials and don’t worry about the outcome – a useful liberation comes from not needing to worry about “spoiling” an expensive canvas. Choose your subject – a scene in front of you, a photo, or something from your imagination – and approach it as spontaneously as you can.

Don’t think for too long about exactly where to make your first mark or how to position it on the paper. If you find your motif outgrowing the edges of your paper, simply sellotape another sheet to it. Likewise, don’t deliberate over trying to find the perfect hue or tone; choose something “near enough” and keep going. After an hour or so step back and see what has emerged. You may discover some interesting and unexpected qualities that you can explore or build upon when it comes to starting your painting. www.herojohnson.com