Drawing with (Art) Markers by Richard Welling

Will you look at that? Yet more visitors to the site, so I will press on. I titled today's blog Keep On for a couple of reasons. One is to remind anyone who's retired (or thinking about it) that retirement is really a beginning, and depending on how you handle it, it may be a new beginning for you. The other reason is to remind you, which I plan to do often, that you now have the time to do your art, so keep on it.


Avocational Reading


In the last few blogs, I said how I got re-interested in drawing again after all those years (and years) by starting with pencil and then line drawings. You may start to notice a thread: as I got re-acquainted with drawing, I started looking for more and more information. I began to look online, in books, art supply stores, you name it. When I wasn't drawing or "living it up" in retirement, I spent time looking for more information. I hate to call it research because that term has a lot of baggage for me and reminds me of term papers, so I'll refer to it as avocational reading or something. I did a lot of that, and still do, weekly if not daily. I highly recommend it. If nothing else, it gives you something to do, right? (You might even learn something.)


Anyway, I mentioned the architectural textbook lent to me by my son, which I used as a tool to exercise my creaky art skills. Another book I found was up, up on a bookshelf way, way back in the recesses of an upstairs closet. I forgot I had it. I used to love this book. Still do.


Drawing with Whatever


It's called Drawing With Markers by Richard Welling. Yes, I know. It sounds like something you'd show to your kindergartner, but it's not that at all. What it is, is a book for artists or would-be artists that I feel sure was state-of-the art information when it was published in 1974. Back then I really liked the artwork rendered by architects and graphic artists who used markers. This was way before personal computers and graphic software, mind you. Heck, the inside flap on the bookcover even says, and I quote, "shows the reader how he too can learn to use this medium to expand the scope of his own artistic possibilities." What more could one hope for?


So anyway, back in '74 I stocked up on a whole lot of marker colors, got the right kind of paper, and a carousel to hold the markers. I was all set. I think I ended up with about 15 or 20 decent drawings. I did find one that survived tucked away in a bin, but it doesn't look so good anymore. But, I did use the information in that book. The chapters on types of line, line and tone, color, landscapes, etc. were useful and are as relevant today as they were then. Even then I guess art was my "hobby."


So there. Look in your closets, attics, and basements. You may find something you can use that won't cost you anything but time.


Next Up


I need to get back to my "studio," such as it is. I added more highlights to the water of my acrylic painting (the one I had gesso-ed over). It looks better, but still not quite right, so I'll work on it some more.

This is kind of interesting. I'm finding the topic about which I think I'll be blogging about next may or may not be the one I end up talking about. I thought today's blog was going to be about using the left side of your brain, but it turned out to be about something else. Maybe I'll get to brains in the next blog or not. I guess that's what makes blogging interesting. Please return for the next installment and we can all be surprised.


If you like reading this blog, PLEASE leave a comment, and feel free to link this site to others who may have an interest.
Cheers!