The most poignant moment in my life as an avid doodler was upon graduating to junior high school, where, instead of having to use a #2 pencil at all times to complete homework, we were allowed to use a black or blue ball point pen.
And the choir of angels did sing at this inception.
So did I. In fact, I’ve never looked back!
Yes, I use a pencil when I have to, usually for drafting drawings onto canvases to be painted. But if I’m in my own element, just doodling or sketching or riffing, I’m doing it with a pen.
Compared to a pencil, the pen feels light and fluid in my hand. I can doodle so effortlessly and so quickly that I can fill pages and pages with little strain. Because of this, when I’m sketching, I’m usually sketching with pen. I start every studio session with 10-15 minutes of gesture drawing in pen, just to feel that airiness of the pen on paper. Using a pen too forces me to make decisions and live with them, even when they suck. And believe me. They often suck.
But I don’t care. Sketching, warm ups… that’s where you explore and play and mess around. Most of my pen and ink portraits, drawings and sketches have a very organic, messy feel. It’s part of the game. For me, a pencil just doesn’t open itself up to this kind of tomfoolery.
Whether you’re an artist or not, do you have a writing utensil preference? Tell me in the comments!