Orcas Island Sailboat #1, Charcoal and Pencil on Paper, 2023

Capturing Memories

It’s not often that I break out the pencil or charcoal and start to draw, but yesterday I was feeling inspired. The day before, I had set aside my paintbrushes to dry after cleaning them, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to use them anytime soon. I was feeling creative, though, so I thought, “Well! You haven’t drawn in a while.”

And that’s true! The most recent drawing I had done was some sort of a speedy drawing for Instagram. I hadn’t sat down for a good set period of time, with the intention of drawing with accuracy and artistry.

So, that day I decided to draw this sailboat that I took a picture of on my honeymoon. There are such great and fond memories I have of the time together on Orcas Island. The desire to record that memory through art really appeals to me. I went to work and soon found myself frustrated. I was rusty! The materials didn’t feel right in my hands and I had this haphazard approach to the project. It ended in shambles.

But there was still this little part of me that enjoyed getting back into using charcoal.

Yesterday, I decided to approach it again. This time, I had a plan. I was going to start with charcoal, but then dive into pencil, while also utilizing a soft brush to spread the charcoal around a bit more easily. I was already somewhat familiar with the subject, but this time I really focused in on making sure things looked right. For the ropes and lines, I used a ruler to ensure accuracy (my heart argued with my brain and was like, “That’s cheating!”)

So here it is! I’m really happy with it and hoping to ride the emotional momentum into some more inspired drawings. It’s just nice to change the pace a little bit. I’ve been so into oils lately that I want to mix it up.