Mixing magic with limiting materials✨

Here's what I'm learning from the #3MaterialsDrawingChallenge.

Jun 28, 2023

∙ Paid

Because I’m only allowed 30 minutes per drawing, I always include at least one wet material to quickly color important areas. It’s usually a marker if I’m on the go. I love acrylic markers for their mixing magic.

They’re so fun to push around and pump on a page. I like when too much marker fluid leaks out, because then I’ll just mix the pigment with what’s already there it to create a new color from them. Something about that makes my brain very happy. It’s the same feeling I get when I pour too much syrup on my oatmeal.

I wanted to practice drawing environments, so I’ve picked a subject and drawn their surroundings each day. If I’m drawing a pet, I like to zoom in on the subject. Sometimes I focus more on drawing the environment, like in a restaurant.

This challenge has already given me confidence in drawing environments that I didn’t have before. My days at the zoo have focused less on digging for the perfect colored pencil and more on just getting some color down and figuring out the rest later.

Five ways to approach limiting your palette.

Light, dark, and midtone - Focus on capturing shadows and light
Complimentary colors - Colors across from each other on the color wheel
All the same materials - Try all wet or all dry
One material you never use - Show some old, dry ballpoint pen a bit of love!

The hardest part of any art challenge is creating something to post every day that others will see. It adds a bit of pressure, but pushing through that discomfort is easier when you’re practicing regularly.

Do you have a strategy or material you use every day? Do divulge in the comments!