Great Artist Warm Up Exercise

by Andyjonescreative

38K14951

Intro: Great Artist Warm Up Exercise

This is a method that I kinda stumbled onto. I am a very messy person and always always spill things and so I made this up to utilized the many ruined sketch book pages i have amounted.  This is a great way to break though your morning fog and get drawing. It loosens you up and gets your mind thinking creatively you have to do very little to start it.  Sometimes the blank page can be your most daunting obstacle.  So here we go.

STEP 1: Materials

Sketch book.
Pencil.
Cup of coffee.
Spoon or stirrer or finger.


STEP 2: Sip and Splash

Okay so just open you sketch book to a new page and take your spoon or whathaveyou and dribble
all over the page. I usually add a couple slashing motions in there for good measure.  Take a sip of you coffee and let dry a little.

STEP 3: Sip and Draw

So this is easy.   Just look at your little splashes and streaks and think of what they look like.
Just like looking at clouds the images come to you and before you know it your done with your first cup of coffee and drawing like mad.  Enjoi!

49 Comments

Orchid-Black 13 years ago

I'm going to try this right now. I've used tea and coffee in other drawings, but never like this. Thank you!

pfred2 14 years ago

Not a huge fan of Minimalism are you? I am when I'm doing car body work.

Buttermonkey63 14 years ago

It's almost impossible to be a minamilist while sketching :D Im paranoid about tidy pages... but looove it when drawings r' messy but still look cool, or i have like a whole page full of random doodles with barely a trace of graphite-less paper left :)))

Orchid-Black 13 years ago

That's how I sketch, but usually only in ink. I find it's much more freeing that way.

HannahLegutki 14 years ago

lol its just that I usually dont have an idea and the paper is like taunting me. 'll stare at it for an hour before I have a idea

popocops 13 years ago

The first time I tried airbrushing I did something similar-really nice effect!

TheClock 13 years ago

Very interesting and cool. Good job.

maltice 14 years ago

I do love this. I use to do this with crumpled up paper. Just crumple it up, then uncrumple it. You'll find hidden pictures just like you find in clouds! Or spilled coffee splotches =) Or diet cherry cola. I do love that one.

bbwalls 14 years ago

LOVE IT.  I looked all through your website too...and I love your work, especially the photos.

pfred2 14 years ago

Now didn't I leave a comment here with an attachment? Where is is?

GeekyGirl1103 14 years ago

Ooh, very cool! I'm definitely going to have to try that sometime. :]

lmadler 14 years ago

Wonderful. I will try that in the morning with my cup of jo. I love it, what an inspiring idea.

bfly911 14 years ago

That is a great idea :)  Thanks!

tecteach 14 years ago

 I'm a teacher and always thankful for people like you! For many many reasons this excercise is wonderful! 

Ruina 14 years ago

 delightful! 

smbarne 14 years ago

Delightful idea.  I think I might put a paper towel below the pages to make sure the coffee doesn't stain through to multiple pages though.

Zetheros 14 years ago

Aww, I thought this was an Instructable about warming up one's hands for better sketching performance.

Good idea though!

Aqu 14 years ago

The world needs more of this kind of Instructable. We see shapes even in random formations, which is a perfect way of killing artist's block! Genius. Thank you.
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