Crocus-Croquis and creative spring promises

Crocus croquis — or how will you prepare for drawing in the summer season?

Today was the first day of spring, and also my first day back in the garden after a long winter spent indoors, looking out at the snow. It felt wonderful to be outside again. Later in the day, I felt inspired to draw one of my favorite spring flowers — the beautiful, small, delicate crocus.

This is the time of year when we start to feel that gentle restlessness to be outdoors more. And from experience, I know it’s also a time to prepare — mentally — to stay devoted to our art, our drawing practice, our painting practice, even as the bright months begin to call us outside.

Some of my very best drawing moments have happened during the summer, filled with light and inspiration — often outdoors, but also indoors, simply energized by the fullness of spring and summer. But it’s also easy to let go of your creative rhythm when the long, bright evenings start to tempt you. And hand on heart, that’s probably already true for many of us, even now in early spring.

If you let go of your art throughout the whole summer season, you lose precious time connected to your creative nerve — the steady rhythm that truly matters. I know this from myself. And today, on the first day of spring, being in the garden reminded me gently of exactly that.

So I dedicate myself to keeping my creative flame alive every single day through the spring and summer ahead.

It made me reflect on what we can each do to prepare for creativity during these lighter months. What will you do to keep your drawing practice alive? What will you focus on? What might help you draw just a little bit every day?

This drawing came to life in half an hour. I began with a very simple approach I know I can always return to: partial blind contour. That means I mostly look at the subject and very little at the drawing itself. It’s an easy and uncommitted way for me to draw — a way of letting go of expectations. And strangely enough, when you truly let go of expectations, the results often exceed them.

I set a timer for thirty minutes, because that was the time I had. I also set a second timer to ring softly every two minutes, reminding me to keep moving forward in the drawing.

First, I created a very loose, semi-blind contour of the entire motif. That took about half the time. The remaining fifteen minutes I used to add light shading and gently strengthen the areas that felt most successful.

Out of that came this slightly zen-like drawing, which feels like a beautiful little spring debut for me — and it gave me many ideas for what I’d like to draw during the coming months.

I’d really love to ask you:
What would you like to draw this spring and summer?
What would give you good drawing energy?
And at what time of day is it most realistic for you to draw during the brighter season?

For me, it’s often in the evening after a long day outside — except on those wonderful days when I actually manage to draw outdoors.

With that, I’ll round off this small drawing reflection. I hope you’ve drawn today.

Wishing you beautiful drawing energy — and come show me what you’ve been creating.