Corinna Laabs

March 8, 2021

Drawing is like having a conversation with yourself

When I draw, I have a conversation with myself. It's not a spoken conversation. It rather unconsciously happens in my head:

  1. I estimate the position, size and shape of the object I want to draw.
  2. Then, I start drawing lines on the paper (e.g. three lines that indicate a sail).
  3. After that, I view the result and think about whether anything needs to be modified (e.g. Does the sail have the same shape as in the photo?)
  4. Consequently, I decide what has to be modified (e.g. The upper part of the sail must be twisted out a little more)
  5. I modify my drawing (by erasing and redrawing the upper part of the sail)

When I draw, I go through these steps again and again. In this kind of conversation, drawing is comparable to talking and viewing is comparable to listening. The process stops, if I decide that my outcome is good enough or I failed.