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Less is More

"When a subject feels too busy, simplify it." There are times when the subject you want to draw is wonderfully busy and complex. If you work in a smaller space, like an A5 visual diary or sketchbook, as I do, tackling these busy subjects with crayons can be challenging due to the nature of the wax medium. You might feel the pressure to render every detail, only to find the results frustrating and discouraging. Well, the good news is you don't need to feel discouraged! This time, I want to share a key tip for successfully drawing busy subjects with crayons, adapted from another medium. The Power of Squinting and Simplification One day, while wondering what to draw, I spotted a bunch of lavender in the garden. It was beautiful, but I immediately realised the challenge: drawing that detail with crayons in my A5 sketchbook. I remember the fundamental lesson from my watercolour days: "simplify it and paint shapes." I knew I could apply the same principle here. This ...
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Paper Showdown: Fabriano Tiziano vs. Stillman & Birn Alpha

Same crayons, different paper - and suddenly, the artwork has a whole new personality. Every artist has that moment of curiosity and wonders how much paper really affects the outcome. In my “ Swatch It Happen ” blog, I mentioned what kind of surface suits crayons best. This week, I decided to put that theory to the test by comparing two popular options: Fabriano Tiziano Pastel Paper and the Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook . Let's take a look at their differences. Fabriano Tiziano: Expressive Texture I used Fabriano Tiziano pastel paper for a Monstera Leaf Study . Initially, I was a little sceptical about how it would turn out, but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique result. Monstera leaf study on Fabriano Tiziano  This paper has a strong visible texture (or tooth ), which becomes even more noticeable when the crayon is applied lightly. The texture gives the drawing an expressive, painterly look, especially suitable for organic subjects like leaves. The tooth...
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When Colours Meet

“White may look colourless, but it’s just as important as any other crayon, and you might find yourself using it up faster than the rest.” For this overdue post, I chose a yellow rose as my subject. I wanted to show you an example of crayon drawing where colour blending is involved, and also share the parts I consider “mistakes.” They’re nothing to stress about, but the more I look at them, the more obvious they seem. So, let’s dive in! The first step I took was a light pencil sketch using an HB pencil. It’s important to keep your pencil strokes light, because if you press too hard and later decide to erase, it will leave indentations on the paper. When you apply crayon over those marks, they often show up as faint white lines and those can be tricky to hide. Next, using yellow orange , red orange , orange , and brown , I started applying colour lightly to mark the darker areas. Some might say you should start with lighter colours. Personally, I prefer beginning with darker ones becaus...
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