Drawing on Emotion

Strong emotions often foster fine drawings. Similar to the way you can remember every moment of a special day or a startling accident, an emotional response enables you to remember and draw something well. A friend of mine was inspired to draw his new dog. He had not drawn in years but the experience of a new, live creature in the house enticed him to explore the dog’s essence on paper.

I try to be objective in my drawing, seeking to draw things that can be recorded with line and color. I can’t really draw character traits like loyalty, courage and affection. Those are things to write about.

This dog needed a home, but I could not keep him. I knew might not see him again and set about sketching him. It might have been the urgency; it might have been the emotional attachment we had within a moment or two of meeting. The drawing has special qualities I think would not exist if I wasn't drawn to this creature in such an special way.