Sketches and Scribbling

I've read more than once that as an artist, you should draw everyday to keep in practice, push yourself, keep your hand active, and stay in that artistic frame of mine. I agree with this wholeheartedly... but cannot confess to being a practitioner of this zealously *shame*

Often when I get an idea I will actually write it down in my "sketchbook", rather than sketch it. I just don't like my quick composition scribbles. I've seen some artist's doodles that have an incredible vibrancy and life to them. Mine however, are usually mis-shapen blobs and confusing lines. I'm not very good at drawing an idea down on paper instantly from my brain.

With my finished pieces I have time to work out the composition, and usually use a range of reference materials to get every aspect of the drawing 'correct'. I am a firm believer in using reference photographs in my practice without shame - I like the thought that if I am drawing an elbow, I am also looking at an elbow, there is flesh and blood and sinews and tendons underneath the skin, I'm not just drawing a symbol for an elbow.

I do like drawing from life though. If I'm at a friends place, I like to reach for a scrap of paper and draw portraits. Luckily most of my friends that I "hang out" with are all artists, and don't find this odd!
This gives me a chance to study drawing the human form in a quick and expressive way, without relying on my brain to make things up.