LISTENING TO MUSIC While You Draw
Everyone listens to music, especially when they find themselves doing something boring (homework, studying, cleaning, etc.) or contrasting to something exciting (driving, hanging with friends, work, etc.). I listen to music whenever I can, but I've realized that when I listen to music the most, it's when I draw. I've also found that the music I listen to sets my mood for my drawing. So I've recently come up with an easy exercise for sketching, character development, and/or inspiration!
A Sketch a Song
Turn on a radio or even put your iPod/iTunes to shuffle, grab a pencil, and a sketch book! When a song plays, draw what you picture in your head. Maybe it's a pop culture character, the artist of the song, your own character, or scenery. Whatever it is, draw it. If multiple things pop up in your head, sketch all of them! If a song has no emotion for you, or nothing pops into your head, go to the next song. Here's the catch: When a new song plays, start a new sketch. When you're done with sketching as many songs as you want, go back through your sketches and see which ones you like the most. Take them and evolve them: bring them to life. Give them color. Use it as your rough draft for your final piece.
The purpose of this exercise is to get your sketching pace to match the speed of your thoughts: something that's quite tricky to do some times! Like figure drawing, try to get the mood you feel in the time span of one song. Getting ideas down quickly can be tricky at first, but the more you practice, the better you will get. I promise! This could be helpful for those who plan on going into the animation business, concept designs, story boarding, or illustration.
Music I Listen To
My music taste has always been scattered. I listen to a bit of everything, honestly. I'm currently listening to Classical when I'm drawing. Sometimes it's just plain ol' Classical; sometimes I look for contemporary or modern classical. Whatever fits my mood, I listen to. If you asked about three months ago, I'd be listening to music from Broadway. I find those songs very inspirational when I want to think of character development or the mood of a certain scene. Years ago I was into songwriter, indie, or alternative music. Something has always stayed the same though: Music has always been there to inspire my art.
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