Today I did something I never ever thought I would do.

I drew. This might not be a big deal to some but to me it was liberating. I decided there would be no more stick people or sheep that resembled clouds with chicken pox and I drew a thing that definitely resembled an actual thing. Not since I sat my O’Grade Art *mumble* years ago, have I ever tried to draw anything from scratch.

It just so happens I know some enthusiastic kindred souls who are having the same dilemma so between us all we walked the freezing streets of Edinburgh and captured images on our sleet-spattered sheets of paper. And so began the very first Scrawl Crawl of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators South East Scotland network.

Under the watchful eye of our illustrator co-ordinator Catherine Lindow, we thought carefully about what we write/draw and how to interpret it on the page. We delved into the SCBWI Sorting Hat and pulled out inspirational words that would send us on our creative journey, using the scenery before us we drew from:  the perspective of an animal, smells, circles, triangles, relationship of two people…

We all exchanged looks of ‘how do I do that’ and ‘you want me to draw what?’ but with a five minute deadline looming and then we were to swap our pages with our neighbour, the SCBWI group became silent as concentration levels soared. Brain cells could be heard chattering, encouraging their owners from their warm bed under flesh and bone that everything would be just fine. And the grey matter was right.

We ambled down The News Steps near Waverley Station and caused much confusion among the tourists as to why we were drawing in -2C. It’s Scotland, we’re used to it. As the drizzle turned into sleet we made the decision to head indoors.  The impressive Museum of Scotland was minutes away so we grabbed the opportunity for some warmth and carried on drawing as we sat on the balcony listening to the hustle and bustle of the Saturday crowds as they made their way through its vast corridors.

The light poured in from the glass ceiling above as we attempted to replicate the glass-housed artefacts on our sheets of A4.

In the discussions that followed, we realised that a first draft, whether it’s an illustration or a chapter of words are treated exactly the same.

Words are written down in an attempt to create an illusion of a specific character, place and time. Illustrations are drawn to attempt to create the very same illusion. The Yin and Yang of the creative world.

Regardless of whether you draw or write, the very first pen-to-paper experience is the same. Dummy picture books are an example of what we see, as an illustrator, to enable us to clarify where the pictures are best placed in or around the text. Our characters then come to life as we go through the story spread by spread. Writers of longer fiction do the same thing too, they begin to write their story down, stopping every now and again to make sure they’re on the right path. Just like an artist adds colour or shadowing to their first sketch.

At the end of the process – an illustrator has a picture book and a writer has a first draft. Joining them together is when the magic really happens.

So why not try both, let your muse show you the way. Let the words flow or let the paint brush glide…what’s the worst thing that can happen?

Here’s my drawing of one of the many skulls on display in the Museum of Scotland. It is not a stick person or a blob. It’s a skull. And I drew it all by myself. And then there was coffee. Bliss. 

I can’t wait for the next Scrawl Crawl and where it might take me next.

4 Comments

  1. I love this idea, Sarah. I might take a walk around Normal and see what I can draw. Hopefully something recognizable. Normal is not as gorgeous as Edinburgh but then what city is?

    1. I forgot to mention your skull drawing. Nicely done, Sarah!