Not enough time to draw

In her book Making Comics Lynda Barry recommends you use a timer for each drawing exercise.

In one activity she even challenges the reader to draw a cat in less and less time.

There’s 6 levels ranging from 60 seconds down to 5 seconds.

Now 5 seconds isn’t enough time to draw a cat. It’s not enough time to draw anything!

But the authors intent is not a mystery, she says looking for those spontaneous surprising lines that would come out of you no other way.

I think that makes total sense.

There have often been times when my back was against the wall or I didn’t have enough time to overthink and I produced something that surprised everyone, including me.

Now why is surprising material good you say?

Well I don’t recommend writing all your novels in 5 minutes or doing all your paintings in 5 seconds that doesn’t lend itself to great work.

But the revelations that come out of this ‘not enough time’ challenge is fantastic for creative work.

For coming at the problem from a new angle.

For looking at your work from a new point of view.

After all that’s what art is all about right?

Surprising and interesting new things.