10 techniques to inspire invention

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By fossfor

Draw random shapes and see what they could become. Start with simple geometric shapes, when you have experimented with these, create more complex forms by adding shapes together.
Use the flat side of a piece of charcoal on grainy paper. Make masses of light and dark, then try to discern designs and forms in the textures you have made. This can also be done with watercolors, ink, or in graphics programs like Painter or Art Rage 2. See example #2
Make a grid and fill the page with thumbnail scenes. Use a thick marker to lay down initial shapes and a thin one for more detail .These thumbnails can later be individually enlarged and elaborated upon. See example #3
Paint on a dark or tinted background ,this way you avoid the dreaded white page! Try to pull forms and ideas out of the darkness. You can start by laying down a few planes of light to define shapes and the then add shadows . See example #4
Make silhouette figures, this is a very good way of making up characters and varying your character design. Looking at a figure in silhouette enables you to check if it is dynamic or not, in a way you can't do so well when you see all the details.
Draw a line and let your hand run away with itself without planning what you draw, it can be surprising what comes out. If you practise this often it is a powerful way of expressing feelings and things buried deep in your imagination.
Draw organic shapes and patterns, Look at clouds, leaves, branches, rocks for inspiration. Doing this can often evolve into something interesting. Nature can give you great ideas.
Paint a large surface of of abstract forms and values. Cut a frame in a smaller page and move it around on the painting to find ideas. I made one for this hub and highlighted three possibilities. Then I drew scenes using these selections. you can download this example page on my Flickr site and use it for your own experiments. Right-click the image and select 'save as' to download it. See example #8
Turn your work upside down or look at it in a mirror to see it in a different way and possibly get something totally new out of it
Doodle and scribble! This is very creative, it gets the imagination going even when you're all out of ideas. It also means you don't miss an idea that occurs when you're doing things that have nothing to do with drawing.

Examples : copyright Fossfor 2007. Visit http://fossforous.blogspot.com/

example #2 the Tower and Passage

example #3 Thumbnail scapes

example #4 Treasure Toad and Wolfmoon

example #8 large watercolor surface with 3 selected frames

this image turned into a forest

this one became a moutainside

...and I flipped this and painted a lake with architecture in the foreground

Art links

Fossfor's laboratory
blog about techniques and advice, resources and and examples. Some of my own invention and some borrowed or begged from others!
Fossforous
Fossfor's sketchblog
Art Rage 2
This is an addictive little graphics program. It is really superb and you can try it for free!
Sketchbook
my Flickr sketchbook, some things that are not on my blog
DrawingBoard.org
an interesting disscusion on correct drawing from your imagination
ImagineFX
this is an excellent UK magazine for fantasy artists, always full of advice and some good art for inspiration
Beinart
showcase of strange and surreal art