Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week, let's discuss DEVELOPING YOUR GRAPHIC STYLE.

COMBINE CONSISTENCY + INCONSISTENCY

Imperfection is the foundation of your style. Yes, it’s true. Let me explain.

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When drawing a landscape plan we need some consistency (measurements + design details), but it’s also nice to celebrate you as a designer and artist when graphically communicating those ideas. This concept of pairing consistent drawing methods with your drawing inconsistencies (imperfections) is what evolves into your personal graphic style. When you accept these imperfections it's more relaxing and fun to draw, plus over time your style emerges more and more. 

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CONSISTENCY

To create the consistent part of your drawings..use tools!! Don’t be afraid to use things like straight edges, rulers, circle templates, and a pencil to layout the initial bones of your drawing. Drafting tools are awesome and give us the guidance we need to measure and layout our garden vision. If you’re drawing digitally, it’s important to also use tools in your software program to create circles and lines initially.

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INCONSISTENCY

Now comes the cool part, the inconsistency, your flair, your style. Now that you’ve drawn your light pencil lines with a fancy drafting tool, you can use a pen or darker/softer pencil to free-hand the final element over that structure. The pencil line (using a tool) gives your drawing that consistent structure, but when you trace it free-hand, your style shines. Your drawing still looks professional, plus now has your character. 

IMPERFECTION IS PERFECT

A great example of this is when drawing plants. Use a circle template to draw your circles in a light pencil, then free-hand over them in ink with whatever textures and symbols you’d like. Please don’t skip the circle template! This is key to giving your drawing the consistency it needs. A drawing will start to look “messy” when you free-hand both the circle and the ink symbol over it. Try it, you’ll see what I mean.

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Think of the consistency of the pencil line as your safety net. By drawing that first, you’ve already added the “neatness” required in a landscape plan, but when you free-hand your pen lines over that, thus adding your imperfections, that is the engaging character that draws in a client. 

GET INSPIRED

You're welcome to read my entire post on DEVELOPING YOUR GRAPHIC STYLE.

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Here is a handy post I wrote on DRAWING LINES if you'd like to learn about using t-squares and triangles.

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In the first week of December we'll be learning about these drawing tools in our new course the DRAFTING SUPPLY CLUB. You're welcome to sign up on the waiting list HERE. Please note this first group will be our Founding Members with a lower price so we can experiment a bit and get your feedback. 

LET'S DO THIS! 

Do you use drafting tools for consistency? If not, make a trip to your local art store this week to grab a circle template and triangle to start. 

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We are gearing up for the next round of GARDEN GRAPHICS TOOL KIT! This is our 8-week course that teaches you how to draw the components of a garden. This course is offered once a year in January. You're invited to join the waiting list and learn more here.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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All my best to you,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.