Size Matters

What do you get when working big vs. working small?

Generally speaking, I like working small. My drawing sweet spot is around 9’’ inches max, and I keep a stockpile of the Bristol sheets small enough to fit in a desk drawer. I’m also the only person I know who uses those 2½ x 3½’’ inch Strathmore pre-cut Artist Trading Cards, which only set you back a few bucks and are great for warm-up doodles:

Who wants to trade?!

4x4’’ inches here, but similar principle.

One advantage of working small: your artwork is portable. Back in my train commuting days, it was important to me that almost all of my art supplies were easy to transport in my messenger bag. But nowadays I prefer the more unpredictable line you get from dip pens, ink splatters and all.

Not something you can do on the Metro.

I haven’t always shied from working big, but it definitely required more planning, plus space and time, and usually an accommodating gallery or business that needed some wall space filled.

From 2012. This mural is now a selfie wall at a coffee shop and was covered in artificial flowers the last time I checked.

But one thing I noticed: if you work small all the time, you start to think small, too. You get used to tiny canvases, begin each project thinking in inches instead of feet. So I’ve decided to create at least one large piece of artwork this summer, something too big to draw on my desk. You good people can keep me honest.

Let’s do this thing.

Before you go

• Tomorrow I’m doing an Instagram Live with Gila Pfeffer on Wednesday, June 7th at 1:00 PM Eastern! Gila is a writer and very funny lady based in London, and an A+ interviewer. Feel free to join us, or check it out once it’s posted.