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Tracing over photographs

A couple of days ago my dearly beloved, an artist, brought a Wacos Intuos S2 Creative Pen Tablet through into our kitchen-lounge-study room. It had been lying in a box within another box in Leicestershire for some time before being transported here a few weeks ago.

I have wanted a way of digitising penstrokes for a while. I like my handwriting. I like doing scribbly sketches to mask my lack of technical ability. As I long hoped, the sensation of seeing intimately familiar lines and shapes appear on a screen is a little magical.

A great source of joy, with the help of GIMP and layers, is tracing over photographs to quickly create a likeness. A few years ago I'd have avoided anything that felt as if it might be a shortcut. I felt that I ought to be able to throw myself into the deep end of any hobby, and when I'd inevitably sink the failiure would reinforce the idea that I could never truly be good at anything.

I don't feel like this now. Now I am better able to find joy in mistakes and the process of learning. Creating things is valuable not because you might eventually create something profound, masterful, and highly regarded, but because it's fun. It is an unparralelled means of expression and a fundamental aspect of humanity.

As a celebration of all that creativity offers, please enjoy the accompanying image of Kier Starmer.

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