I drew the cup on my desk because it was there. The handle looked wrong, so I drew it again the next morning. After a week, I had seven inaccurate drawings and a much closer acquaintance with the cup.
Remove the decision about what to make
Choosing a subject had become a way of avoiding the page. Repeating the cup solved that problem. I could begin immediately, with whatever pencil was nearest. The practice became smaller and easier to return to.
Pick an ordinary object with a shape you like. A pear, a shoe or a folded cloth will do. Use what you have rather than waiting for materials that make the activity feel official.
Look longer than you draw
I began noticing where the rim disappeared into shadow and how the handle joined the body. The drawing changed when I looked at the actual cup instead of the symbol of a cup in my head.
There is no need to finish neatly. A few careful lines can tell you more than a page covered quickly. If you become frustrated, put the pencil down and look for one detail you had missed.
Let repetition show the differences
Morning light, tiredness and the angle of the cup made each drawing different. The subject stayed the same, but the encounter did not. That was more interesting than a steady march towards improvement.
I still cannot draw the handle quite right. I no longer think that is the only thing the practice is for.
You do not always need a new idea. Sometimes the old one deserves another look.
