SKETCH: warm-up sketch

ok, so usually in the morning, when i arrive at my desk, i'm feeling a bit stiff(artistically as well as physically) so rather than jump right into work, which i probably SHOULD do i will usually try to warm up a little with some warmup sketchin'!

i use a fat china marker and only draw with the side of it.
i do this to get my "flow" goin'. i only give myself between 2-8 min per figure MAXIMUM. i do this just to loosen up. 10 years ago i started doing this because my art director told me my stuff was looking a little to stiff and so in a fit of suppressed rage and frustration i started trying to sketch as quickly as i could with the side of my big fat china marker.

inspired by the incredible glen keane and his amazingly beautiful, rough gesture drawing and animation, i wanted to see if i could try to get close to that.

its turned out to be a very valuable tool, as i now rough out all of my drawings first with the side of my pencil(or china marker) and when i'm reasonably happy with the gesture, then i start getting more detailed with the point of the pencil,
all in an effort to have more flow and be less finicky. (something i still struggle with)

so , 10 years later, i've got binders and binders of these drawings (some are utter crap) but some are decent and if folks are interested maybe i'll post some of the better ones on DA
anyway, long story for a fast drawing, huh?