Will it draw?

Cardboard edition, 4 drawings

Years ago I got hooked on a “will it pizza?” series that started back in 2015 by Rhett and Link. They tried so many different, silly things on a pizza crust over the years, and put all that stuff in their mouths. It was like watching a taste-test train wreck!

(Let me know if we need a fancy graphic like their pizza oven!)

Since it’s summer, I thought a fun exploration on using unconventional surfaces to draw on or unconventional materials to draw with could be interesting. (Bonus: we don’t have to try to eat a bubblegum pizza.)

We’re starting off easy - something you already have in your recycle bin!

Watch the video below - and if you could, pop over to YouTube to leave a thumbs up to feed the algorithm!

Supplies (affiliate links provided at no cost to you; thank you for using my links and supporting my work!) Treat yourself to a whole box of Fine black Sharpies markers! Get out whatever alcohol markers you have…I used OLO Markers. For white, Copic makes an Acrea Paint Marker BLICK \ AMZ…then there’s Daniel Smith Gouache, Titanium White BLICK \ AMZ \ JACKSONS and it was mixed with Hansa Yellow Deep watercolor; or try a Prismacolor White colored pencil BLICK \ AMZ or Faber CastellPitt Pastel Pencil in soft white BLICK \ AMZ \ JACKSONS. And you can draw on it with Prismacolor Black pencil too!

Pen and ink on cardboard

I think pen and ink are most suited for corrugated - though the ways it can be used really do vary! This tree was a fun exercise in getting different values across the tree canopy.

Urban sketch on cardboard

Drawn in sharpie, colored with alcohol markers, lit up with white pens and a gouache sun….lots of fun! If you’re a Substack Atelier Member, stay tuned Thursday for the bonus video discussion of the perspective and why it works even though it’s completely wrong. You’ll get the notification of the recorded video in your inbox. Not yet a paid Atelier member? Pop in now:

Realistic drawing

Don’t count out corrugated for realism either! These were drawn in black prismacolor. On the left, I tore the paper in a strip behind his head after the drawing was made; on the right, I fit the person and dreadlocks in between already-distressed areas of the cardboard.

And doodling!

Looking for something for the kids to do while on summer break? Grab some boxes from the recycle bin for them! Make a sample drawing to show them you respect the cardboard….when they see you can do cool art on it, they won’t think you’re just giving them trash to use for their art.

Are you going to go draw on some cardboard this week??? What style will you try?

News from the studio

Today the Faith Journaling Workshop begins! My lesson will be posted tomorrow. They’re only up for 24 hours for free members so go watch it quick!

Tomorrow I’ll be live right here on substack - PAINTING cardboard. With a shark on it. Don’t miss it —- we’ll see if I pull off what’s in my head! You only need to be a free subscriber to attend.

Dad jokes

I forgot the dad joke in the video, sorry! But here’s a few giggles….

1. What is cardboard’s favorite sport?
   Boxing.

2. Did you hear about the cardboard fighter who entered the ring?
   He totally folded under pressure.

3. What did the enthusiastic piece of cardboard say to his friend?
   Let’s box and roll!

4. Why do I love recycled packaging so much?

   It always makes for a box-cellent day.