Sit Down With Our #090 Featured Artist

Peter Draws

Featured Artist / #129 ScrawlrBox 

Hi! My name is Peter and I like drawing. I am self-taught, and I started drawing when I was doodling in high school instead of taking notes.

That was 17 years ago, and I still love it, and approach it with the same mind-set. For the last 15 or so years, I’ve been supporting myself by making drawing videos on YouTube, so go check those out! I think art should be approachable and enjoyable, and I think if anyone wants to, they can make art themselves.

Personally, I make art because I enjoy the process. I feels good to draw, it feels good to look at it when I’m done, and yeah, it feels good to share it with people and see or read their reactions too.

Big fan of your style. It feels incredibly intuitive and organic, how did your drawing style first develop into what it is today?

Thank you! I drew a lot as a kid and eventually stopped once I was introduced to video games. However I re-discovered drawing in high school when I started doodling in my classes. When I was supposed to be taking notes, I doodled, and I mostly got away with it since I think the teachers could tell I was still paying attention. Or maybe because I was quiet. Or maybe because I got good grades. Anyways, my drawing style today is still deeply rooted in those high school doodles.

Your pieces often feel like they grow naturally across the page. Do you start with a plan, or let the drawing evolve as you go?

It’s 90% just letting the drawing evolve and grow as it goes. I do consciously make some decisions, such as where and how to add shading, or what style the drawing will be (such as “mechanical” or “organic” or “quick and sketchy”).

What does your perfect day off look like?

The key for a good day off is having no upcoming deadlines, or at least nothing due that I haven’t already completed. I can’t really relax if I have things hanging over my head that I need to do.

What role does imperfection play in your work?

Imperfection is inherent to my work. The mistakes are combined thoroughly with the drawing, and in fact they are exciting moments that keep me on my toes and impart another visual and metaphysical dimension. Sometimes I feel bad for even thinking about calling them mistakes since I’m the one that made them that way.

Do you find colour adds narrative or emotion to your work, or is it more about structure and contrast?

I think it’s all of those things, but different colors definitely have their own feelings for me. For example this drawing has green in the middle and red on the outside. If the central form had been red, it would have felt more angry and powerful to me. (Red is one of the most powerful colors) As it is, the green looks a little more whimsical and maybe noxious.