marie j.engelsvold

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We all have a tendency to do the same, we get habits. You might have this standard size paper, and just automatically use this same size. Especially in the beginning, we normally start in smaller scales. But you get a whole new drawing experience, going up in scale. You can't hide your drawing, when it suddenly sits on a larger paper. So why not be proud!

It's okay to start by copying a smaller drawing, just scaling it up. In that way you get an idea of the workprocess, without feeling totally lost on a huge white paper.

You might want to change your tools. If you are using acrylic markers, you can change the size to bigger ones. Or if you have an area with the same color,  you can try to make that same form in cardboard, to create another texture. But if you are using a blue pencil as your only tool, and you just love it, why not stick to that? You might experience that it takes a lot more time on the bigger scale paper, but it's a great way to relax and go deeper into the process.

I also startet out on normal size paper like 11,8 x 8,3 inches/ 29,7 x 21 cm. I still like it because it is handy and I can easily experiment with different possibilities. But sometimes I just love to do it in bigger scale.

A few years back, I made some decorations on a fence in Copenhagen. I wanted to draw, but of course I couldn't use paper and acrylic markers, so I had to do it another way.

I used big wood panels, and som outdoor paint instead of markers. It was a huge experience, you have to use your whole body when creating on the big panels, and the drawings makes a totally other impact in that scale. The drawing (underneath) "relationsship as closed system with some outlets for magic"  is the size of 1,22 x 3,66 meters. I still call it a drawing even though it's made with paint. See more photos of the project here.

This drawing underneeth, was my starting point. 

Marie J.Engelsvold. "relationsship as closed system with some outlets for magic" 16,5 x 11,8 inches/29,7 x 42 cm. acrylic markers on paper. 2014.

Buy a roll of paper, in that way you can experiment with a lot of different sizes. I like this paper; FABRIANO ACCADEMIA ROLL 200 GSM 1.5 X 10 M. Put it up on the wall, to give a better overview. I always prefer to have the paper in a upright position when working on a big size paper.

I hope you will try it, it's really fun:-)

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