Ideating Christmas Delight

The Humble Ink Pen.

Exploring with Pen and Paper

Getting past the blank page can be fun!  It doesn’t have to be intimidating, and it doesn’t just have to be about drawing or even about artwork.  When I first began, it was with pencil — but eventually nothing could replace my love of pen and ink. The pen is quick, it’s portable, and there’s something satisfying about the sound and feel of pen on paper. A simple ink line has so much potential. You can’t erase it! It makes it harder to be a perfectionist — especially in the ideating stage, when you shouldn’t be one at all!  Over time, it taught me to let go — to accept the randomness and find beauty in it. Embracing the pen and getting comfortable with using it gave me a deeper fondness for the tool, and an even greater respect for the classic artists who mastered it.

But you can still keep the randomness in check, with a frame.  Simple, imperfect boxes, in various sizes or proportions, and you end up with a fun, more readable page.  These quick little “thumbnails” are tools for thinkers, writers, and creators of every kind.  A writer might sketch the shape of a story, a crafter might lay out a design; I’ve seen chefs plan the presentation of a dish in little thumbnails. They are quick visual notes, a way to record fleeting ideas before they vanish.

Thumbnail studies for 'Christmas Delight' — loose, free, and imperfectly perfect

The tiny thumbnails are where my memories and imagination first met — where I tried to work out what I wanted the image to become and represent.  The thought of controlling lines doesn’t enter in – only memories of what Christmas was like as a child – and memories of various Christmas trees in a lot outside, and decorated inside.  Each messy mark became emotion and memory trying to emerge on the page.  In the second stage, the little snowmen took shape — representing children gathered beneath the tree. And in the final version, their delight centers on the smallest, most unassuming gift at the bottom. From Idea to Art

Christmas Delight - Three Fully Finished Versions (©T.S. Larking Studios 2025)

Sometimes I get requests to create for various formats or products; so my inner designer goes to work!  Each of these finished pieces looks different, but they all began the same way — with memories, imaginings, a pen, a small box, and a willingness to explore. Ideation is about finding what delights you, what surprises you, and following that spark wherever it leads. It’s the heart behind those ideas that’s the motivator toward the more time-consuming (but wonderfully fun) stages — collaging, painting, layering, refining… Thank you for joining me— and Happy Creating!