Forget what you’ve been taught about the ‘correct’ way to hold a pencil. Discover some unconventional ways you can use your body to express yourself, through drawing. Watch our virtual workshop presented by artist Dr Bill Platz.

Let go of your tight grip on that pencil and instead try attaching your favourite drawing implement to your hand, foot, elbow or face! Watch the video below to draw along and get inspired by artworks in the QAGOMA Collection.

All you need is some paper, a pen, pencil, or crayon, rubber bands and sticky tape, plus, use our recipe to create your own ‘good ink’, using an avocado seed.

Watch our Extend Yourself workshop

Our Inspiration

Our Avocado Ink Recipe

1 x seed/pit from a fresh avocado
200ml of water
1 x teaspoon of baking soda
Knife, cutting board, tongs or large spoon
Small saucepan
Strainer or colander

Method

• Remove the seed/pit from a fresh avocado and wipe clean.
  The fresh pits are loaded with tannins — different types of avocados will make variations in colour.
• Cut the avocado pit into at least 8 pieces.
  16 pieces is ideal but there is no need to chop it smaller for your first try, as will make it harder to remove the pieces of skin.
• Place the pieces and about 200ml (1 small cup) of water in a small pan over low heat to simmer. Add about a teaspoon of baking soda (this will adjust the pH level). The water doesn’t need to completely cover the pieces.
• Simmer for between 15 and 25 minutes (depending on your pan and heat).
• After the first minute or two, you should see the brown skins peel easily away from the pieces — remove these small pieces of skin with tongs or a spoon. After about 10 minutes, you should see the water and pits beginning to turn blood red. Tannins!
• Reduce the total amount of water all the way down to about 15ml (1 tablespoon).
• You will need to tilt the pan to keep the pieces in the dwindling amount of water (you can always add a bit of water if you overcook, but try to reduce in one go).
• Strain the ink into a small container, let it cool, and you will have one of the most beautiful inks you have ever worked with!

Featured image: A selection of drawings submitted by Draw Along participants 

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