Stopped using a ruler for my monthly pages and my hand actually cramps less now

About 2 months ago I got tired of drawing those perfect straight lines for my monthly calendar. Every time I used a ruler my hand would lock up after 3 or 4 spreads. Figured I'd try free handing it just to see. Lines are wobbly as heck but honestly it looks like a real journal now instead of a school assignment. Plus I can knock out a full month layout in like 5 minutes. Does anyone else lean into the sloppy look on purpose?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_schmidt775d agoMost Upvoted

Ha! Yeah, nothing says "adulting" like accepting your calendar looks like it was drawn by a toddler having a seizure. Thicker pens are a solid life hack for hiding the wobbles though.

craig.olivia5d ago

38% of my calendar lines still come out looking like I was writing on a bumpy bus ride. I actually went the opposite direction and started using a super fine tip pen so I can be more precise with my numbers and boxes. I tried a thick pen and it just made everything look like a messy blob to me, not more deliberate. I think @johnson.eva has a point about hiding the wobbles, but to me it feels like putting a bandaid on a broken arm. The wobble is still there under the thick lines, I can feel it. Honestly I prefer seeing the imperfect lines because it reminds me I drew it myself and that is better than pretending it came out of a printer.

johnson.eva5d ago

Switching to freehand was the best thing I did for my hand cramps too. I found that using a thicker pen also helps hide the wobbles and makes the whole layout feel more deliberate. Have you tried different pen sizes to see what hides the wobbles best?