Hello, my name is Ilga Jansons,
and I'm a doodle addict. Edgewood, Washington Plus

I’ve worked in the fashion industry, tested equipment for NASA, been a high school teacher and a program manager at Microsoft. I’ve also been a general contractor, an indie-dyer for wool and yarn, and designed architectural etched glass. I am currently semi-retired and rediscovering my artistic roots. I keep drawings on a Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/EdgewoodGarden/ilgas-drawings/

You can also find me on:

Ilga Jansons' Faves

Ashima Bawa

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Model Ruth resting on a platform covered by red bed sheets. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper.

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Quick sketchbook portrait of Yolanda. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Yellow Micron pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper.

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Hand and drapery sketchbook drawing. This combo never gets old for me. Faber-Castell PITT pastel pencils, charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

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Hand pose 8 with one detail and work progression shots - started with the red pen layer, then green and finally the yellow ink (feature image).

Tonya Doughty

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I’m often asked about my Bic pen drawings and how I do them. It starts with a good foundational drawing, the ballpoint pen part is just trying to colour within the lines. I try to do my best to explain the process, but the best way to show my progress is by posting my efforts to master pen drawings over the span of 3 or so years. I have been doodling/drawing with ballpoint pens as far back as I can remember - they were cheap, readily available and always lying around the house. It wasn’t until I was bored during a particularly long team meeting-conference call (around 2016-17) that I started to think about the possibilities of ballpoint pens as serious portrait illustration tools. My first experiments with full colour ink portrait drawings were rather crude, but that’s the point of learning new techniques—as long as the curiosity and the love of drawing is there, you can transfer that skill and passion into any medium. Remember, the most exquisite drawings and paintings you see didn’t materialise fully formed, they started out as failed experiments. Failure after failure after failure. It’s important to remember this when you get discouraged (I've failed spectacularly over the years). The only difference between the accomplished artist and the beginner is hundreds of hours of practice. Talent can only get you so far. It’s the hard work that you do behind the scenes that makes your work look effortless. Keep doodling. Keep learning. Stay curious.