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Question about sketching on napkins at cafes

It forces me to keep designs simple and clean. Plus, coffee stains add character.
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3 Comments
cameron_price
Coffee stains just make it look messy to me.
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karen739
karen7391mo ago
Does the noise in cafes ever help you focus? One time I was drawing on a napkin, and this guy next to me started talking about his own art. He said the busy sounds actually help him block out his own thoughts. I tried it, and now I can't sketch in quiet rooms anymore. It's like the hum of people and coffee machines sets a rhythm. That messy coffee stain on my napkin from that day reminds me of that conversation. Kind of funny how a little spill can tie a memory to a sketch.
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gray_smith67
That coffee stain IS part of the sketch, though. It's not just messy. It's a real mark from a real moment. That guy's talk and the cafe sound all got mixed into that one piece of paper. The stain is proof you were there, living in it. Trying to make art perfect and clean can sometimes miss the point. The good stuff is often in the accidents.
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