Pancake

There is always something fun about sketching the vibrant images of a dish I prepared for myself. It’s good practice for me to slow down and notice details I might otherwise miss.

After I take the photos, I sit down and enjoy my meal. When I’m done eating, I start drawing.

Each time I finish a sketch, I turn the page in my journal and tape a print of the drawing into it. Posting these sketches makes the process feel like an ongoing art project. It is a joy to look back through the pages and relive those delicious experiences and the pride of a successful home-cooked meal.

.*Materials I used for this journaling:

• Copy of the pancake I drew on the sketchbook.

• 1.0 & 0.5 black felt pens.

• Cutouts from the magazines.

• Graphic tapes and graphic stickers.

• Soft-type color pencils to draw the pancake.

• Post-it

• Background music

• Ginger tea

I have been making pancakes for many years, but haven’t reached the stage where they look rationally in perfect shape. Maybe this is because I'm just using a cheap frying pan. But today, the size and overall shape were perfectly created, which forced me to take pictures of it and start drawing after tasting them.

Drawing the dishes is a rewarding way to blend culinary passion with artistic expression. Here are three key points of why it is so enjoyable:

• Mindful Appreciation and Savoring: Sketching your meals forces you to slow down and observe intricate details like thick and fluffiness of the pancake and a sparkling caramel brown of the syrup.

• Skill Building Through Familiar Subjects: Drawing your dishes regularly helps you master complex artistic techniques like shading for volume, color blending for freshness, and capturing varied textures.

• Creating Lasting Visual Memories: Unlike a quick photo, a hand-drawn illustration captures your personal feelings and the "vibe" of the meal.