An optical disk apparatus records information by irradiating a
laser beam from a
pickup onto an optical disk. A scanning section scans the
laser beam relative to the optical disk. A recording control section controls the scanning section to effect recording of information. A drawing control section is provided for controlling the
pickup and the scanning section to effect drawing of a visible image on the optical disk according to image information, such that the
laser beam is changed between a first intensity incapable of acting on the optical disk and a second intensity capable of acting on the optical disk. A
servo section periodically detects the laser beam reflected back from the optical disk when the laser beam has the first intensity, and
servo-controls the irradiating of the laser beam during the drawing of the visible
image based on the detection of the laser beam. The drawing control section controls the
pickup for forcibly changing the laser beam to the first intensity from the second intensity when the second intensity is maintained over a predetermined period pursuant to the image information, thereby enabling the
servo section to detect the laser beam having the first intensity for continuing the servo-control.