A Newsletter and a Drawing challenge
An introduction to the newsletter and my current drawing challenge
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with social media for many years, as I’m sure any creative can recognise themselves in. There’s the whole time wasting aspect, the negativity, the ever changing algorithms, and for the conspiracy theorists, the rising suspision that they are trying to brainwash you or use the ads to destabilise our democracy (it’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you!).
But I like the social part of social media. I like connecting with people and I enjoy showing my work. But it is very demoralising to see the ever decreasing percentage of your followers that actually end up even seeing your work.
Perhaps this Newsletter will be the same. But then at least I won’t have to deal with ads, doomscrolling or Zuckerberg apps…
Now about that drawing challenge.
Ive always focused more on the drawing - particularly figure drawing aspect of my art journey. It was what was needed to become an animator, and proper color and light theory, painting skills not to mention drawing backgrounds kind of fell by the way side. My summer goal became to put an end to that.
I have always admired artists who start those #365drawings challenges, who are able to commit to drawing or painting a fully composed drawing every single day. I’ve always wanted to do that, but I also know, that my track record with smaller challenges like #inktober and the like, are less than stellar. Then factor in the challenges of practicing a skill I find extremely hard, and the mental challenges of forcing yourself through something that you aren’t comfortable with… I knew I wouldn’t last the week.
So I had to make it easier.
Way easier…
So this was my goal. I comitted to doing a minimum of 10 minutes of digital painting study, of a picture I found that had nice lighting and colors. No coming up with my own drawing ideas needed, and no struggling for hours on end. Just 10 minutes. Open up the drawing app, load the reference picture, and draw. For 10 minutes. Every day.
Furthermore, I allowed myself only 1 hour spent on each painting.
It’s hard being a perfectionist when you only have a set amount of time. Also hard to be too critical of your work when you know, you only had the one hour.
It’s been three months now.
Have i drawn 10 minutes everyday?
No.
Have I managed to finish 9 paintings, of which I can see a genuine improvement with every painting?
Yes. I have.
And furthermore, I’ve found that sometime I manage to get so caught up in the process, that I can paint for 30-40 minutes without wanting to throw my pen into the wall. (I might be a tad dramatic when I am frustrated)
So to round this first (of hopefully many) Newsletters off, I’d like to share with you my first painting from June and my latest.
So that’s me. And my newsletter, and what you might expect to see from me. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and that you’ll want to continue hearing from me.
Please let me know in the comments what you think, and if you have any questions. I always love hearing from you.
See you next time?