Someone asked me if I’d make a fast-motion video of me drawing but I can’t do that because I draw with my sketchbook up against my chest to protect it from Hunter S. Thomcat who wants to sit on it and Ferris Mewler who wants to chase the pen and Dorothy Barker who will inevitably jump on me right as I am focusing on the tiniest detail, so instead I shot pictures every 15 minutes so I could make it into a video.
I have always believed I have no artistic ability whatsoever, and have been very jealous of your fantastical sketches. And I want to be the kind of person who carries a sketchbook when they travel, and draw little jewel-like landscapes. So I ignored my inner critic and signed up for an introduction to drawing course. To my surprise and delight, my first assignment did not totally suck (as in, my kids correctly identified what I was trying to draw) so I am allowing myself faint hope.
So if you ever question the value of what you do, please know that you inspired this middle-aged woman to take a leap of faith and learn new skills.
I am only a month into beginning to experiment with watercolor, my very first medium. I haven’t ever taken an art class, not even in high school unless you count ceramics, so this is the wild west for me. As I begin to take in artists and try this or that, I want to ask you all, how did you get here? Do you have any experience with art of any kind before starting this a year ago? Or is your brain just magically wired to know perspective, lighting, shadow, proportion, fluidity, etc and know how to produce it even in line drawing?
I admire your skill, and vulnerability in sharing it and know that with its gift comes permission to try ourselves. Thank you.
Beth Pickens' quote that "Everything you do today is to impress versions of yourself: you as a teenager and you in 30 years." made it easier for me to quiet the judgy self talk that likes to compare myself to everyone else and be excited for how far I've come in this journey.
Thank you for sharing the struggles of your progress! It’s so easy to lose track of how creativity is for myself as much as for others, and if I’m enjoying my art that’s enough.
This week I wrote about how I try to be brave in my everyday actions, and how I am trying to appreciate my own weird and wondrous life.
You’re one of the people who continually inspire me and help me be a tiny bit braver as a writer and artist. Grateful that you’re here and continue to create even through the self doubt 💜
My brother sent me a Darkboard & it’s SO cool. I don’t draw on my iPad, which is what it’s meant for, but I keep my iPad in it all the time. It’s tons more comfortable and less slippy & intimidates the cat juuuust enough. Kind of a game changer, especially if you draw on your iPad.
No one else but me can fuck it up in quite the right way. No one can make the right mistakes that I do. No one can make a mess of it quite as beautifully as me. "I copy something and get it a bit wrong," Grayson Perry says, and "it becomes something new".
Fucking hell this is amazing! And I also have problems filming because I’m in my comfy chair on a lap desk watching random YouTube videos. Not a ton of light. But I’m happy here and can only share myself. I commend you for trying and keep going!
ahhh but in North Dakota/Minnesota they say pee oh nee. One of my moms sisters moved to Illinois, and a couple years later, mom followed. Aunt Diana told her "Don't say pee OH nee, they'll laugh at you"
Be persistent and it will work out (and it really helps to have your kids walk you through the tech.)
I think it’s lovely and I’m sure there’s words out there that I’m still not saying right. My ex used to make fun of me saying “king” right. Another reason he was an ex. Only nice people matter. 😊
I have always believed I have no artistic ability whatsoever, and have been very jealous of your fantastical sketches. And I want to be the kind of person who carries a sketchbook when they travel, and draw little jewel-like landscapes. So I ignored my inner critic and signed up for an introduction to drawing course. To my surprise and delight, my first assignment did not totally suck (as in, my kids correctly identified what I was trying to draw) so I am allowing myself faint hope.
So if you ever question the value of what you do, please know that you inspired this middle-aged woman to take a leap of faith and learn new skills.
You just made my whole night.
I am only a month into beginning to experiment with watercolor, my very first medium. I haven’t ever taken an art class, not even in high school unless you count ceramics, so this is the wild west for me. As I begin to take in artists and try this or that, I want to ask you all, how did you get here? Do you have any experience with art of any kind before starting this a year ago? Or is your brain just magically wired to know perspective, lighting, shadow, proportion, fluidity, etc and know how to produce it even in line drawing?
I admire your skill, and vulnerability in sharing it and know that with its gift comes permission to try ourselves. Thank you.
It’s incredible! What a cool video and amazing drawing! And love the cat paw 😺
I can only dream of drawing something as beautiful as that. 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 Wow! 👌
"I hope it's lots"
I love that. That's the joy and lesson in all this for me.
Beth Pickens' quote that "Everything you do today is to impress versions of yourself: you as a teenager and you in 30 years." made it easier for me to quiet the judgy self talk that likes to compare myself to everyone else and be excited for how far I've come in this journey.
Thank you for sharing the struggles of your progress! It’s so easy to lose track of how creativity is for myself as much as for others, and if I’m enjoying my art that’s enough.
This week I wrote about how I try to be brave in my everyday actions, and how I am trying to appreciate my own weird and wondrous life.
https://open.substack.com/pub/eleanorvader/p/bravery?r=2sseuy&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
You’re one of the people who continually inspire me and help me be a tiny bit braver as a writer and artist. Grateful that you’re here and continue to create even through the self doubt 💜
Althought I'm a PEE oh knee gal, I know plenty of folks who insist it's pee OH knee. No worries. Use the one that best suits.
p.s. your work reminds me of Lynda Barry. Love her.
My brother sent me a Darkboard & it’s SO cool. I don’t draw on my iPad, which is what it’s meant for, but I keep my iPad in it all the time. It’s tons more comfortable and less slippy & intimidates the cat juuuust enough. Kind of a game changer, especially if you draw on your iPad.
Dearest Jenny,
Have I possibly said how much I hate you?
The real struggle is the picking up of the pen. cil. (brush, chizel, 5 gallon tub of bright red).)
But you! You've not only arted, but arted publicly.
You...Gah!
Today of all days. I sat through a workshop on empathy this morning. So now not only am I hateful, I am guilty with it.
Luv, Mike.
No one else but me can fuck it up in quite the right way. No one can make the right mistakes that I do. No one can make a mess of it quite as beautifully as me. "I copy something and get it a bit wrong," Grayson Perry says, and "it becomes something new".
Fucking hell this is amazing! And I also have problems filming because I’m in my comfy chair on a lap desk watching random YouTube videos. Not a ton of light. But I’m happy here and can only share myself. I commend you for trying and keep going!
Nailed it!
ahhh but in North Dakota/Minnesota they say pee oh nee. One of my moms sisters moved to Illinois, and a couple years later, mom followed. Aunt Diana told her "Don't say pee OH nee, they'll laugh at you"
Be persistent and it will work out (and it really helps to have your kids walk you through the tech.)
I think it’s lovely and I’m sure there’s words out there that I’m still not saying right. My ex used to make fun of me saying “king” right. Another reason he was an ex. Only nice people matter. 😊