153. Blurbs and Affirmations.
plus the zoom workshop returns!
Dear reader,
Since leaving academia to become a full-time creative 7 years ago, I have become a more solitary person. Solitude feeds my creativity. I need time away from other people in order to process my thoughts and recharge my batteries. But loneliness is the flip side of that same coin. It can take a while to recognize when your solitude has turned into loneliness.
So I am glad about this vacation. It gave me the chance to see old friends and colleagues (at TU Delft) and meet many wonderful sketchers for the first time. I did not know how much I needed this, but I did.
The SneakyArt Post is a publication about secretly drawn art of the world, my journey of self-education to become an artist, and the best ideas from the SneakyArt Podcast.
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I reached out to a couple of local sketchers who then created a meetup event in local Facebook groups. But while it was really just a meetup, several sketchers came to see me in particular. Isn’t that amazing? I hope I never get used to this feeling!
Speaking with other artists revealed how we each face our own obstacles, even when travelling the same path. Something that is easy for one person can be insurmountable for another.
I demonstrated to one sketcher how I capture human activity in busy places, and she expressed amazement at my instinct and speed. Afterwards, browsing through her sketchbook, it was my turn to be amazed. Where I had learned to capitalize on speed and instinct, she found her joy in meticulous details and sustained focus. My work was incredible to her, and hers incredible to me.
Among other things, this also helped put my imposter syndrome into perspective.
We are all works-in-progress. Each of us began at our own starting point. We are on our own journeys. No one is finished. No one has arrived. Life is all means, no end.
For more on the Imposter Syndrome, read this excellent post on Womaning.
I also learned that several sketchers were already fans of the SneakyArt Podcast. This led to a funny situation - while answering their questions, I realized that I was speaking to people who had already heard me several times. They knew many things about me, but I had no clue about them!
Weekly posts from vacation were shared with SneakyArt Insiders. You can read them here - [Apple Pie and Espresso], [Week 1], [Week 2], [Week 3].
Another source of affirmation is the new recommendations feature on Substack. I did not pay attention before, but this week I noticed 65 Substack publications recommend me to their readers!
If you have recommended me to your readers on Substack, please reach out in the comments for a special thank-you gift. 🙏🏼
A select number of recommendations include blurbs. These words I have saved in a special folder on my phone. Whenever I am low or plagued with silly self-doubt, when foolish hesitations have nested inside my mind, I read them and revive myself.
I cherish also the words of Mark Starlin, HopeMail, Letters from Everywhere, The Face in the Mirror, Campfire Notebook, and Tokyo Calling, but was unable to include them while editing for post-length.
💻 Zoom Workshop
After speaking with sketchers in the Netherlands, I have decided to schedule more editions of my People-Drawing Zoom Workshop. Catch highlights from past sessions here.
The next class is at 8:30 am (Pacific Time) on Sunday, 2nd October.
⏰ 2 hours of near-continuous drawing
✒️ Bring your choice of pen (or pencil) and paper.
🚦 No prior skills needed, but enthusiasm is mandatory!
There are two goals for this workshop -
✍🏼 Build a sustainable sketching habit
⏰ Draw human figures in <60 seconds.
If this interests you, grab a seat!
SneakyArt Insiders will receive a special offer for this workshop. To get it in your inbox this Sunday, sign up to become an Insider!
Thank you, dear reader, for your time and attention. I am glad to have a space in your inbox. See you next week.
I've been away and got behind with my newsletter reading so have just read this one, thank you :-) I am also still enjoying catching up with your podcasts - currently on Ian Fennelly! It's a goodie. And ooh - might be able to make the workshop, schedule allowing.