205. Seeking Natural Frames
build a sketchbook habit with my new zoom workshop
Dear reader,
This email is going out to nearly ten thousand of you. At the start of this year, less than half of you were here. Two years ago, my readership was 10% of what it is today. Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for adding SneakyArt to your inbox.
In today’s post, the link to my demo with Art Toolkit, and the details of my new Zoom workshop.
The SneakyArt Post is a publication of secretly drawn art of the world. Every week, I share my latest sketchbook drawings, the best ideas from the SneakyArt Podcast, and notes from my journey as an independent writer and artist.
A few years ago, I was walking the streets of Chicago, my head full of questions, and few answers. I had left behind a PhD program in Neuroscience in order to become a novelist instead. And now, struggling to put in the daily quota of words, I had started to walk about the city with a sketchbook. I told myself that I would make quick sketches of whatever caught my eye.
I called it ‘sneaky’ because to begin I was being very sneaky. To begin, I was being very sneaky because I was ashamed. What a silly thing, I thought, a grown man trying to learn to draw. What will people say? Worse, what will they think? I would sit in the corner of busy cafes so that no one could peer into my page. I would draw quickly so that no one even had the chance to suspect that something was up.
All of this was largely unnecessary and it made everything harder for no good reason. It made everything harder but I kept doing it anyway. I pushed through the hesitations. And I truly believe that keeping a sketchbook habit has changed my life.
It has transformed how I perceive my world, and how I share it with others.
I believe everyone should keep a sketchbook. It is a way to see, process, and express the world without letting silly words get in the way.
💻 Live Demo
Yesterday was my demo with Art Toolkit. I shared my growing list of art supplies, pages from recent sketchbooks, and demonstrated my quick sketching style with the fountain pen.
Watch the full session below!
If you attended live, or have seen the video since then, I would love to hear your thoughts.
✍🏼 New Workshop
The ideas I discussed in this live demo form the foundation of my new workshop.
A fulfilling and sustainable drawing habit does not need a lot of time. You could give it even just a few minutes a day.
The lessons of this workshop will embolden participants to sketch while waiting in queues, travelling by public transit, and any other occasion where they would otherwise aimlessly scroll on their phone.
It achieves this goal by addressing the biggest obstacles to a drawing habit - getting started on the blank page, and finishing sketches in time.
It can be attended by anyone regardless of skill level if they want to -
✍🏼 build a sustainable drawing habit,
🕰️ find time for art in a busy life, and
💌 become more mindful of their environment.
Read more details and grab a seat:
📣 Limited seats are available at a discount for readers. Use code [SNEAKYREADER] at checkout to grab yours before they are gone!
Events this month
🖼️ [IN-PERSON] This week on Thursday at 7.30 pm PT, I am doing the Thursday Artist Talk at Surrey Art Gallery. I will show my different travel sketchbooks and speak about how a sketchbook habit has helped me better understand my world, as both traveller and immigrant. There will be time for a chat and q&a and it is a FREE event, so if you live in the area please drop by! (More details)
🎤 [IN-PERSON] Next week on Thursday 14 Sep, I am presenting at the 55th edition of PechaKucha Night Vancouver, a fun platform where multiple presenters share insightful and interesting ideas in a fast-paced and entertaining format. PechaKucha Night began in Tokyo in 2003, and derives its name from the Japanese term for ‘chit chat’. Learn more and buy tickets (C$23).
Thank you for your time and attention. I am glad to have a space in your inbox.
My thoughts are that the demo, hosted by ArtToolKit, revealed to me why I am so drawn to your work. The mindfulness of your approach yields simply complex drawings that are so descriptive of people in place. I love drawing on location but I always avoid trying to draw the people. People seem too hard to capture, but I am going to try some of your strategies this morning as I meet a friend to sketch and see how it goes. I have signed up for your workshop on September 17 - I want to learn more. Thank you for yesterday's demo.
Hey Nishant. Looking forward to your art videos. I used to sketch as a kid and dropped the habit when I started writing more, and now you are inspiring me to try it again and wondering if I can actually blend the two somehow. Also, my niece is just an talented artist and I have asked her if she would be interested in your zoom session.