I have loved your work this year, it has been a joy to see the progress!
My name is Sarah, and this year I left a job I hated and moved to Vietnam with my partner. I took a job as a cover teacher to give myself more time to enjoy my hobbies and find joy in the little things.
Every morning, I sit on my front door step with a cup of tea and I’m befriending a local street cat. It’s the best way to start the day! I’m also learning the language and I’m slowly making friends with a local barista who lets me practice with her. There’s a group of old ladies who walk around the lake I live by a few times and week and they always smile and wave as they go by.
Wonderful overview of your great year esp becoming a father. Drawing your son everyday has been so delightful to see. I am Suzanne and I was living in Oregon when I first learned of your work. In November we moved to Portugal so my husband could retire early. We both have seen your demos. I paint or draw or nature journal daily. I love Amy Tan’s book on birds. Happy New Year
LOVE THIS POST. One of my favorite things was when you commented so very kindly on photos of drawings I shared from the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum and then later at my professor's reading at the Grolier Bookshop. Nishant, you were part of my inspiration of trying to be more present and intentional in my surroundings. I decided to make sketching (instead of the phone snapshot) a part of my way of looking at the world in a more involved way. It has made me a happier person. My style is different, but there is such a definite influence by your work and writing.
Hi I’m Brigs from South Africa, this year has been long, I’ve settled on reading short stories. I’m just finishing ‘the near north’ Ivan Vladislavic. A local writer here
A very positive and productive year indeed, Nishant. Congratulations! I'm Sue from Minden, NV where I share years of writings on Ring Around the Basin. And there's ALWAYS something new to write about.
Hi Sue! I've never been to Minden but was just talking to someone today about that part of the world and its unique geography. I rarely enjoy driving, but driving through Nevada, Southern California, and Arizona was a treat!
It's a big desert out there across those three states. And then there's Utah. Isn't it amazing, though, how many different ecosystems deserts can have?
Hi Sue! Wow, small world. I lived in Gardnerville as a teen and young adult and my family still lives there! Lots of beautiful nature sketching opportunities in that area.
Interesting town. You might enjoy Fran Gardner's "Being," on substack (frangardner.substack.com). She's in Portland and wanders far and wide, photographing and writing about things she sees. She in a wheelchair in these travels, so she gives a different perspective. Cool lady. I look forward to seeing your artwork.
Hi, I’m Liane in Haifa. I used to think of myself as an urban sketcher until I found you on Substack, Nishant. Now I proudly own it—I’m an aspiring sneaky urban sketcher! I love drawing people I don’t know and transforming who they are with a little of me added to the equation, as if they know that they’re being watched. Congratulations on becoming a father. Rohan is super blessed!
Hey Nishant! I'm Vedi, and I'm living in a not-so-small suburb of Mumbai. Last year we were gifted an oven, and my partner and I are so excited to use it. I used to bake a lot but then didn't have a stable enough house for long enough to get myself an oven. Baking is a creative activity I'm looking forward! Finding Substack and your newsletter and becoming an insider had definitely been a great addition to my 2024!
Hey Nishant! I’m Adam, and I’m a drummer, composer and audio programmer living in the UK. This is only the second post of yours I’ve read but I’m planning to stick around! Fantastic things I heard/read this year were the debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’ by UK band English Teacher, and period murder mystery ‘Snow’ by John Bainville.
I am Stefani (Stevie to my closest), born and raised in NY and miss it terribly. But enjoying life in Lexington KY. After 60 years of keeping my art to myself, (bc I didn't go art school or have any training and don't know (or care) about color theory and the masters and generally feeling like an imposter) I reached out and started sharing. I have since taken part in a couple of local gallery shows and sold a few pieces. I still feel like an imposter. But that's OK. And of all (not that many) the accts I follow here, yours gets most of my attention. Thank you for being thought provoking and open and sharing yourself with all of us.
It's so good to hear from you, Stefani, and to learn about your art journey! Congratulations on the progress you have made. I'm glad to have you as a reader!
Thank you. Starting the year, as always, with the hope of doing better. I'm a distracted painter with a day job. Curiosity and capability keeps me from consistent painting. I just finished a book that arrived in the mail from a friend, The Change by Kirsten Miller- a thriller feminist fantasy that reads as easily as a romance. I also finished listening to James McBride's Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. In both I rooted for the villain to get what was coming to them, abd it did.
Hi Nancy, it's good to hear from you. I'm sure this year will be better than the last! The first week is a chance to reframe ourselves and shed the baggage. Best wishes!
Thank you, Nishant, for another wonderfully human post. One of my favorite things is Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Happy New Year to you and yours!
I've only read Norwegian Wood by him, other than his reflections on running. And I enjoyed it very much. So good to hear from you after a while! Best wishes for the new year to you and your family as well. ❤️
I’ve enjoyed your posts ever since you started sending them. It’s also been fun watching the newest member of your family grow bigger and more entertaining with every post. I live in Rehoboth Massachusetts. I’m still trying to develop a sketching habit but at 80; it’s hard to make new habits when you’re a lazy bumpkin!
Hello Steve! I'm glad to have you as an insider. I'm working on several projects next year online course, more workshops and draw alongs - and I'm sure one of them will click for you!
I’m Paula Enscore, born in NC and still live here 41 years later. I was a custom tattoo artist for 8 years, but after some health issues and burn out, I left that. It was a good move but also left a hole in my art life since all art for many years was really for other people (clients). I found the Sneaky Art pod in 2021 which was very synchronistic at the time and truly helped me find an “art just for me” daily practice. Just hit my year anniversary with your newsletter in November. Between these 2 life-affirming offerings, I’m always learning something new or thinking about things in different ways. Your inquiries into trying/using/navigating/decentralizing various ‘socials’ as an artist has been an interesting to follow from a person/artist who experiences ‘posting paranoia’ for various reasons. Thank you! My house is cheering you and your family on for 2025.
3 books: This year I enjoyed for the first time “The UnOfficial Countryside” (a few decades old reflection by a British author about nature and its unfailing ability to “find a way” despite urbanization was very appropriate in 2024) and Lynda Barry’s graphic novel(?) “100 demons” (read it twice, laughed and cried). I reread “True Grit” (a western of sorts both for folks who don’t like westerns and those who love them) for the 3rd time.
3 shows: For easy but thoughtful TV I can’t recommend enough the UK/original “Ghosts”, “Derry Girls” and “Reservation Dogs” for unlikely friendships, laughs and a few tears.
3 movies: For movies I enjoyed this year, Wim Wender’s “Perfect Days” (2023) is at the top of the list. Honorable mentions include campy horror comedy “Lisa Frankenstein” and thriller “Longlegs” (especially after reading an indiewire interview with the director about the music and aesthetic choices).
Hi Paula, I'm a Derry girl too! 😂 Such a brilliant show. It's so lovely to hear from a podcast listener, I'm so happy to hear it has helped you with a daily art practice. There is a tattoo place at my studio, and I've been so curious to watch them at work. Maybe it's something I can learn next year? Did you hear my episode with Alvin Chong? He's an amazing tattoo artist and sketcher!
Hi Nishant. I started following you recently after seeing your sketching in a group workshop. I live south of you in Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle). I've been trying to improve my watercolor art and sketching for about a year now and I seem to be getting better. I take every opportunity I can to learn. Thank you for your posts. Jim Beckley
I'm Ayibaemi, from Nigeria. Thank you for your newsletter this year. If I do get back into drawing and sketches ... You'll have had something to do with it. ☺️
I probably subscribe to too many newsletters, and often run out of time to read them all... but I make an exception for yours. There is so often something within that inspires, or shifts my perspective that I can't resist clicking on these first. I am Theresa, gratefully reading your newsletters in Yosemite National Park. I also really enjoyed your presence at the Wild Wonder Conference - not only your presentation, which was wonderful, but also your questions and contributions in the Pencil Miles groups. Happy 2025!
Hello Theresa, do you actually live there?? I had such a wonderful visit to Yosemite right before the pandemic. And I'm so glad to be one of the newsletters you make sure to read. I plan to learn a lot of new things and be more active in nature journaling in 2025.
Technically, my neighborhood is outside the Yosemite park boundary which makes it possible to own land and a house. However, the only way to get here is through the park - the entrance is near Glacier Point Road - so it has the feeling of being in the park.
Some friends in the Seattle area invited me to join them at the Wild Wonder retreat on Bainbridge Island so I know that you’re planning to do that. I don’t know if I can pull it off, but I’m extra tempted since you’ll be co-leading the retreat. Are you planning any other nature journaling specific activities in the upcoming year? There are so many ways that nature journaling and urban sketching overlap in approach and mentality and that overlapping area is a rich area for cross pollination.
That is wonderful, Theresa. You should try to make it if possible! It's going to be my first time doing a multi day retreat, and one with a focus on nature journaling at that. This year, I'm planning to spend more time drawing in nature, we are even starting a nature journaling club in Vancouver, and I hope to do more sessions later in the year. They would be most fun outdoors, but I feel I must do some over zoom as well.
The overlap of nature journaling and urban sketching is fascinating. Besides the fact that sketchbooks enable both equally well, I'm eager to see what I can bring to nature journaling from urban sketching and vice versa.
I have loved your work this year, it has been a joy to see the progress!
My name is Sarah, and this year I left a job I hated and moved to Vietnam with my partner. I took a job as a cover teacher to give myself more time to enjoy my hobbies and find joy in the little things.
Hello Sarah, such a brave step! I hope you're enjoying this decision. What are some of the little things you find joy in?
Every morning, I sit on my front door step with a cup of tea and I’m befriending a local street cat. It’s the best way to start the day! I’m also learning the language and I’m slowly making friends with a local barista who lets me practice with her. There’s a group of old ladies who walk around the lake I live by a few times and week and they always smile and wave as they go by.
That sounds like a lot of lovely little things! ❤️❤️
Wonderful overview of your great year esp becoming a father. Drawing your son everyday has been so delightful to see. I am Suzanne and I was living in Oregon when I first learned of your work. In November we moved to Portugal so my husband could retire early. We both have seen your demos. I paint or draw or nature journal daily. I love Amy Tan’s book on birds. Happy New Year
Hi Suzanne, I am so curious about that book. I take it you mean The Backyard Chronicles?
LOVE THIS POST. One of my favorite things was when you commented so very kindly on photos of drawings I shared from the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum and then later at my professor's reading at the Grolier Bookshop. Nishant, you were part of my inspiration of trying to be more present and intentional in my surroundings. I decided to make sketching (instead of the phone snapshot) a part of my way of looking at the world in a more involved way. It has made me a happier person. My style is different, but there is such a definite influence by your work and writing.
Zina, I am delighted to hear I could help you make drawing a part of your life. ❤️ Best wishes for a happy 2025!
Zina I'm in the Boston area too!
Hi I’m Brigs from South Africa, this year has been long, I’ve settled on reading short stories. I’m just finishing ‘the near north’ Ivan Vladislavic. A local writer here
Hi Brigs! Congratulations on making it to the end of a long year. 🙌
A very positive and productive year indeed, Nishant. Congratulations! I'm Sue from Minden, NV where I share years of writings on Ring Around the Basin. And there's ALWAYS something new to write about.
Hi Sue! I've never been to Minden but was just talking to someone today about that part of the world and its unique geography. I rarely enjoy driving, but driving through Nevada, Southern California, and Arizona was a treat!
It's a big desert out there across those three states. And then there's Utah. Isn't it amazing, though, how many different ecosystems deserts can have?
Exactly! So unique and diverse.
Hi Sue! Wow, small world. I lived in Gardnerville as a teen and young adult and my family still lives there! Lots of beautiful nature sketching opportunities in that area.
Just checked out and subscribed to your page. I can always use a little daydreaming inspiration.
Where do you live these days?
Thanks! I’m in Portland, Oregon now. We came here seeking more green but still love going back to visit.
Interesting town. You might enjoy Fran Gardner's "Being," on substack (frangardner.substack.com). She's in Portland and wanders far and wide, photographing and writing about things she sees. She in a wheelchair in these travels, so she gives a different perspective. Cool lady. I look forward to seeing your artwork.
Thanks, I’ll check out her substack. Subscribed to yours, too!
Hi, I’m Liane in Haifa. I used to think of myself as an urban sketcher until I found you on Substack, Nishant. Now I proudly own it—I’m an aspiring sneaky urban sketcher! I love drawing people I don’t know and transforming who they are with a little of me added to the equation, as if they know that they’re being watched. Congratulations on becoming a father. Rohan is super blessed!
Hi Liane! It's so good to meet another sneaky urban sketcher. 🙌 Your art practice sounds lovely.
Hey Nishant! I'm Vedi, and I'm living in a not-so-small suburb of Mumbai. Last year we were gifted an oven, and my partner and I are so excited to use it. I used to bake a lot but then didn't have a stable enough house for long enough to get myself an oven. Baking is a creative activity I'm looking forward! Finding Substack and your newsletter and becoming an insider had definitely been a great addition to my 2024!
Hi Vedi, it's lovely to hear from you, and best wishes for 2025! Congrats on the oven, baking is surely an adventure. :)
Hey Nishant! I’m Adam, and I’m a drummer, composer and audio programmer living in the UK. This is only the second post of yours I’ve read but I’m planning to stick around! Fantastic things I heard/read this year were the debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’ by UK band English Teacher, and period murder mystery ‘Snow’ by John Bainville.
Hi Adam, I am glad you found your way here!
I am Stefani (Stevie to my closest), born and raised in NY and miss it terribly. But enjoying life in Lexington KY. After 60 years of keeping my art to myself, (bc I didn't go art school or have any training and don't know (or care) about color theory and the masters and generally feeling like an imposter) I reached out and started sharing. I have since taken part in a couple of local gallery shows and sold a few pieces. I still feel like an imposter. But that's OK. And of all (not that many) the accts I follow here, yours gets most of my attention. Thank you for being thought provoking and open and sharing yourself with all of us.
It's so good to hear from you, Stefani, and to learn about your art journey! Congratulations on the progress you have made. I'm glad to have you as a reader!
Thank you. Starting the year, as always, with the hope of doing better. I'm a distracted painter with a day job. Curiosity and capability keeps me from consistent painting. I just finished a book that arrived in the mail from a friend, The Change by Kirsten Miller- a thriller feminist fantasy that reads as easily as a romance. I also finished listening to James McBride's Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. In both I rooted for the villain to get what was coming to them, abd it did.
Hi Nancy, it's good to hear from you. I'm sure this year will be better than the last! The first week is a chance to reframe ourselves and shed the baggage. Best wishes!
Thank you, Nishant, for another wonderfully human post. One of my favorite things is Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Happy New Year to you and yours!
I've only read Norwegian Wood by him, other than his reflections on running. And I enjoyed it very much. So good to hear from you after a while! Best wishes for the new year to you and your family as well. ❤️
I’ve enjoyed your posts ever since you started sending them. It’s also been fun watching the newest member of your family grow bigger and more entertaining with every post. I live in Rehoboth Massachusetts. I’m still trying to develop a sketching habit but at 80; it’s hard to make new habits when you’re a lazy bumpkin!
Hello Steve! I'm glad to have you as an insider. I'm working on several projects next year online course, more workshops and draw alongs - and I'm sure one of them will click for you!
I’m Paula Enscore, born in NC and still live here 41 years later. I was a custom tattoo artist for 8 years, but after some health issues and burn out, I left that. It was a good move but also left a hole in my art life since all art for many years was really for other people (clients). I found the Sneaky Art pod in 2021 which was very synchronistic at the time and truly helped me find an “art just for me” daily practice. Just hit my year anniversary with your newsletter in November. Between these 2 life-affirming offerings, I’m always learning something new or thinking about things in different ways. Your inquiries into trying/using/navigating/decentralizing various ‘socials’ as an artist has been an interesting to follow from a person/artist who experiences ‘posting paranoia’ for various reasons. Thank you! My house is cheering you and your family on for 2025.
3 books: This year I enjoyed for the first time “The UnOfficial Countryside” (a few decades old reflection by a British author about nature and its unfailing ability to “find a way” despite urbanization was very appropriate in 2024) and Lynda Barry’s graphic novel(?) “100 demons” (read it twice, laughed and cried). I reread “True Grit” (a western of sorts both for folks who don’t like westerns and those who love them) for the 3rd time.
3 shows: For easy but thoughtful TV I can’t recommend enough the UK/original “Ghosts”, “Derry Girls” and “Reservation Dogs” for unlikely friendships, laughs and a few tears.
3 movies: For movies I enjoyed this year, Wim Wender’s “Perfect Days” (2023) is at the top of the list. Honorable mentions include campy horror comedy “Lisa Frankenstein” and thriller “Longlegs” (especially after reading an indiewire interview with the director about the music and aesthetic choices).
Hi Paula, I'm a Derry girl too! 😂 Such a brilliant show. It's so lovely to hear from a podcast listener, I'm so happy to hear it has helped you with a daily art practice. There is a tattoo place at my studio, and I've been so curious to watch them at work. Maybe it's something I can learn next year? Did you hear my episode with Alvin Chong? He's an amazing tattoo artist and sketcher!
Hi Nishant. I started following you recently after seeing your sketching in a group workshop. I live south of you in Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle). I've been trying to improve my watercolor art and sketching for about a year now and I seem to be getting better. I take every opportunity I can to learn. Thank you for your posts. Jim Beckley
It's so good to hear from you Jim! 😊
Hi Nishant,
I'm Ayibaemi, from Nigeria. Thank you for your newsletter this year. If I do get back into drawing and sketches ... You'll have had something to do with it. ☺️
Hello Ayibaemi, I hope I'm able to inspire you towards art and drawing, best wishes for the new year!
I probably subscribe to too many newsletters, and often run out of time to read them all... but I make an exception for yours. There is so often something within that inspires, or shifts my perspective that I can't resist clicking on these first. I am Theresa, gratefully reading your newsletters in Yosemite National Park. I also really enjoyed your presence at the Wild Wonder Conference - not only your presentation, which was wonderful, but also your questions and contributions in the Pencil Miles groups. Happy 2025!
Hello Theresa, do you actually live there?? I had such a wonderful visit to Yosemite right before the pandemic. And I'm so glad to be one of the newsletters you make sure to read. I plan to learn a lot of new things and be more active in nature journaling in 2025.
Technically, my neighborhood is outside the Yosemite park boundary which makes it possible to own land and a house. However, the only way to get here is through the park - the entrance is near Glacier Point Road - so it has the feeling of being in the park.
Some friends in the Seattle area invited me to join them at the Wild Wonder retreat on Bainbridge Island so I know that you’re planning to do that. I don’t know if I can pull it off, but I’m extra tempted since you’ll be co-leading the retreat. Are you planning any other nature journaling specific activities in the upcoming year? There are so many ways that nature journaling and urban sketching overlap in approach and mentality and that overlapping area is a rich area for cross pollination.
That is wonderful, Theresa. You should try to make it if possible! It's going to be my first time doing a multi day retreat, and one with a focus on nature journaling at that. This year, I'm planning to spend more time drawing in nature, we are even starting a nature journaling club in Vancouver, and I hope to do more sessions later in the year. They would be most fun outdoors, but I feel I must do some over zoom as well.
The overlap of nature journaling and urban sketching is fascinating. Besides the fact that sketchbooks enable both equally well, I'm eager to see what I can bring to nature journaling from urban sketching and vice versa.