Visiting Toronto gave me Chicago flashbacks

and reminded me how sneaky art began.

Dear reader,

Walking around downtown Toronto last week made me realize how small Vancouver is as a city, but how big it is as a place. Toronto was big because of the skyscrapers and busy streets and food and drinks. But driving out of the city on long flat highways - so similar to the American Midwest - suddenly makes the city look like a small place. On the other hand, Vancouver is a small city, with less stuff going on. But look around, and the mountains become part of your world, as does the endless ocean, and the towering trees. The roads roll up and down, the clouds enact high drama, and suddenly it feels as big as any place needs to be.

But Toronto reminded me of Chicago - the wide sidewalks, the tall buildings, the people and languages from everywhere - so I cannot wait to revisit. Maybe early winter for a book launch? Readers in Toronto, how is late November? Tell me in the comments.

In today’s post, I want to tell you how the title of my upcoming book was decided, and share sneaky art of beautiful Toronto in the sunshine.

The SneakyArt Post is a newsletter of secretly drawn art of the world. Every week I share the latest pages from my sketchbook and the best ideas from my journey as an artist and writer.

Grab my summer discount to join the SneakyArt Insiders Club. We are hanging out this weekend as I flip through my advance copy of Make (Sneaky) Art.

Drawing at a USk Toronto meetup

With Urban Sketchers of Toronto at a midweek meetup, I had the chance to speak about how my art journey began. Reader Asya asked if I was self-conscious when drawing outside and, if so, how I managed to keep doing it.

I explained that I came up with the phrase ‘Sneaky Art’ because I was so self-conscious. I would draw quickly from the corner seat of cafes with a single pen and a tiny sketchbook, and get out of there before I was spotted. I believed that I needed to be sneaky about this silly thing that I enjoyed so much. Back then, I was not even trying to be an artist, the whole thing began as a curious path to walk along while I figured some things out. Later, learning about the global Urban Sketching movement gave me both courage and camaraderie, but it did not banish my insecurities. In fact, I still deal with them everyday. Maybe there’s no running away from our Imposter Syndromes? And maybe that’s okay?

Then, as my social media following grew, I had to get comfortable introducing myself as an artist. I had to give myself permission to use that word. Saying “sneaky artist”, however, felt easier. So I took it seriously, and made it my job title.

The CN Tower in downtown Toronto.

How do we keep doing things that make us uncomfortable?

We keep doing uncomfortable things when not doing them hurts even more. I was self-conscious about being seen, but I really wanted to keep doing this thing that sated my curiosity, helped me learn about my environment, and was so much fun to do. With time, we can appreciate that the initial discomfort is very real, and perhaps never goes away. But that does not mean we should let it win. With time, it has become easier to say ‘artist’, although I prefer ‘sneaky artist’. Because it is something I made entirely by myself. And I am so proud of the silly journey that made it happen.

🎙️ I spoke about the journey from engineering to art on the Science Friction podcast a few years ago, and more recently with David Speed on the Creative Rebels podcast.

📚 Title Wars

The most human thing you can do, as a person in the 21st century, is make art. But to many, making Art is an intimidating proposition. When writing the book, I looked back to my own fears, hesitations, and uncertainties from a decade ago, and realized that being sneaky actually made it easier to build a drawing habit. I was so preoccupied with being sneaky, I no longer thought that I was making art. So, reader, I wrote this book because you should make art. And if you find that you cannot, perhaps you should make (sneaky) art.

This is how the title of the book came about. But after completing the final draft, I had to have a difficult conversation about the title with my publishers, because they were not-so-enthusiastic about it.

Is “sneaky” not a negative term? Will it alienate readers? Should we not go for something inoffensive? Something that, for example, emphasizes the cuteness of the tiny figures?

Reader, how much do I know? A voice in my head said that I should pay heed to their informed opinions. It is, after all, my first time putting something out in bookstores all over the world. But another part of me insisted that I stand my ground. I must be myself without fear or hesitations, honest to the way I share my work with thousands of people who love it and all the people who discover it on social media or via this newsletter. At the same time, I must also keep faith with the person I was nearly 10 years ago, so uncertain, so insecure, holding onto this phrase like a flotsam on tumultuous seas.

Preorder it now!

I have explained sneaky art to strangers when I first set up a table at the Phoenix Park Farmer’s Market in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I have spoken about it onstage in front of hundreds of people. I have talked about it on television and on the radio. I have pitched it to countless clients and brands. I know how it intrigues people, I have seen their eyes light up, I have seen them lean forward with more questions. So I replied to my publishers that I must insist, for so and so reasons, that this be the title of the book, of the ship upon which I sail or sink or lose my way, because half-measures are not okay, and agreeing to this would be a decision made out of fear, and fear must have no part in this, and, and, and … they agreed!

It is a little victory in this big world. But I stood up for myself, past and present, and that felt wonderful.

The American and Bridal Veil Falls, two of the three falls that together comprise the Niagara Falls.

Whose Memories are These?

Last week, Rohan picking up words very quickly.

Last week, I realized that, when he grows up, Rohan will not remember any of the memories we have shared together so far. Will these sketchbooks help spark a memory? Will he recognize himself in the pages? Or will the confabulations from pictures and videos overwhelm all else?

It made me a little sad.

✍🏼 As part of this I-Made-A-Book! series, read my announcement post, how the book almost did not happen, and the first sneak peek of the book.

🤳🏼 Speaking with Jason Chatfield about how Chicago changed the trajectory of my life from neuroscience to sneaky art.

💻 Answering five big questions with Caroline Cala Donofrio, especially #4, the most beautiful thing I have ever read.

🎤 Onstage at Pecha Kucha Nights Vancouver, adlibbing a six-and-a-half minute talk about creativity and sneaky art.