Making art doesn't have to be hard, Reader. You don't always need to plan an elaborate piece, or have a theme -- or even what materials to use. Sometimes it's as easy as sitting down, picking up whatever pen you have lying around, and making a few messy marks. Just the other day, I was feeling overwhelmed and sat down in a huff at my desk in front of an open sketchbook. I grabbed the sharpie pen that was within reach and started squiggling all over the page without any thought or plan. I wasn't even looking at the page -- I was staring into the middle distance, lost in my own overwhelm. I just sat in my frustration for a few minutes, letting my hand make angry lines and scratchy clusters. It started out in irritation, but with every mark I made, I felt myself letting out a deep breath and relaxing a bit. Eventually, the marks started turning into something. A face formed from the chaos. Was the art amazing? No. But it didn't have to be. The end result wasn't the important thing here -- it was the process. Making art can be a form of self-care, a way to release stress and tension. It can be a way to connect with your own emotions, or to work through something that's bothering you. And it doesn't have to be perfect, or even pretty. It just has to be honest. In just a few days, I'm hosting a free live class all about making this free-spirited, no-plan artwork. I'll show you how to begin making intuitive art and share a few tips and tricks I've learned that make it even easier to jump right into the process. What: Creating Without Fear: Intuitive Art for Beginners (Free Live Class) When: Wednesday, July 17th at 2pm CDT Where: You can register for free right here! This is such a simple, amazing practice that every artist should have in their back pocket for those days where you need the catharsis of creation without the stress of a plan. I hope to see you there, Reader! Cheers, Shelby |
I'm here to teach you how to unleash your creative side. Not only will you learn the essential techniques you need, but you'll also get the tools to start making creativity a priority in your life. With my help, you can build the life and career you want on your own terms. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started!
Hello Reader! I'm coming at you with something new -- a newsletter, to be exact! I've wanted to do a monthly newsletter for years, but I didn't really know where to begin. It wasn't until recently that I saw Peggy's newsletter (of The Pigeon Letters fame) that I was inspired to give it a try. So here we are! I want to use this monthly newsletter to connect with you on a more human-to-human level. You can expect this to be a place where I share all the nonsense that tickles my fancy as well as...
Reader, do you ever have it where you draw one beautiful, perfect eye, but the second one always ends up weird? Or do your characters always end up looking stiff and unnatural? I used to struggle with this all. the. time. My go-to drawing workflow always started with the eyes, then the rest of the face, then the body, one limb at a time. I thought this was THE way to draw people and faces, so I clung to it for years. Flipping through my old sketchbooks, I see it everywhere -- half-done faces...
Hey there, Reader 🙋♀️ As the clock ticks towards midnight, the final hours of the Early Bird sale are upon us. I have loved seeing so many of you jumping on this rare opportunity to propel your creativity to new heights. But if you've been on the fence waiting for the perfect moment to make your move, this is it. Before the moment passes, I want to share a comment from one of our many happy students. I really enjoyed this... Instructions and examples were clear and practical and the feedback...