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Sweet beings, we have a long weekend coming up—what do you think of making it a sketchy weekend? Not that kind of sketchy, ya sillies; I mean getting out our sketchbooks and drawing. Like, olde school analog style-y.
For the past few months/years, I’ve been working constantly on my comic, WRASSLIN’ CENTAURS. I think mythological creatures and comics all the time. It’s a dream come true, but honeys, it is WERK. All the planning, plotting, scheming, and plotzing you have to do to make a comic—it’s a lot! Also? It’s not easy drawing people or horses; try doing BOTH. Love ya, Jerry, Ari, and Frankie, but GeeZeus, you’re putting this gal through the drawing paces.
It’s enough to drive me to have a sketchy weekend. Or should I say, back to the sketchbook.
True confession: I used to be a very sketchy person—as in, someone who draws in a sketchbook. I drew my cats, my shoes, my husband, my bagel, my knee in an epic brace, various family members’ IV bags, etc. My life. Each page captured a moment I can relive better than with the sharpest photo.
I also drew myself. A lot. Drawing selfies solved the problem of not drawing because I didn’t know what to draw, and hey, I was always available! I also learned to stop scrutinizing changes in my face as I aged and started seeing myself as something interesting to draw. This process was so cool that, in 2022, I started a free monthlong drawing challenge—#Selfietember!
When I returned to my original passion for making comics, I was alllllll in, learning how to make sequential art and draw Centaurs. Who wrestle. And live in Centaur-sized apartments. Dear gods what was I thinking… ANYway! I went into full-time comics mode, and I began living a far less sketchy life. Not in the good, upstanding citizen sort of way.
Recently, I went away with my parents for a few days to work on That Old House. We got rid of stuff, moved other stuff around, and were generally very busy. I knew I wouldn’t get much work done on WRASSLIN’ CENTAURS, but I need to draw to chill. So, I packed a small sketch-to-go bag with a few tools, including a sketchbook, pen, and watercolor palette.
Ahhhh, sublime sketchbooking! That low-key, low-stakes, analog delight. Small paper = less of a challenge. Fewer tools meant less time wasted wondering what to use. I’d forgotten how completely relaxing it is to just sit with a sketchbook and just draw.
Doesn’t that sound gooooood?
“Okay!” you say, utterly convinced. “How do I do this sketchy weekend thing?” I went in depth on the concept in this post from a couple years back. This time, I’ll make it even simpler.
One sketchbook. We’re not doing the sketchbook version of supermarket syndrome where we’re so mesmerized by options that we don’t get any drawing done. If you have a lot of sketchbooks, keep it simple: finish one that’s already started, or pick one that handles ink and watercolor. That’s it!
One watercolor palette. If you’re like me and have a big watercolor set and a bunch of small travel palettes, pick ONE—a travel palette. Again, fewer options = more actual drawing time. If you can’t decide, close your eyes and grab one. Those are your watercolors for the weekend!
One and one means done. I know you have a ton of pens and pencils, markers, colored pencils and watercolor this and permanent that. Choose one lead pencil, like a mechanical pencil, and one pen. One each. I know, I’m a total tyrant.
That’s it! Put these things in a cute tote or pencil bag and ignore the rest of your art supplies for the weekend. You are ready to become a sketchy rock star!
You’re ready to draw, but you don’t know what to draw. I got a couple of suggestions…
My friend Koosje Koene, who has tons of Draw Tip Tuesday tutorials on YouTube and a classy book called Life Is Better When You Draw (It)1, has a simple answer to the eternal question, “What do I draw?”: whatever is right in front of you. Koosje has drawn many pictures of her living space, her keys, her husband, her feet, the view outside her window. Pick a spot in your home and draw it.
Draw yourself. Practice for #Selfietember by drawing a few self portraits!
Got a pet? Pet portraits! These fabulous models don’t charge much more than a few treats.
Sketchy diaries. Always fun, never too structured. Draw small images with some writing as your day goes on.
Want to spend your sketchy weekend with a book? Check out my post on the books that make me want to draw.
Now I’m going to share the big secret of being a sketchbook artist. If you really want to be sketchy, here’s a li’l wisdom I’ve learned from sketchbooking here, there, and anywhere I can:
The drawings you make don’t have to be good.
“What did she just say??” you cry. “My drawings don’t have to be good?? What, then, is the point of it all?” Simple: The point is the joy of making the sketch.
When I’m done drawing, I spend a few seconds thinking, “Great!” And then: “Um…now what?” Make another drawing, that’s what, so I can get the good meditative vibes from the drawing part. The finished thing is nice, but I want to draw. And in my sketchbook, I don’t have to be “good,” whatever that means. (I save that for the sexy Centaurs.) I just want those no-thinking, chilled-out drawing vibes.
Friends, whatever you’re doing this long weekend, I hope you’ll bring a sketchbook along. We need time away from screens and pressure and all the weirdness in the world, and more time chillaxing in one of the best meditative ways ever: drawing. Low- to no-stakes, analog sketchbook style.
Sounds pretty sketchy—in the best way possible.
So… Are you in for a sketchy weekend?
Share this post with a friend who needs to get a li’l sketchy!
If you liked this post, you can buy me a coffee!
Koosje’s book was edited by yours truly, but I take very little credit (and zero affiliate buck$) as Koosje is the drawing bomb. I merely helped her organize some thoughts about drawing. The book is filled with awesome drawing inspiration!
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