Blurring the line between screen and sketchbook

My creative process is a dance between digital and physical where the line between screen and sketchbook is blurred.

The scraps from one process become the fertilizer for another. They feed each other.

Jumping back and forth creates unexpected connections and consequences. The process leaves residue. It’s hard to go back to make changes to an animation after you’ve already printed it out, scanned it back in, and reanimated it. So I mostly accept the result and move on.

You start with a plan, take what you get, and feel out the vibe.

This collage was made digitally (using an image from the Public Domain Image Archive), physically printed, physically scanned and converted to a digital image, then animated digitally. My fingers press physical keys to make digital letters appear on a screen and then this newsletter is sent digitally from my device to yours.

• The second edition of Parks looks gorgeous thanks to the wonderful work of Emrich Office.

• Patreon’s State of Create (brought to life by Porto Rocha) is a visually stunning and look at what’s here, what’s coming, and what’s possible for creators in 2025 and beyond.

• “On the bright side, the pain in my lower back is keeping me from dozing off. Meanwhile people are still trickling into the gallery. Who are these people?” Jason Persse spent 24 hours with Christian Marclay’s The Clock.

• Edith Zimmerman’s Princesses Over 40 Publishing House.

• I’m becoming increasingly charmed by physical media and people talking about how important it is (like The Case for Physical Media or “And let them win?”). However, we have basically nothing. Any recommendations for DVD/Blu-ray players? CD stereo systems? Portable cassette player? Anything else we should have?

• Also, any recommendations on RSS feed apps/software/websites?

• “AI is looking more and more like a tool for people with first world problems.” Bobby Aaron Solomon on AI with some beautiful things made by humans.

*stepping on and off the scale multiple times* “Ugh! Why do I keep getting the same score?!”

This newsletter comes out every Sunday morning, rain or shine. It’s lovingly made by Mitchell and patiently edited by Carly. Knox and Olive are around here somewhere. We do not use AI.

Thank for being here. If you want to support my work you can become a paid subscriber (I’ll occasionally send you stuff in the mail), buy a zine, share this post with a friend, or hire me to make stuff for you.