Sign #581 that you’re an overwhelmed artist

A few mornings ago, I opened a cupboard to get out a glass to pour my morning orange juice. I was met by a sight I’ve never seen before.

The quart of OJ was….in the cupboard.

I’ve done a lot of crazy things when my brain’s on overload, but not this one. It’s not major, it’s not an unrecoverable error, nor a public one until I’ve told you about it here! But…..it’s a sign that I’m burning my candle at both its ends!

This morning, I bring you a double issue of the weekly digest, since apparently last weekend I entirely forgot to write up this newsletter for you. And in doing so - I also discovered in one of the posts this week, I had, well, accidentally posted an old video in one of them. Yes, more signs of overwhelm!

And yes, more signs - I was filming, and turned my ink bottle to show the camera the brand, and didn’t realize the lid wasn’t screwed on all the way. GAH!

So what’s been causing this? I had decided to launch two classes together, which I don’t do all that often. I wanted to create a new wash and ink course, and had a plan for that, but was watching my SandyDraws channel on YouTube - and my drawing instagram page - both start taking off. Mad numbers of subscribers to both.

That led me to creating a companion class to the first one, and on the same subject but in only ink. That way those who only were signing up because of pen and ink wouldn’t get overwhelmed with watercolor too.

Double the lessons, double the work - and double the brain fog, I guess! But as of today, I’m finishing up the final lesson in one of the courses, which means: the preregistration discount is about to end.

And yes I know this is the first time you’ve heard about it. And a few other places weren’t notified of it either, due to brain fog. So I’m brainfogging an extension of that discount until the 26th of August!

Both new classes are about seashells! I went on a day trip to the beach a few weeks ago to collect inspiration, and started sketching and working on what each class would teach.

The first of the two courses is a level 2 wash and ink class, Sparkling Seashells Class - and in it you’ll learn my method for dyeing watercolor paper so it looks vintage and it sparkles. Yes, it looks lightly beglittered! Then we’ll be drawing 5 seashells, two views of each, and on some we’ll watercolor a little first, others we’ll watercolor after the ink. Newbies to watercolor should be just fine, it’s just a little splish splash here and there! There are also lessons on framing - both on thrifting frames and taking elements apart, then putting them together in a tidy way at the end of class so they all look professional, not like a cheapo thrifty mess. Each lesson focuses on a vintage design inspired by botanical art from past centuries - and you can create cards OR frameable works for every lesson. It’s a choose your own adventure type of course! Pictured here are the cards:

The second new course is the level 3 Sparkling Seashells Class in which there’s no watercoloring…it’s just ink! You can make the little sketchbook I did with 10 pages for the 10 shells (different ones than in the class above), or just make your drawings on your favorite paper with your favorite pen and turn into cards or whatever other projects you desire. Then in a bonus lesson, I provide the resources to then redraw each of those shells on one big piece of art! I used all kinds of different inks in mine, but you can simplify that based on supplies you own.

If you take both classes (now or eventually), you can then combine them - use the 10 shells in Inked Seashells with techniques in Sparkling Seashells and have even MORE unique projects! All can be perfect for holiday gifts, or cardmaking - so you can get started on that now.

There’s a prerequisite recommended for these - Ink Drawing Jumpstart that came out last year. If you’re someone who’s done lots of ink work, you might do fine without that one, but might also like to start with that to get the basic techniques in a more fully explained way. With plants. :)

Links to the classes:

1. Ink Drawing Jumpstart (level 1)

2. Sparkling Seashells Class (level 2)

3. Inked Seashells Class (level 3)

Two Tuesdays worth…

Two Saturdays worth…

1. What do you call a seashell that works out?
   A muscle shell!

2. How do sea creatures talk to each other?
   On their shell phones.

3. What is a seashell’s favorite song instrument?
   The conch-erto.

4. Why are seashells so easy to trick?
   Because they are gull-ible.

5. What do you call a seashell that works out?
   A muscle shell. [1, 2]