Tag: draw

A Drawing Process For Self Care

To stay sane I began artist Ohn Mar Win’s 14 Day Drawing Challenge on Skillshare on April 1st. I came across Ohn Mar’s work in 2018 where I took one of her classes and found her so lovely: gentle, kind and a generous artist who shares all of her best secrets.

We’re taking everyday household items and drawing them, creating a plan and committing to drawing every day for 14 days.

Sometimes it takes all of my effort to sit down at the table and draw but I find when I do it, there is a joyful release, no matter what the outcome. I have the satisfaction of having created something and that somehow carries me through the day.

For a brief moment I can sit and focus on something that I love to do and those moments bring me a lot of joy.

I finally get what it means to enjoy the process and not worry about the outcome.

Drawing of a spray bottle.
Drawing of a brown and orange dinosaur toy.
Drawing of our tomato plant.
Drawing of a Matchbox car.
Various drawings of a teacup.
Drawing of of some cosmetics.
A drawing of a controller for a video game system.
A drawing of a huge earring from Patricia Fields.
A drawing of my daughter’s seal doll.

The class is actually a lot more in depth than I expected and it focuses not just on the drawing but the mindset. I highly recommend Ohn Mar’s classes. She is the perfect tone for these interesting times.

❤ Natalie

Making Room In Your Day for Drawing

As I’m leaving my apartment to take my daughter to school and I pick up my book bag packed with my work materials (laptop, notebooks, pens, etc.), I see my black 8.5″ x 11″ sketchpad and wince knowing that the extra weight will hurt my back.

I am not a lower back pain person but because I carry too much, I’ve caused my back to smart a little bit.

I know my notebook is the match that will break this camel’s back. And yet, and yet…it’s got to come along.

My days are filled with obligations, rushing around and a lot of long stints of staring at a computer screen. If I want to keep up the drawing habit and drawing my cartoons, then the sketchbook must come. Yes, I could get a smaller size but honestly I don’t enjoy drawing in a smaller sketch pad. I’m used to the 8.5″x 11″ size.

I will make the time to draw and make sure to inconvenience myself a bit to make drawing more convenient.

xo,
Natalie