This newsletter is a long one that might get cut off in your inbox, if that is the case, it’s best to read on the substack app or website!
I am part of a small group of illustrators that formed over our love of Lynda Barry and wanting to make more comics. We meet twice a month to do drawing prompts from ‘Making Comics’ and it’s been a delight! If you don’t have one of these meet-ups, I recommend forming one now.
Here are some of the index card drawings we start each session with:
This weeks experiment was two-handed drawing, and I felt inspired to share the results.
My sketches often resemble more refined drawings rather than rough, free flowing ideas. I really would love to embrace the fluidity and freedom in sketches, but my mind seems to resist!
Enter two-handed drawing - a drawing exercise that will really help you to loosen up a bit.
Simultaneously moving both hands while drawing feels incredibly awkward. I found myself needing to mirror the movements with each hand, or my brain would go haywire.
Our first prompt was to draw two-handed self-portraits, one from the top-down and the other from the bottom-up. Drawing characters from the bottom-up is tough enough, let alone using both hands at once!
Then we each drew a few little spot illustrations:
My bunny ended up resembling a French bulldog with bunny ears, and my first attempt at a two-handed cupcake was quite challenging.
Our last prompt was to sketch an SUV, with each of us adding extra elements - a horse, a piano — I ended up adding flowers, sheet music and a piano chair.
If you are ever feeling stuck with your sketches, two-handed drawing is a fun way to loosen up.
The benefits of drawing with both hands:
Using both hands can lead to unexpected and delightful results
The unpredictability adds excitement to the process
Focusing on the movement between both hands creates a little bit of mindfulness; you have to slow down and concentrate on coordinating
Quiets your inner critic and allows you to fully embrace the creative process
Feeling inspired to give it a go? If so, I’d love to see your results!
I’m excited to share with you my newest project: The Illustration Practice Notion Template. I collaborated with my good friend and associate Sabina Radeva of dgresources.io, we’ve created this All-In-One Illustration Coach, Planner and Scheduler just for you!
I can’t even begin to express my love for Notion, as it has proven to be an invaluable tool in organizing and planning my freelance business. This app keeps my daily, weekly and monthly schedules in order, while also storing personal projects, book ideas, and essentially any project I’m working on. What’s even better is the apps ability to be customizable in a way that suits you best.
Our template’s primary objective is to help you expand your illustration portfolio through guided projects and drawing prompts. The template has 31 projects and over 400 drawing prompts and covers a wide variety of themes and styles that publishers, art directors and agents are looking for in an illustration portfolio. This ensures that your work will stand out in this highly competitive market.
When you purchase the template, you receive detailed video instructions on how to as well as a free invitation to the dgresources online community!
Reasons to love this template + Notion:
Notion is a user-friendly app that is easy to use, and you can create a free account to get started
This template is compatible with the free Notion plan
It includes a section on creating a sketchbook habit and prompts to get you started
Has a calendar built in to help keep you motivated
And information about finding your ‘niche’ because discovering what you love to draw makes the creative process more enjoyable and fulfilling
Once you purchase, you’ll instantly receive a link to access the template and duplicate it into your Notion workspace
You’ll be invited to join the private dgresources community, were you can find additional support and inspiration
If you are not feeling sure about Notion, Sabina created this free course ‘Notion for Creatives’.
I am really proud and excited about this template. If you have questions about it or purchased and already started working on the prompts, I’d love to hear from you!
Until next month,
-Denise
I feel like I need to try notion, everyone seems to love it.
I love notion!!