On a break
Keeping momentum during lazy days of summer
It’s July, the school is out and kids are back home full time, all done with classes and courses for the year. My art class at the local community centre has also closed its doors and online chat rooms have all slowed down as fellow illustrators plan their vacations and time with their families while we all wait for the publishing world to pick up pace again in September.
How do we stay motivated during this slow season, how do we keep our momentum without having fixed projects and deadlines that help us stay accountable?
I’ve come up with a list of things I could do to stay focused and productive over the summer months - see if any of these could help you as well:
Daily sketchbook practice in the open, urban sketching, travel sketchbook
During the colder, rainier months I often think “if only I could go outside and sketch, too bad that the weather doesn’t allow it…”
Well, sketching weather is here so I intend to take my sketching supplies with me on my outings, be it to a nearby town, a museum or a park. No more excuses! There are many artists who offer fun summer challenges to get you inspired, Three materials drawing challenge is one of my favourite and doesn’t require lots of art supplies. A pencil case of variety of pens and pencils plus a small sketchbook will do.
Speaking of fun summer challenges, there is still time to join Katie Stack’s Summer project club, where she helps you break down a project you’d like to tackle over the next three months and keeps you accountable through live Zoom sessions with other participants - the goal is to present a complete project by the end of September.
Finally getting back to those unfinished online courses
Have you ever purchased an online drawing course (several of them, more likely) that really grabbed your attention but then other projects got in the way and you never went past the introductory chapters?
I have several Domestika courses waiting for me and quite a few Make Art That Sells ones that I’ve done so long ago I could probably go over again with fresh eyes and a completely new set of skills. This summer I am using my notes from their Illustrating Children’s Books course to create new pieces for my portfolio, some character illustrations, some vignettes and larger scenes.
Staying connected
Summer isn’t all travel and careless vacation fun - once back at the office with many blank weeks still ahead, I will probably find it hard to get back into my work rhythm. That is when an online community comes in. I mentioned in my May newsletter that I wanted to set up a weekly online sketching session, especially tailored to European morning time zone. A few sessions I’ve held so far turned out to be a fun way to connect and commit to fellow sketchers, sit down at a certain time and share an hour of more or less uninterrupted drawing.
I’m calling these sessions Catch a Sketch and a new “season” of weekly meetings will start in August - I will announce the details and post a link to the meets shortly so stay tuned!
And remember the project from my art class I mentioned in an earlier post, The colour of our memories (La couleur de nos souvenirs)? At the exhibition, held in June, I presented my final result, an apron, printed with a floral design, inspired by the wallpaper from the kitchen of my childhood. I made two aprons and gave one to my mum and the other one I’m keeping for myself (for special, non messy cooking occasions 😊).
This post is a part of
monthly topics - this month we are sharing recommendations and tips for a creative summer and you are welcome to join us on July 21st for our free live Zoom chat - register below:See you soon!
Damjana
Great newsletter and loved seeing your outdoor sketches.