CREATIVE SPARK NEWSLETTER |
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2024 Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump |
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WEEK 0 BEFORE WE BEGIN… Welcome to the Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump! I'm very excited you're here and hope that the upcoming weeks will help you feel inspired to create! Week 1 begins July 19th but before we officially start, I wanted to go over a few things and give you some time to get ready. This will be the longest email I'll send but I wanted to include these details to make this experience easier, get us set up, and ultimately help us have more fun! Please also take a moment to answer this short survey! It helps give me a better idea on what type of inspiration and support to provide. Below you'll find: what to expect, a note about the prompts, 3 things to prepare, the schedule, and 3 warm-up exercises. If this isn't your first rodeo, you can skip to the warm-up exercises and refer to the other points as needed :) |
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WHAT TO EXPECT - Each week's prompt email will be sent out on Friday.
- There is NO pressure to post on social media but if you share on Instagram, please be sure to tag me @atiliay so I can see it! I always try my best to re-post. Please use the hashtag #ssunslump so we can find everything in one place.
- If you ever want to share your work with me but not publicly, feel free to send me an email with photos and/or a description--I really enjoy seeing what you create!
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A NOTE ABOUT THE PROMPTS My intention with these prompts and the ideas/inspiration shared with each one is to give you a starting point, to spark an idea, and to help you brainstorm. I want all of us to try thinking outside the boxes we sometimes put ourselves in and to look at things from new and different perspectives. There is no right answer! You can interpret things however you'd like. Go in the direction you feel pulled towards. Be open to what you feel inspired by. Let go of perfection, of putting pressure on yourself, of that harsh inner critic! Be present, have fun, and enjoy your process! |
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3 THINGS TO PREPARE - GET YOUR SUPPLIES READY
You don't need anything fancy, whatever paper and pens you have lying around works! I highly recommending utilizing what you have already in different ways. If you want to get some supplies, feel free to do so but don't feel like you have to!
- Sketchbook/Paper: Sketchbooks, loose papers, scratch paper, etc. all work! You can even upcycle grocery bags and make a mini sketchbook with that! Just make sure the paper will support the mediums you want to use (dry, wet, both). I like multi-media paper since that usually covers a wide range of mediums.
- Tools: Use whatever you'd like! This can include paints and brushes, colored pencils, crayons, markers, pencils and pens, palette knives, watercolors, gouache, scrapbook paper, pages from old books, and whatever else you find interesting! The prompts allow for a lot of experimentation so don't feel like you have to limit yourself to just one medium.
- My Favorites: You can find all of my favorite tools on my Amazon page (tape for clean edges, palette knives, paints, etc.) I find this the easiest way to share because you can click on the exact product link and read the descriptions / see if it's for you. If you order through my links I may earn a small commission but that doesn't affect what I share--these items are all things I use, love, and recommend!
- CREATE A DEDICATED WORKSPACE
It's so much easier to get started when you don't need to clear off a table or find space to work on!
- It doesn't have to be big or fancy: the kitchen table, a corner of a desk, etc. Just make sure it's clean and uncluttered.
- If you're able to, leave your sketchbook out so you can jump right in. If you can't, keep everything you'll be using/need in a box/basket so it's easy to grab and begin. (I recommend doing this either way, esp. if you get messy like me :))
- CARVE OUT TIME
This might be the hardest to do but it's the most important! Commit to making time for your creative practice.- Consider what days/time frames work for you. It can be flexible but if you're able to block time out for it, that can really help!
- It doesn't have to be a lot of time, 15 min is a great place to start.
- Test out different schedules until you find what flows best with your life.
- Get honest and do something you'll be able to stick to! It's OK to start off small, you can always increase the time/# of sessions as you go!
- Set alarms and reminders--this helps me a lot!
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SCHEDULE Prompt 1 | Jul 19th Prompt 2 | Jul 26th Prompt 3 | Aug 2nd Prompt 4 | Aug 9th Prompt 5 | Aug 16th I'd love for you to work through these prompts live with me, but if you ever need to take a break or you're starting at a different time, you can definitely go through the prompts on your own schedule! |
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3 WARM-UP EXERCISES TO TRY Here are 3 different ways to warm up and get started! Feel free to do just one or try all 3! I purposefully am not including any images/examples so that they don't sway / influence you. If you'd like more direction, want to see examples, or have any questions, reply to this email and I'll be happy to help! Our goal with these warm-ups is to simply take action! Getting started can sometimes be the hardest part--especially with a blank page staring back at you. I hope this helps you get over that hump and ease into things! SEE WHAT YOU HEAR - Have your paper / sketchbook ready and opened to a blank page. Place your supplies near you so you can easily grab what you want.
- Listen to this piece of music. I recommend closing your eyes for the first listen.
- Draw / paint / sketch / collage what you hear. It can be shapes, patterns, colors, an image that comes to mind, abstract or realistic, what does this music make you see?
Tip: Play the music in the background while you work or listen to your favorite part(s) a few more times. Feel free to focus on only the music only or take inspiration from the lyrics as well. I would really love for you to try this one! I think it will be so cool to see what we end up making after listening to the same thing! 1 MARK A DAY - Every day make 1 mark on the same piece of paper.
- Interpret this however you'd like!
- Try this for 5 to 7 days.
- If you want to make more than 1 mark a day, feel free but 1 a day is a good and easy place to start!
Tip: Find inspiration in your day--what you did, how you feel, what you want to document, Consider the colors you use, the length of the mark, the pressure you use, curvy vs. angular lines, etc. Don't be afraid to make big marks, get messy, or use bright and bold colors! Try overlapping marks and building off of them or you can keep them all separate. MAKE A SINGLE MARK Last but not least, this is how we've warmed up in all the past un-slumps so it's an annual tradition to share this exercise :) - Open your sketchbook to a blank page.
- Pick a random tool/medium. Choose a color that's jumping out at you.
- MAKE A MARK! That's it!
Tip: Don't overthink, just do it! Close your eyes if that helps. It's OK if it's not in the “right” spot or doesn't look exactly how you want it to. Let all of that go. |
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I hope you found this email helpful and I'm really looking forward to getting started! If you haven't yet, please take this 6 question welcome survey to help me get to know you a little better! Have a great weekend and I can't wait to share the first prompt with you! |
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PS: In case this is our first time “meeting”, I'm Olivia and Atiliay is the name of my creative corner online as well as my biz/shop. I'm an artist and I love encouraging others to create as well! I run a newsletter subscription called The Creative Spark Newsletter. The Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump is a free version of what we do in CSN. If at the end of the un-slump you'd like to learn more about CSN or join in, you'll have a chance to do that!
PPS: Do you know someone who might want to do this challenge with us? Forward this email to them, the sign up link is below!
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You've received this email because you signed up for The Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump or The Creative Spark Newsletter Waitlist. |
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If you're using Gmail and this email ended up under the “Promotions” tab/folder, drag it to your “Primary” inbox then click “Yes" when asked “Do this for future messages?" If this email was sent to your spam folder, please mark this email address, hello@atiliay.com, as “not spam” and add to your contacts. |
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Brought to you from the road! Currently in
Madison Heights, MI 48071, United States |
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