Hosted by Olivia Lin of Atiliay |
|
Welcome to the Sketchbook Un-Slump! I'm very excited you're here and hope that the upcoming weeks will help inspire you to create! Week 1 starts Sunday, August 16th but before we officially begin, I wanted to go over a few things and help you get ready. This will be the longest email I'll send-- I wanted to include these details to make this experience easier, get us set up, and help us have more fun! Below you'll find: what to expect, a note about the prompts, 3 things to prepare, the schedule, and 3 warm-up exercises to try. |
|
WHAT TO EXPECT - Each week's prompt email will be sent out Sunday mornings.
- Each week's very short check-in email will be sent out Thursday evenings.
- You'll receive 2 emails per week.
- There is NO pressure to post on social media but if you share on Instagram, please tag me @atiliay so I can see it! I always try my best to re-post.
- 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!
|
|
A NOTE ABOUT THE PROMPTS My intention with these prompts and the inspiration shared is to help spark ideas, give you something to try, and help you brainstorm. You don't have to follow them exactly or at all--they are suggestions and there's no right or wrong 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! |
|
3 THINGS TO PREPARE - GET YOUR SUPPLIES READY
You don't need anything fancy, feel free to use what you already have (we can come up with new ways to use them!) If you'd like to / need to get some supplies, here are my recommendations. Product recommendations are always items I use, love, and recommend! When you buy through the link, I may earn a commission.
- 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 medium(s) you want to use (dry, wet, both). I like mixed media paper since it usually covers a wide range of mediums, both dry and wet.
- 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 and be open to trying new things. Anything could be a tool!
- My Favorites: You can find all of my favorite supplies on my Amazon page (tape for clean edges, palette knives, paints, etc.)
- Please note that I have tried the JMI Washi Tape I recommend on both sketchbooks listed above and the tape is compatible and peels off cleanly. Keep in mind some papers and tapes can be incompatible--test it out first on a small corner of the paper if possible. Always go slowly and carefully when peeling the tape off.
- Although the JMI Washi Tape works with the Arteza Mixed Media Sketchbook, the paper fibers can stick so I am extra careful when peeling the tape off.
- 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 times 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 / whenever you can, you can always increase the time/# of sessions as you go!
- Set alarms and reminders--this helps me a lot!
|
|
SCHEDULE Prompt 1 | Aug 16th Prompt 2 | Aug 23rd Prompt 3 | Aug 30th Prompt 4 | Sept 6th Wrap Up Email | Sept 13th Gallery Email Featuring Your Work | Sept 20th Brief check-in emails will be sent out every Thursday after each prompt email. 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 go through the prompts at your own pace on your own time. All prompts will be saved to this PROMPT LIBRARY PAGE so you can access what's available / revisit / find emails in one place. This link will be included at the bottom of all emails. |
|
3 WARM-UP EXERCISES TO TRY Here are 3 different ways to get warmed up! 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! MAKE A SINGLE MARK This is how we've warmed up in past un-slumps- this exercise is an annual tradition! :) - 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. |
|
SUPPLY INVENTORY Take some time to look through your supplies and see what you have to work with. Test them out to make sure they work, throw away anything that doesn't, donate or give away items you won't use. Get a feel for the items you'll be using what colors and textures they make. Here are a few ideas to try in your sketchbook: - Create a reference page
- I like doing this on the last page of a sketchbook. Draw boxes and fill them in with your supplies. Notate the medium and color to stay organized. Here is an example.
- Split your page into smaller sections and fill each one in with a tool / tools of your choice. I did this a few years ago and tried to use all the colors from each tool in each section--it was a lot of fun! (Bottom left image.)
|
|
CLOSE YOUR EYES - Have your paper / sketchbook ready and opened to a blank page. Place your supplies near you so you can easily grab what you want.
- Close your eyes. Grab a tool and start making marks, scribbling, coloring on your page.
- Do this for several minutes or until you think your page is filled up.
- Open your eyes and see what you made!
- Bonus: once your eyes are open, add more to your piece if you'd like. Find inspiration within the markings you've already made.
Sometimes it helps to let our minds rest and allow our hands do the work. This is also a good exercise for letting go of perfectionism and control. |
|
I hope you find this email helpful and are beginning to get excited for the upcoming weeks! If you ever have any questions, feel free to reply to any of these emails and I'll be happy to help. I can't wait to dive into our first prompt and see where that takes us! Talk to you soon, |
|
PS: My apologies for getting this email out a little later than I had planned! There were some technical and non-technical difficulties. Thank you for your understanding and patience! |
|
You've received this email because you signed up for the 2026 Sketchbook Un-Slump |
|
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. |
|
The beautiful PNW
Renton, WA 98058, United States |
|
|
|
