12 Comments

Ah, thank you for this!! I do okay with purposeful practice, with one big exception: I always try to do something too complicated! Then I feel deflated because it doesn't look like I want! I just realized that kudos to this post. I'm gonna redirect with some spot illustrations. You get 20 genius points, my friend!

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Ah yes!! This is exactly what I hoped for—to make a challenge that helped me and helped others! I want to see what you make!

Where can I spend my genius points? :)

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This is soo good!! I especially like the idea of writing about it. It would be so helpful to be able to remember the journey your art has taken.

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Thank you! It's been SO HELPFUL! I think I need to do 1-2 of these challenges a year. Thinking of starting a group one here on Substack in the new year!

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Oh yes, please do that! I'd love to join

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May 19, 2023Liked by Kayla Stark

I need to loosen up too! Gonna try to fit some practice in this weekend 😬

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I hope it goes well! What are you going to work on?

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May 19, 2023Liked by Kayla Stark

I don’t know!! I have a character I’ve been working on & every time I draw it with full color I think it’s nice but looses the fun of the pencil sketches. Maybe I’ll take those forms and try them in different styles to loosen up & practice.

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Yes!! And setting a timer will help too 🙃

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May 19, 2023Liked by Kayla Stark

I ended up riffing on the practice & illustrated 4 characters from other picture books just to see how others shade & use color (w/ my typical brushes though, not trying to make them look exactly like theirs) & it was fun & confidence building. I did 15min each & it definitely helped me loosen up with strokes and color when I worked on my own character, when I tend to get too lost in detail. My goal when drawing is to be a “professional kid” & I think I achieved that today. yay!

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Lol I love the term “professional kid”!

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Brilliant post Kayla, I currently relate to this after also finishing a book project, and just want to feed that creative fire in my belly thats urging me to just play in my sketchbook and have fun again! So I will definitely be using your techniques to get started :)

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