029: We're in this TOGETHER

Wherein we discuss week 1 of Promptober, AND overcoming discouragement

Welcome to week 29 of the Draw or Die Newsletter. It’s also day 9 of our Promptober.

WOW!

I’m completely blown away by all of the fantastic art coming in from the Promptober drawing challenge. I encourage you to search #drawordieclub on Instagram and look through the amazing art coming in every day. In just week 1 it’s produced a few thousand drawings across social channels. That’s incredible!!!

Feeling Discouraged?

Looking through all the amazing art might make you feel discouraged or like your art sucks. This happens to me too, even in the first few days. I’m incredibly busy at the old day job and only had time to do pencil roughs for the month… but then I saw all these epic masterpieces flowing in and I felt like my art completely sucked… BUT…

That’s just that OTHER voice inside, the one you shouldn’t listen to. I tackled that in DorD week 14 about “imposter syndrome.”

So if you’re feeling any way about this, you have to instead FLIP IT and LEVEL UP!

If you see a piece of art out there that makes you stop dead, study it. What about this art is making you admire it? Study the composition. Try to think through their process and how they came to the end piece that’s blowing you away.

AND THEN GIVE PROPS! Comment or send that artist a direct message. While they may be on some other level of their art journey, they are JUST LIKE YOU. On the days where nobody comments, or cares, they feel the same struggles too. You may be able to learn from them directly or indirectly to take your own art to the next level. So…

Don’t Quit. Keep Going!

This wasn’t the perfect time for me to launch a challenge. I’m super busy at the day job through Oct 14th, and I have my Childrens Book Project due on Oct 23rd. I’m lucky to have my wife (Hi Aleasha!) helping me manage this project and all the comments and DMs coming in.

I spoke with a few artists who want to do it but say they lack the time / energy. And here’s the thing I’ll repeat often… you MUST make time for yourself and your art. Even if only 15-20 minutes of sketching. DO IT BECAUSE YOU MUST.

If you don’t? It’s road to ruin, regret and broken dreams. That usually ends in creative depression or feeling forever stuck. (defeat that funk!)

It’s not too late to join the party…

It’s only day 9. There’s still time to catch up. Remember, there is no limit on the medium. It can be pencil sketch, ink, digital, whatever!

My Day 8 Prompt… just a concept sketch but it counts!

Yesterday I didn’t have much time to work on mine, I was out doing day job things, but I usually always have my Field Notes and Blackwing Pencil handy. I originally wanted to do this one on the ipad and add some color. I suggest drawing out the first thing you think about. If you think about some elaborate digital painting you don’t have time to do, maybe just sketch out the composition. It still counts!

Then you can go back and flesh out the bigger idea later in the future. Don’t overthink the daily prompts! :)

And a reminder.. check out the cool prizes at promptober.com

THANK YOU!

Like I’ve said three times or so in this newsletter, I’ve been so busy at my day job, and it’s been semi-stressful. Managing teams of people can be fun, but also super challenging. I have to have really frank discussions with employees who are underperforming or that it feels like they are “quiet quitting”. I dislike that part of my job the most. It can really drain my creative spirits.

But every day I see the messages and drawings from club members and it really lifts my spirits and puts creative fuel back into my tank. It makes me feel like we’re building something special here TOGETHER.

I get asked sometimes… “How do I get into this Draw or Die Club???” - The answer is if you’re reading this, you’re already in it.

We’re all in this together.

The Weekly Drawing Prompt

This week’s prompt is DAY 9 promptober which is…

“It’s BIG and NOT HAPPY.”

The plot twist for daily drawing prompt members is… “must involve crying”

Don’t forget we have Daily Drawing Prompts to keep your pencil and mind moving. Try it for free.

Keep your pencils moving! Can’t wait

👁 Connect with me elsewhere? I’m @djcoffman on Instagram / TikTok / Twitter

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