041: New Challenges Ahead, Let's Meet Them Together!
Wherein we talk about goals AND our next big drawing challenge!
Happy New Year everyone! It’s that time of year where everyone is excited to stick to some new goals, to turn the page and start new chapters!
I always like to remind my friends that EVERY DAY that you wake up is a chance to start anew. So don’t sweat it if you don’t have these big goals or you’re just feeling a little stuck. Even the best laid plans can go awry.
The “new year” is just a great excuse to get cracking and moving.
I did put together 6 quick suggestions for Art Goals you might try in 2023.
Draw More in 2023. Basically, DON’T QUIT!
Draw Every Day in 2023. And remember YOU CAN DRAW SMALL and just for minutes every day. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece.
Try Something New! Maybe it’s a new tool, or creating in a new medium all together.
Post Your Art More! It’s a great time to build your own audience around your work, and overcome fears of judgement. Post and grow on whatever channels are easiest for you. Remember you can just document your process, you don’t need to be a fancy video influencer. Start small and post often!
Sell Something! If you’ve never sold your art before, maybe this year you assign value to your work. And if you’re struggling to sell, it’s time to make a plan to sell more.
Make Art Friends! Art can be a solitary experience. You can start simply online right here with the Draw or Die Club. Hashtag art you post with #drawordieclub so we can all find each other and support one another. It’s like flying our own battle flag. You COULD go to the next level and try to join a local art group, and if you have none in your area… maybe YOU are the one who was meant to create it. Other artists might be waiting for someone else… it might be you.
Whatever goals you might set, also remember this:
Only 9% Successfully Keep their New Year’s Resolutions
I read that this week while researching the topic. It’s surprising but also not surprising. It got me thinking… as far as us artists go, how can we encourage each other to draw more and stay encouraged in 2023?
I have two ideas to kick off the year. The first one is…
Our Next Big Drawing Challenge This February!
I’m calling it “28!” AND I want you to help take part in coming up with the prompts this time.
The prompts will be “narrative” style prompts like the Promptober Challenge. Keep them short and sweet, something that sparks imagination. Here are some quick examples:
“And when he reached the peak, he saw…” (Tom Romano)
“They are a survivor” - (Sascha Stiven “highly_caffeinated”)
“What could possibly go wrong?” - (J-Sun “majicalcre
“Hot to the touch”
“Challenge Accepted!”
Submit your prompt ideas by Friday January 6th. We can’t use them all, but we’ll pick out the best mix! And you will be credited with your name and social profile link of your choice if you wish.
How to send them to us:
Email your prompt ideas to: ally@drawordieclub.com
DM us on instagram AT drawordie.co
Comment on this newsletter web version (hit the comment button)
Prizes???
We won’t have TONS of prizes like last October. Mainly because in the survey of Promptober many said it wasn’t about the prizes to them. Plus, I didn’t want to wear out our welcome with the BIG name sponsors, I’ll reserve that for October. However, Aleasha will be reaching out to some new potential sponsors and this will develop in the next couple weeks of January. Stay tuned!
Ultimately I just want to challenge ourselves to draw along together for 28 days of motivation and camaraderie.
Are you with me?
Weekly Video Recap!
On Wednesday the Weekly Warm-up video covered Gesture Drawing, Drawing Small AND I did a fun Pareidolia exercise with a photo I took on my trip to Joshua Tree.
Thursday night’s Video Podcast we talked about suggested art resolutions, a tribute to a fallen artists and we talked about upcoming plans for the Draw or Die Club
And Friday’s video featured the topic of ART GOALS 2023, and how to draw every day without burning out or having art block.
AND you can watch me draw this week’s newsletter thumbnail in a surprise stream here:
Thanks for supporting the channel!
The Weekly Drawing CHALLENGE!
“BABY NEW YEAR”
Don’t forget we have Daily Drawing Prompts & Motivationals to keep your pencil and mind moving for $5 a month.
I can’t wait to read all of your prompts! Let’s do this together!!!
☠️ Draw or Die MERCH!
✏️ DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ARTISTS: Custom Brushes, Templates & Prompts
▶️ DRAW or DIE on YOUTUBE (Tutorials & more)
First things first, happy new year to everyone on here, and to you and Ally! Some good stuff you’ve brought up in this newsletter and podcast. Seems like a lot with the resolutions where you set a long list of things to do and it’s just too much. Maybe working on smaller goals to achieve that are doable, then tackle something a little harder, and so on.
As for me, my goals are twofold, long term. One is to finally finish this story I’ve been working on for a while now. Doing it all is a monumental task lol, Make more sales from my drawings. Two years ago I made two sales, and last year (2022) I made one sale. More sales on a regular basis is what I’d like, figuring out how is the hard part. Plenty of likes, and all but making the sale is where it just goes. Goes back to that thought of is my stuff good enough, or even would you buy this, and if so how much? Anyone on here have tips, ideas or what works for them. I’m using Ko-fi, and it’s free to use, I control what I sell and post, and mention it on my finished pieces most times on Instagram.
28! Sounds like a lot of fun, digging the concept. Here’s a few for you that I thought of while watching Thursday’s pod this morning: 1: he was suddenly surrounded by angry dwarves. 2: he/she peered down the well, and saw to his/her surprise…the surprise is up to the artist. 🤷🏻♂️ Anyway, that’s it for me for now. Back to work!