087: GIVE to RECEIVE
Wherein we talk about the Law of Reciprocity and our Holiday Art Exchange
It’s my favorite time of the year. (NOT because of the holidays). The leaves turn, the air grows crisper, and nature reminds me of the cycle of giving and receiving that keeps the world in balance.
Welcome to week 87 of the Draw or Die letter for Visual Storytellers. Today I want to talk about the “Law of Reciprocity” and how it plays into our lives as artists and creators. Plus how to join our first HOLIDAY ART EXCHANGE….
But FIRST, just a little housekeeping!!!
We have some new “holiday” stickers!!! And they’re all KRAMPUS themed!
The 3 pack of “LIL’ KRAMPUS” is available to everyone now in the shop. A nice “cracked ice” effect on the face stickers! Get those here.
The Quarterly Members Only Sticker is the BIG DADDY KRAMPUS, featuring some metal effect on the hair/beard. To snag that you must join the daily drawing club anytime Oct 1 - Dec 31st. Join the daily club for more details!
AND we’re having a BIG BLACK FRIDAY SALE on Friday only:
50% OFF All notebooks!
1 FREE month of the daily drawing club with ANY purchase (new members only!)
Current daily drawing club members receive a free gift with any purchase.
Orders over $30 will receive a free patch!
AND I’ll do a special LIVE drawing stream at NOON EST - ??? on Black Friday. (Details to come in another e-mail)
Never been a better time to throw in and support the club!
The Law of Reciprocity: A Creative Exchange
The first time I heard about the Law of Reciprocity, it sounded very selfish. The idea was that if you give in order to receive something. You feel obligated to do something for that person, OR you expect them to do something for you in exchange.
When I was forced to go to Sunday School they’d tell me how Jesus said:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” - Jesus
Basically… give and you will get even MORE.
And so then the church folk would push this idea to garner more donations. “Tithing” they call it- Where the church expects you to give 10% of what you get. Some preachers will tell you that God will give it back to you 10x what you put in.
I used to hear old folks actually market it this way. It felt greedy and weird. That you MUST give the money to be “blessed” with more money.
The same crowds exchange these favors in the community. Some people even only attend church to do business. They become in debt to each other. That never felt right to me. Scummy even.
I don’t think that’s what Jesus meant, guys.
The weird thing?… it ACTUALLY WORKS.
In my own experience, the times when I was giving without an expectation to get anything in return, is when I actually gained more. It seems NUTS. But it was true.
Giving WITHOUT expectation…
Oddly enough, I didn’t realize this until one day I was feeding the birds outside. And it just made me feel good to do every day. One time I thought, holy hell, how much money did I just spend on all this seed & peanuts for these ungrateful little birds? 😂 They weren’t bringing me anything back!
But they were… maybe not directly, but just that feeling of feeling good about giving was the real reward. Worth every penny and peanut.
I was giving without expecting anything in return.
And when I would be in that feeling, and look around at my life, I felt like I was having more and more GOOD things happen to me in unison. Putting out that energy really did feel like it was coming back to me tenfold.
You don’t need money to GIVE
I’ve had art friends tell me they wish they could donate money, but they can’t afford it. 🔥 But it’s not always about MONEY.
🕐 Your TIME and attention is worth way more than money.
It’s why we say “How are you SPENDING time.” or “are you PAYING attention?”
You can GIVE a compliment to someone today.
You can GIVE someone a little time.
Lend them an ear.
You could DRAW them something…
In art, this law takes on a DEEPER meaning.
It's not just about exchanging favors; it's about the exchange of inspiration, ideas, and energy.
When we share our art, we're not just giving a piece of our work; we're sharing a piece of our soul, and our time and attention
And in return, even when you least expect it, you will receive appreciation, motivation, and sometimes, the spark of a new idea.
Giving it ALL away…
We’re only here for a little while… and we’ll never be able to take any of these things with us. As I get older, the more I give, the more I want to give.
I want less “things” and more experiences and feelings with those I care about. Especially my friends in art.
Let’s do something cool together!
🎁 SECRET KRAMPUS: Holiday ART EXCHANGE!
Our first holiday gift exchange! It works like this!
Sign Up: Join the exchange by signing up HERE before December 1st. You can give a little note about yourself or the kind of art you like or draw, and your mailing address so you can receive a piece of art in the mail
Create a “wishlist” and then select WRITE IN wish to put a note for art you may collect or something you might want drawn.
Create!: The Service (ELFSTER) will pair you up with another artist who’s signed up. You’ll get their shipping address and any details they gave. Create a unique piece of art for your exchange art friend. It could be your own style, or something the other artist requested.
Send!: You’ll commit to sending your art to your match by the week of Dec 20th so they get it before the end of the year. Be sure to let your new art friend know how to find you on social media, your website! And keep in mind the shipping costs are on you!
Receive!: In return, you'll receive a creation from another talented member of our community. Also a great time to show-off what you received and show that artist some love, or direct message them to say give a thanks.
Suggested art size is at least a trading card size, but it’s up to you. but keep in mind the shipping and handling fees before you make a giant piece of art for someone.
Sound fun? JOIN HERE!!!
🔥This Week’s Drawing CHALLENGE!
Let’s do a narrative prompt this week! What’s the first thing you visualize when you read…
GIVING IT ALL AWAY…
Draw it! Then post to our DISCORD or tag #drawordieclub on socials.
Hope to see many art friends joining the exchange!!!
☠️ Draw or Die MERCH!
✏️ DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ARTISTS: Custom Brushes, Templates & Prompts
▶️ DRAW or DIE on YOUTUBE (Tutorials & more)