how I made art fun again + reconnecting with my sketchbook(s) <3

hi patrons! here is my sketchbook response page from last month for the Monsters and Mythology prompt!

Something really clicked with this drawing process, and I starting to feel a rekindling for using my sketchbook more like how I used to a couple years ago. Here were my intentions for this spread:

With drawing a lot of apple related things lately, it inspired me to doodle a little spread and reinterpret the Apple of Discord/Golden Apple Greek Myth. Based off of this myth with it's goddess, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera, fighting over each other over who's the "fairest" to claim the apple, I decided to split the apple and share it amongst the characters. It often feels like society continually pits women and fem people against each other and compete for male/western validation and beauty standards. So, in my version, there is no need to fight, no need to push each other down. Unity and solidarity is their strength and they find no interest in measuring their worth based on how others perceive them.  I had a lot of fun with inking this,,, and ngl I kind of gave up on coloring, I think the lines are strong enough to get my idea across!

I have been finishing up the script on this week's video, where the topic of discussion being "Why art isn't fun for you and how to change that."

With going through probably the worst burnout I've ever experienced last year, it made me feel like art was never going to be fun anymore, or I would never experience the same joy of drawing my characters hundreds of times in my sketchbook. I loved drawing and painting my stories, and I wanted to badly to find that joy again! I had a lot of fear and pressure surrounding art, and that was the biggest part of the problem.

I found that my burnout and subsequent art block was caused mainly out of drawing from a place of fear, rather than curiosity and enjoyment.

I was encountering perfectionism, overwhelm with learning, social media distraction, comparison, and overly attaching the "success" of my art career with the value of my work and of myself.

All of this can be helped by taking a step back, learning to accept failure as a natural and healthy part of the learning and development process, enjoying hobbies and finding meaningful rest again, remembering why you make art in the first place, and just giving yourself the time to heal and unlearn these harmful mentalities surrounding yourself and your art.

I talk about this more in my upcoming video (which will be posted here early and ad-free for paid members!) and will be sharing some actionable steps I've been taking to work through this myself, so make sure to keep an eye out if you're need some comfort and gentle guidance this week with keeping your art practice fun and sustainable. <3

that's it from me! happy monday and happy drawing!

love, shay <33