28: Drawing Connections

Reflecting on 2024, My Creative Theme for 2025, Sketching Tips

Hi friend,

I hope this message finds you well. The start of a new year is always a mix of reflection and anticipation. As we turn the page, it’s a chance to reset, refocus, and reconnect—not only with our creative goals but also with ourselves and the world around us. Take a moment to slow down, plan those quiet solo moments, and recharge.

Over the past few months, I’ve been revisiting my art practice, exploring new ideas, and thinking about better connecting with you. This year, I’m committed to sharing more insights, creative techniques, and inspiration to help you elevate your artistic journey. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth and connection together!

-Mike

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Reflecting on 2024

2024 was a year of exploration, growth, and creative milestones. The journey was inspiring and rewarding, from experimenting with new techniques and mediums to connecting with the art community through demos and collaborations. It set the foundation for the exciting plans and opportunities coming in 2025.

Early 2024

• Teaching Collaboration with Etchr: I began the year by releasing a comprehensive 5-part online course on drawing animals in graphite in collaboration with Etchr and their Studio platform. It represented my first big foray into teaching and was the culmination of months of work and loads of self-doubt :-) I am so grateful to Etchr for the opportunity and for all who attended the course live and those who have taken it since then. The course is available here.

  

  My 5-part course is available at the link above.

Spring

• Leuchtturm Brand Ambassador: In the summer, I partnered with Leuchtturm as a brand ambassador, representing and promoting their high-quality products, from sketchbooks to pens and pencils. If you are in Canada you can check them out at https://www.leuchtturm1917.ca and use the code MIKE20 at checkout for 20% off your order and it also helps me out a bit as well.

  

  Coloured pencil render of a cassowary in a Leuchtturm sketchbook using Polychromos coloured pencils

• Drawing Inspiration Podcast: I ended the podcast after 109 episodes in 2024. Each episode took 10-12 hours to produce which when coupled with my full-time job and all the other commitments, impacted my ability to make art. I miss the podcast and all the skilled and interesting people I had the good fortune of interviewing. I will keep the podcast online for now and you can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts. I get asked about what podcasts I listen to now so here’s a few of the art ones.

  • Art Juice: A lively podcast hosted by Louise Fletcher and Alice Sheridan, blending honest conversations about art and creativity with practical advice and inspiration for artists.

  • Learn to Paint Podcast: A focused series hosted by Kelly Anne Powers, offering insights into painting techniques and advice from various artists.

  • Three Point Perspective: An informative and entertaining podcast hosted by Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry, featuring discussions on the business, process, and challenges of making art. They are often joined by rotating guest hosts who provide diverse perspectives on the creative journey.

Summer

• Expanded Focus on Oils: I jumped into oils in the summer partially inspired by Remington Robinson and his book but also by the number of guests I have had on the podcast who have chosen oil as their medium. Or maybe it was the medium that chose them?

It started with small oils in Altoid containers and now has become so much

• Nature Hikes and Creative Balance: I embraced nature hikes, reading, and balancing my creativity with personal well-being. Of course I could have done much more but the time I spent visiting our daughter in Ithaca, NY allowed me to visit a number of new sites and state parks. I did struggle with a large kidney stone much of the year but I feel the visit to three state parks in three days contributed to getting it resolved ;-)

  

  Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY

• Visit to Golden Artist Colors: I visited Golden’s facilities, gaining deeper insights into their materials and techniques, enriching my approach to painting and connecting with the materials. Golden is a family run business that supports artists worldwide with a wide range of tools and mediums. I traveled back there just before the holidays to visit them again and left with more supplies and inspiration.

Fall

• Scriptus: I was invited to join Leuchtturm in Toronto at the Scriptus Pen and Ink show and spent the day sketching and chatting with a number of friends and followers. It was a great chance to connect around the supplies and materials we love. As an introvert, these kinds of events are draining but I am so glad I did it.

  

  Drawing live at Scriptus 2024 at the Leuchtturm table

• Etchr Demo at Gwartzman’s in Toronto: I hosted a live demo showcasing Etchr products in December, sharing my techniques with local artists and enthusiasts. Etchr materials have been core to my growth and I was honoured when asked to share my journey and more so how I use the Etchr line of products,

  

  Sharing my sketchbooks at a live demo at Gwartzman’s in Toronto sponsored by Etchr

• Shared Unfinished Works: Toward the end of the year, I shared more rough and unfinished pieces, offering a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process. I will strive to do more of this in 2025, allowing followers to see the full process.

  

  Sketching an osprey through a spotting scope at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Looking back on 2024, it was a year of meaningful growth and creative exploration. I embraced challenges, built connections, and found inspiration in my work and the world around me. These experiences have laid the groundwork for my plans for 2025. Here’s to embracing what’s next with curiosity and intention!

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2025: The Year of Connection

As we enter 2025, I’m embracing The Year of Connection as my theme. It’s about deepening relationships—not just with people but also with nature, my artistic practice, and the daily mediums I use.

Connection with People
Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. I want to build stronger connections with other artists, collectors, and the broader creative community this year. Whether collaborating, sharing tips, or having honest conversations about the highs and lows of creating, I’m excited to foster meaningful relationships.

Connection with Nature
Nature has always been a huge inspiration in my work, and I’m doubling down this year. I plan on spending more time outside, observing wildlife, sketching in the field, and capturing the textures and colours of the world around me—these moments are where the magic happens.

Connection with My Craft
This year is also about connecting with my tools and techniques. I want to explore new mediums even further, refine my skills, and better understand the materials I use. Whether it’s experimenting with silverpoint, diving deeper into oils, or mastering the nuances of watercolor, 2025 is the year to grow creatively.

Connection with Purpose
Lastly, I’m thinking about why I create. Every piece of art tells a story, and this year, I’m focused on ensuring those stories align with my goals and values. I want my work to reflect my love for nature and commitment to sharing that passion with others.

This could also be your Year of Connection if this resonates with you. Let’s spend 2025 connecting more deeply—with our work, the world, and the people who inspire and support us.

What’s your theme for the year? Drop me a line—I’d love to hear about it!

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What’s next?

Annual themes are great as a North star, but here are a few actionable items at the top of my list when considering the Year of Connection.

• Virtual and in-person workshops (yes, they are coming).

• Post more YouTube videos and Instagram reels.

• Build a sustainable model for longer-form instructional content and mentorship.

• Regular “en plein air” oil painting practice (yes, even in the wintery cold).

• More sketchbook finished and unfinished work posted to social media.

• Build more relationships with artists and art suppliers/manufacturers that are consistent with my values and the tools that I would buy myself.

• Consider residency opportunities.

• Get to those book ideas ;-)

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Sketching Tips and Insights

Simple Techniques to Improve Your Sketching

• Start with basic shapes: Break complex subjects into simple forms.

• Practice 45-60 minutes per week: Don’t focus on doing something each day if it isn’t achievable. Give yourself some room, which could be 3-4 times weekly. Once you get into it, 15-20 minutes in a session is easily possible.

• Experiment with paper types: The right texture can enhance your work. I love hot press paper in sketchbooks for graphite work but lean towards paper that is even smoother and more like vellum. I always carry two sketchbooks: one exclusively for graphite and the other for watercolor, marker, ink, and graphite in a pinch.

• Use negative drawing: Instead of focusing on the subject itself, concentrate on shading and defining the shapes of the spaces around it. This approach helps refine proportions and creates a striking, well-balanced composition.

• Rotate your sketchpad: Changing angles can help spot errors and improve perspective. Even a mirror can help expose more significant issues around proportions before it’s too late.

• Limit your tools: Sketching with one pencil or pen can teach precision and restraint. Don’t forget that your blender is also a drawing/sketching tool.

I’ll explore these tips further in upcoming videos and posts.

Take care of yourself and each other, and keep drawing!

-Mike

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