30: Drawing Connections
Upcoming Presentation, Shop Updates, and Discount Codes
Hi friend,
Welcome to the April edition of Drawing Connections. With Earth Day just around the corner, I’ve updated my shop with a fresh collection of originals and limited edition prints—including pieces pulled directly from my sketchbooks. For the first time, I’m offering 20% off everything for 24 hours starting at midnight on April 22 (Earth Day).
That same evening, I’ll be giving an in-person talk for the Arteast group in Ottawa on how sketchbooks fuel growth and connection—both in technique and creative momentum. It’s been on my mind a lot lately: how small studies evolve into larger works, how my process keeps changing, and how sharing more of that journey might help others do the same.
Thanks for following along.
– Mike
Upcoming Talk at Arteast Art Club: April 22, 2025 (note the date change)
I’m giving an in-person talk this Tuesday, April 22 at 7 PM as part of Arteast’s Grow with Art speaker series in Ottawa. They’ve invited me to share how sketchbooks can support artistic growth—something I’ve leaned on heavily in my own practice.
In Sketching Your Way Forward: Building Skills and Ideas Through Practice, I’ll walk through my “late to art” story and how regular sketchbook work has shaped my approach to graphite, watercolor, and oils. I’ll also share lessons from interviewing over 100 artists on my Drawing Inspiration podcast—especially around how sketchbooks support experimentation and momentum.
I'll bring a few of my sketchbooks—some complete, some works in progress—along with tools I use and a few tiny oil paintings. If you’re working in a sketchbook too, bring it. I’d love to see it.
This talk ties into my 2025 theme of connection—how we connect ideas, techniques, and each other through this simple but powerful practice.
Also, there will be a giveaway at the end!
Details:
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Location: Peter D. Clarke Place, Ottawa
No registration needed—just come by.
Hope to see you there.
Earth Day Sale – 20% Off All Originals and Prints (24 Hours Only)
To mark Earth Day, I’m running a 24-hour sale on my shop starting at midnight, Tuesday April 22. For one day only, you’ll get 20% off everything at shop.mikehendley.com, including:
All original artwork - my new watercolor studies and mushroom ink pieces
All limited edition prints, including new releases and past favourites
New pieces featured in the shop include:
Coastal Companions – a puffin pair in pencil and watercolor
Sailor of the Sky – an albatross in flight
Gilded Green – a detailed beetle study
Nuthatch Climber – a quiet moment with a red-breasted nuthatch mid-ascent
Every original includes a certificate of authenticity and a short narrative tied to the related Instagram post—so collectors can easily share that they own the piece behind the post.
Sale details:
Starts: Midnight (00:00) April 22
Ends: 11:59 PM April 22 (Eastern)
Where: shop.mikehendley.com
Discount applied automatically at checkout
Thanks for supporting original art—and the wild subjects that inspire it.
Shop Smarter, Create More
A few ways to save on your next art supply order—these are companies I use regularly and trust in my daily practice:
Gwartzman’s (Toronto, Canada)
I’m now an affiliate with Gwartzman’s, a solid Canadian source for many of the tools I rely on.
Get 10% off most items in their online store using the code MIKEHENDLEY10 :
https://gwartzmans.com/mikehendleyPentel Canada (limited time)
From April 22 to May 7, get 15% off your entire order at shop.pentel.ca using the code: MikeHendley15Art Toolkit
Get 10% off your next order with the code MIKEART10 or use this link:
https://arttoolkit.com/discount/MIKEART10Leuchtturm Canada
Get 20% off with the code MIKE20 at checkout.
https://leuchtturm1917.ca
Let me know if you end up trying something new—I always like hearing what tools others enjoy. Feel free to share these with someone you know.
Final Thoughts
2025 is already pushing me to rethink how I work and what I share. It's been a good mix of challenge and momentum, from refining my process to releasing more originals and connecting through talks and sketchbooks.
Thanks for following along. Let’s keep drawing, painting, and staying connected.
– Mike