31: Drawing Connections
Arteast Recap, Legion Paper Win, and Patreon
Hi friend,
Nature’s wide awake here—frogs calling, morel mushrooms popping, and as many as 15 painted turtles sunning themselves on the logs out back. A mink and fox have been making regular appearances too. You can bet they’re all future sketchbook subjects.
I’ve also started expanding my personal photo reference library using a new camera and lens setup. It’s helping me gather sharper, more usable material for future work. If you follow me on Instagram, I do share photos in my stories ;-) Maybe a Gumroad reference digital photo package in future?
Back in the studio, I’m testing new paper from Legion, prepping for upcoming demos, and planning the return of my Patreon in addition to working on a number of pieces. Also, some top secret projects underway as well. Plenty on the go—here’s what’s new.
Arteast Talk Recap
Last month, I had the chance to speak to around 35 local artists as part of the Arteast presentation series. I shared a bit of my artistic journey—how I got started, what keeps me going, and some of the key lessons I’ve taken from the podcast and my work across graphite, watercolor, oil, and ink. Thank you to all who came out!
Huge thanks to Etchr, who provided five of their sketchbooks for a giveaway. I use their gear for nearly all my sketching work, so it was great to be able to share that with others. Pentel Canada also came through with sample packs for everyone, including a brush pen, Graphgear 1000 pencils, and markers, as well as a discount code.
It was one of those moments where art, tools, and community all came together—exactly the kind of connection that keeps me doing this work.
Drawing Wins: My Legion Paper Prize Unboxed
Legion Paper prize pack landed on my studio table this week. I won the draw, and the box is stacked with fresh surfaces that line up well with your interest in seeing new materials in action.
Here’s a quick inventory:
Stonehenge hot-press blocks for clean watercolour edges as well as other sketchbooks for colored pencil and other mediums
Oil paint paper sheets
Stonehenge aluminium panels in cold-press, aqua and oil configurations —rigid and light for plein-air work
A bonus Legion tee to keep the paint off my usual clothes
I filmed the full unboxing and first reactions. You’ll find the embedded video below.
Keep an eye on the next newsletter for test pieces. Reply and tell me which surface or subject you want me to cover first—your feedback guides the order of the deep dives.
Patreon Returns This Summer!
I often get asked for tips, deeper insights, and full-length videos showing how I work from start to finish. I’ve been thinking for a while about the right, sustainable way to share that kind of content—and I’ve decided to bring back my Patreon this summer.
I’ll be sharing full-length tutorials— and maybe some real-time videos where I draw or paint and talk through my process, tools, and decisions as I work. These sessions offer a clear look at how I build up a piece from the first mark to the final detail. It’s not about polished, edited results. You’ll see the full process, including how I problem-solve, adjust, and respond as the piece evolves.
To start, I’m introducing low-cost accessible tiers so it’s easy to follow along. Later this year, I am considering options for those looking for more direct support, including a critique tier and a separate coaching tier. I am still gauging interest.
For more structured, step-by-step learning, I’ll continue offering in-person workshops and will be launching a dedicated course platform soon. But if you want a regular look into the day-to-day work—what’s happening on the page, what I’m learning, what tools I’m reaching for—Patreon will be the place.
More soon. If you have questions or ideas about what you’d like to see, feel free to reply or send me a message.
Shop Smarter, Create More - Disount codes!
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 my tools
Get 10% off most items in their online store using the code MIKEHENDLEY10 :
https://gwartzmans.com/mikehendleyArt 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
That’s it for now. If something here caught your attention—a material, a video idea, or a topic you’d like me to cover—hit reply and let me know. Your input shapes what comes next. I’ll be back soon with new work, tests, and updates on the Patreon launch.
Thanks for reading,
– Mike
Looking forward to hearing more about your patreon group. Trying to follow your style from Etchr classes to Facebook posts.