If you want to become a real artist, you have to picture yourself as a wanna-be novel writer. All the best novelists know how to tell a good story, with metaphors, themes and underlying messages. They know how to transform letters into compelling stories, & that’s exactly what an artist does too. Except artists don’t use letters A B C D E F G to tell stories artists use LINES, SHAPES, COLORS, VALUE, TEXTURE & FORM. An artist knows how to arrange simple lines in their own unique way to configure a story - aka a work of art! Think of a final painting like a paper bond novel. Before the novel came the rough draft, before the draft came years of journaling, before journaling came learning to write each letter of the alphabet. So now it’s up to us to start at the very beginning. Learning the art alphabet and practicing our first letter LINE Your assignment: On a small post-it note size paper I want you to doodle simple Lines. Squiggly, straight, thick, thin. Whatever line your hand feels like doing. Don’t think. Sink into your body. Trust your hands to move. Let your mind go blank. Don’t judge your doodle while you’re making it. Doodle whatever random lines you want. Extra challenge: once the post it note it filled, trace back over your lines. Pretend like you’re going to frame and sell this doodle to a friend to keep on their desk. Practice your best craftsmanship. While also being patient with yourself. Remind yourself you’re going to be bad at this today. Just like the first time you tried dribbling a basketball. It was hard, you stumbled. It was awkward. Yet you just kept practicing. Over time it got easier and easier. After months of practice it felt automatic. We’ll get there soon with drawing. Simply trust in the process & don’t judge yourself. Be kind to that little artist inside of you taking baby steps. When you’re done with your doodle, post a picture of your doodle in this chat. Comment your reflections or any realizations you’ve had during the creative process.