If you’ve ever hidden a hand behind someone’s back… tucked it into a pocket… or mysteriously cropped it out of the composition… I’m sure there is a club for it~ 😂 Hands have a reputation for being difficult, but they’re really just a collection of simple forms working together. Like anything else in art, they become much less intimidating once you stop thinking of them as “a hand” and start seeing boxes, cylinders, wedges, and curves. A few things to keep in mind while practicing: • Start with the palm~ not the fingers. • Think about the hand as a 3D object, not an outline. • Fingers aren’t parallel. They spread, taper, and overlap. • The thumb sits lower than most people expect and moves on a completely different plane. • Draw from life whenever possible. Your own hand is always available as a reference! Most importantly… Don’t just draw one hand. Draw twenty. Draw them holding objects. Draw them pointing. Draw relaxed hands. Draw fists. Draw tiny gesture sketches. Mileage matters more than perfection~! The tutorial below is a great place to start, but remember that improvement comes from observation, repetition, and a little bit of patience with yourself. So… who’s brave enough to tackle hands today? 👀✏️

A little reminder that “work in progress” doesn’t just mean paintings. It could be: 🎨 A sketch that’s still finding its footing. 🧵 A project spread across your desk. 📖 A new skill you’re practicing. 🖥️ A website you’re slowly building. 🪴 A garden that’s only halfway planted. 📝 An idea that’s lived in your notebook for months. Progress isn’t always pretty, and it definitely isn’t always finished. So… what’s on your desk, easel, screen, workbench, or sketchbook today? Share your WIP below! We’d love to see what you’re creating, where you’re stuck, what you’re experimenting with, or what you’re excited about. This community isn’t just here to celebrate finished pieces~ we’re here for the messy middle too~! Happy creating! 🎨✨ On my end~ Studio's renovation imminent~ Soon we will be combining mine and Chris's workbenches (sort of...) into one long bench with folios in between, so it doubles as a meeting/photo station too~! Slow, deliberate work, summer's the season for it. In between all that, still expanding the Temple Series and working through some sumi-e pieces~ leaning further into the Asian-inspired, Zen-esque direction that's carrying into the bigger combined launch coming July 31st. More on that soon~ What's on your workbench this week? 🎨

I used my pencils and drew this for a birthday card and now don't know if I should spray it with hairspray or toss some colored pencil on it or ... something. . . I don't have the "workable fixative" and I'm not in the habit of doing this...any suggestions are welcome.

Word of the Week: Bridge Bridges connect more than places~ They connect ideas, people, memories, cultures, generations, and moments in time. They can represent hope, transition, distance, reunion, or the courage to cross into something unknown. Your bridge can be real or imagined. Ancient stone. Steel and glass. A fallen bridge. A bridge made of roots, clouds, books, light, or something only your imagination could build. Think about: 🌉 What does your bridge connect? 🌊 What’s beneath it? ✨ Is it being crossed… or left behind? Create in whatever medium inspires you, then share your work with the community. We’d love to see not just what you made, but the story behind it. Happy creating. 🎨