I’m Learning How to Draw on Procreate!

One of my goals this year was to find more joy. Less doomscrolling, more art. I’ve started following more artists and basking in their creativity. (New commissioned character art dropping soon. 👀) Unexpectedly, though, I got the urge to draw myself. This was a big surprise to me because drawing has NEVER been my thing. There are SO many artists in my family: my uncles, my brother, my mother-in-law. But I’ve always preferred the written word to drawing. That said, I’ve also realized I need a hobby outside of writing and reading.

Why not try drawing? 

In the past, I’ve talked myself out of it because I struggle to draw stick figures. (I wish I was kidding.) But over the past two years, I’ve used Penguin Random House’s Employee Wellness Program to get out of my comfort zone. I recently took fencing lessons and became a certified small boat sailor–and I’d never done either of those before either.

So, again, why not drawing?

Once I found Art with Flo lessons online, I decided it was time to invest. I bought my first-ever iPad and Apple Pencil, and I got Procreate. 

Recently, I drew my monster girl. 

Her design is from my monsters on the moon book. If you’d love to learn more about my book (& help me boost it!!!), please interact with my Instagram post. Anyway, I used Art with Flo’s Create Your Own Character drawing tutorial for this piece. I definitely have a lot to learn! (Her hair isn’t connected on the top right, for one. lol) But I quickly realized how much fun it is to explore my books in a new art form. I’m also looking forward to seeing what else I can create.

For fun, here’s two other drawings I did from Art with Flo lessons. 

I know I’m such a newbie, but I’m having so much fun. It’s giving me a new, creative outlet (that I’m not trying to be a professional in, unlike writing). So, it’s low stakes. And I can still explore my stories in a new way. (I’ve been playing around with turning some of WIPs into graphic novels or Webtoons.) Even better, it’s a fabulous replacement for doomscrolling or anxiety spiraling. I keep joking that I’m in my digital Bob Ross era. 

Have you ever tried digital drawing? I recently downloaded the Handy app as well…and I’m eyeing Clip Studio Paint for more experiments.

Any tips?

I would love to hear about your drawing journey!

I’m definitely still hiring artists, too. I can’t wait to show not one, but TWO, commissioned character art pieces this month.

Stay tuned,

~SAT