40: New Drawings and Keeping an Eye Out for Ellipses
Plus some other announcements and AI related things to share.
Here are some of my latest daily “draw your world” journal pages. I have been filling up a new handmade sketchbook and enjoying the freedom of doing so without the pressures of sharing on social media. I am posting here and there, but with rumors spreading that Meta is using artists’ artwork to generate AI, and it being pretty much impossible to know if you have succeeded in opting out (they do not make it easy), I am just drawing my days for the pleasure of drawing. I am drawing, and maybe I will share, maybe I won’t. I will always post recent work here on Substack, though. As I have mentioned before, this is my happiest place to share, and it seems that here we can easily block AI from using our content. Here is a post On Substack with a little more on the subject.
Above is a spread from June 1–2 sharing some fun adventures on a beautiful weekend in New York City. A sweet dog named Obi-Wan, who likes to stop and look at the foster cats in the window near our apartment, made an appearance. I passed by Obi-Wan and his mom on the way to a yoga class. Later that day, my husband and I took the ferry from Dumbo to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, so that I could drop off some books with Daisy at Yoseka Stationery. Three of my signed books will be included in a giveaway during Stationery Fest in August. The ferry is one of the best ways to get around, especially on hot summer days, and is a reminder that we are surrounded by water in a very concrete city.
It was a weekend filled with culture, as the next day we saw the Vivian Maier exhibition called Unseen Work at Fotografiska. It is an amazing show that I highly recommend to anyone, especially those who love street photography. We also saw a musical on Broadway called Illinoise that we absolutely loved. If you like Sufjan Stevens’s music and/or dance, this is a show for you.
Ellipses Are Everywhere
I have always encouraged people to get comfortable drawing ellipses—circles in perspective. It is a great way to loosen up. Straight lines, curved lines, and ellipses are covered on pages 28 and 29 of Draw Your World. Creating really round at the sides and beautifully formed ellipses is something that comes into play when you are drawing many subjects. They take practice, and I find they are a little like balance. Some days, my ellipses are more accurate than other days. Of course, for your own work, the ellipses you create don’t have to be perfect, as accuracy is a choice and a style. No matter what you are going for, seeing them in the world around you and practicing them is a really helpful addition to your daily drawing practice.
Here are some common places you’ll find ellipses:
Oh, and the wheels of a bicycle—how could I forget those? But you get the point that they really are everywhere. Noticing how an ellipse can guide your drawings might be enlightening, as wherever they appear, they create three-dimensionality and a sense of realism just by the curves or the roundness of their sides.
The more you practice, the more comfortable you will get drawing them. I always recommend working quickly and in one swoop of your drawing tool, using the whole arm from the shoulder joint. Sometimes I have to go around and around a few times before I land on the right shape.
In the photograph of a breakfast above, I highlighted twenty-two ellipses. Some are wider than others, and the plate closest to me is rounder, as I was looking at it more from above. In the sketch below, you can see how the ellipses look in the context of a loose hand-drawn version.
A tip: Sketch a lot of overlapping ellipses when drawing something like a bottle or a coffee cup. You can then erase the lines that don’t show, and you will find that you are closer to realism. From there you can paint over in your own style. See below, where I have added extra ellipses to arrive at the final shape.
Speaking of Instagram and AI, have you heard about the Cara app? It is still in a beta version and is a little slow at times, but I know the team must be furiously trying to keep up, as so many artists are taking their work there. It is an AI-free zone, and seems to currently be inhabited by artists supporting artists. It might take a while for us to find clients there, but all apps have to start somewhere. Right now it feels a little like Instagram did ten years ago. There are no ads, no stories, and no reels. Just a stream of art that you can curate by who you follow. This page answers FAQs. You can find me on the app here. I am not ready to leave Instagram, but I do find it all interesting, and I am curious to see how things play out.
I created this new sticker sheet made up of random drawings from my sketchbook pages to bring to all of my upcoming in-person workshops. If you would like one, feel free to send me a message and I’ll let you know how to order!
Class Announcements
By popular demand, we have added a third workshop to my schedule at Stationery Festival in August! The first two sold out so quickly, which is always a relief for someone like me who hates to sell. The new added time is August 9 from 4 to 5:50 p.m. There are limited spots available, and booking will open to everyone on June 15. Click here to save the link!
A Retreat in Tuscany with Me and Ohn Mar Win
As I prepare and pack for our retreat in Spain that is happening in just a few weeks, Ohn Mar and I are also about to launch a new retreat in Tuscany that will happen in April of 2025. We are so excited to share the details with everyone. In advance of sharing widely, paid subscribers received the link to reserve a spot yesterday in the subscriber chat. Be sure to check the chat if you are interested in joining us and want to have first dibs on the rooms.
Ambassador and Affiliate Codes
If you’d like to try out Blackwing pencils or just order some new items, please shop using this unique link: blackwing602.com/sdionbaker. When you purchase using my link, there’s no additional cost to you and I earn a small commission. I appreciate your support!
Most of my Skillshare classes feature my favorite Caran D’Ache art supplies. My relationship with the US distributor, Creative Art Materials, started back when I wrote Draw Your Day in 2018, and they saw how heavily I featured their art tools— many that I have been using since I was in grade school. Click here to find some my favorites on the Orange Art wesbite.
A new affiliate of mine is Soumkine in Paris. Their stationery, journals, and sketchbooks are so beautiful. Click here to shop.
All Canvas lights and accessories are 10% off with my discount code: SDB10.
You just blew my mind with the ellipses talk! I see them all over the living room right now and am excited to draw with them in mind.
I'm in the same camp with Cara and not being ready to leave Instagram. I don't think it's a bad thing, but I still have to watch how much time I spend on social media in general. It's too fun and I lose track of time!
I think your compositions are
Unique, clever and engaging.