50: An Artist and a Writer in a Draw Your World Meetup
Plus recent NYC sketchbook pages, classes, open studios, and next year’s retreats in North Carolina and in Italy
It’s been a while since I last wrote you all. This time of year always feels overwhelming, and I tend to let things pile up. Now I have so much to share. At the moment, I’m sitting on my couch after sleeping for nearly twelve hours. I caught my husband’s cold, but I’m finally starting to feel better.
Just before I got sick, I hosted a meetup with my friend Ruthie Ackerman for my paid subscribers. Ruthie is a writer (her book, The Mother Code, comes out next year, just a few months before my new book) and writing coach—and also my downstairs neighbor here in Brooklyn Heights. A while back, Ruthie and I talked about how much overlap there is in our teaching and coaching, and we thought a meetup would be the perfect way to explore the connection between drawing and writing as a combined practice.
Ruthie’s writing prompts were spot-on. She asked us to bring a treasured item from our “personal archives,” a photograph from our past, and to think of a color we love. She suggested we bring all of our senses to our writing, which was something that really hit me. If I can tap into my senses when I am jotting down notes about why I chose to draw a particular moment, then maybe I can dive a little deeper than the obvious. Similarly, I so often encourage people to draw the unexpected to help bring them back to a moment in time. These small visual memories that tell a more intimate story can be linked to smell, touch, taste, too. Together, we created this wonderful synthesis of words, feelings, memories, line, color, and drawing. Ruthie’s prompts reminded me of something I wrote in the first chapter of Draw Your Day: “If you can learn to write, you can learn to draw.” Drawing is memory, and forming letters on the page is memory, so writing and drawing can be fully connected.
I was especially excited to work with Ruthie because I’ve always felt a little unsure about the words I scribble in my sketchbook. I write quickly, trying to capture the basic facts of a memory. There’s not much depth to it. To convey more significant thoughts, I often letter a quote in a more polished style—but those carefully drawn words are rarely my own. My hope is that in time I can embrace my own feelings and words to highlight.
Here is what I chose to draw and write about. The written part has been edited from my messy handwritten scribbles, but not too much, so that the stream of consciousness is still present:
The tiny Lego flowers that sit under my computer monitor:
This small Lego “free-build” has been on my desk, under my monitor, for as long as I can remember—maybe twelve years. I made it during one of our creative play sessions, either on my own or with Ian helping. I loved it immediately and decided to keep it. It reminds me of my boys and those hours of building and creating together. Our “free-build” Lego sessions were such a part of our weekends. Piles and piles of Legos spread across the floor. We’d build for hours. I was always the piece finder. One of the boys would need ten of the same pieces, and I’d hunt them down while they kept building. This little Lego object holds all of that: play, creativity, and those slow, magical afternoons.
The framed Polaroid by my desk:
This photo, taken by Ian, sits by my desk. It’s such a moody, quintessential Ian shot—quickly snapped with the Polaroid camera I gave him for Christmas that year. I’m not sure which year, though. In the photo, I’m looking at my computer, my silhouette faintly visible from the glow of the monitor. It must be summer because I’m wearing a dress—a dress I don’t have anymore. I wore it in Israel, so maybe this photo was taken the same summer we were there. This photo feels like Ian. It’s love and simplicity captured in a frame. Not much to it. Maybe it’s from 2018—yes, 2018—six years ago. Ian already had his passion for photography then, and you can see his style forming: dark, moody, and full of feeling.
The color purple:
I’ve loved purple for as long as I can remember. It’s feminine but not overly so. It exists in the fairy-and-unicorn realm with pink, but it’s distinct—not pink, which feels too soft. Purple can be bold, deep, even dark. I gravitate toward darker purples the most. I love that it’s neither blue nor black but can have the strength of both. Recently, I got a new purple pen from Lamy and a purple iPhone case. I don’t own much purple clothing anymore—maybe just a sweater, but I think I donated that a few years ago. Purple pigments are rare, my mother once told me. Some are incredibly hard to find. Now purple reminds me of her, too—especially the time we went on a hunt for a specific purple pigment. It was at this little shop in DUMBO that only a few people seem to know about.
I know that it will take time and practice, but as I continue to draw my world, I would love to be able to write about these drawings in a more meaningful way, and I am thankful to Ruthie for giving me a few tools to help along the way.
Thank you to everyone who participated. If you would like to upgrade your subscription, or if you are a paid subscriber but missed registering (I always send invitations via the subscriber chat), the recording can easily be shared.
Here are some recent sketchbook pages:
Some announcements including classes, a limited release paint palette, workshops, and more:
DUMBO Open Studios Tomorrow!
Saturday, December 7th, from 1-6pm.
45 Main Street, Suite 1001, on the 10th floor.
You’re invited to attend Art in Dumbo’s annual Shop the Studios event and visit my studio! Each year artists all around the neighborhood open their buildings and studios to the public with holiday-ready artworks and gifts available for purchase.
This event is organized by DUMBO Improvement District and Art in DUMBO and is scheduled in coordination with the DUMBO x Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market in the Archway. The Holiday Market brings thousands of people to DUMBO each Sunday. Join us for a magical weekend of holiday art!
I will have some small original drawings, my books and stickers, the Draw Your World paint palette, and more available for purchase.
My son Theo will also have some of his work for sale.
The Draw Your World Palette is back!
Seventeen hand-mulled pigments
The Draw Your World Palette, from ArtToolkit, includes an assortment of seventeen hand-mulled pigments from Greenleaf & Blueberry in a Black Pocket Palette, with colors ranging from modern primaries and convenience colors to specialty pigments such as faux gold and faux silver. I selected my favorite and most frequently used colors and arranged them based on my daily illustration practice. The result is a unique and comprehensive palette designed to inspire you to capture the world around and within you. Once these sell out, they will not be available again. We plan to collaborate again on a different palette that will come out next summer timed with the publication of my new book, Draw Your Adventures. If you would like to purchase a set from me directly, I have a small amount to sell. Please email me and we can coordinate. I am offering free shipping within the US to my subscribers (first come, first served).
Sketch and Paint a Holiday Shopfront—My Last 2024 Derwent Class
Friday, December 13th, 2pmEST.
Capture the charm of a cozy, classic holiday shopfront. In this one-hour class, I will guide you through the steps of drawing a festive facade. Drawing from years of experience sketching beloved city shops, I’ll teach you techniques for building structure, adding holiday flair, and infusing personality into each line and brushstroke. Perfect for creating a piece to frame or to turn into holiday cards, this class will leave you with a keepsake to treasure and share. Note: Unfortunately only people in the US and Canada can register for the live class.If you are unable to join, the replay will be uploaded to YouTube a few days after the session.
Painting Miles: Draw Your Adventures
A Two-Day Workshop in Apex, NC
Friday, May 30 to Saturday, May 31, 2025
Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N Salem St, Apex, NC 27502
Over two days we will break down the various ways you can capture the world around you in the pages of a sketchbook. We’ll cover combining writing and drawing, fully detailed paintings, collage, and page design including lettering and playing with type.
Anna Tasca Lanza 2025 Sketch and Drawing Workshop
2025 will be my fourth year teaching at Case Vecche. I hope you can join me— there is just one room left (a single or a double can book this spot). Click here for all of the information and to grab the last spot!
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 website.
All Canvas lights and accessories are 10% off with my discount code: SDB10.
Hey Sam…. I registered but missed the live gathering…. How do I get the link to the replay?
KD
I absolutely LOVE your sketches ! 💖