I received a sample for this review/feature. Opinions expressed are my own.
I’ve always been a creative person at heart. As a child, I would write my own stories, complete with pictures. As I got into my teens and early twenties, I spent a lot of time sketching and drawing. I took some drawing classes in high school and really had a knack for it, but the real world got in the way and my creativity took a back seat to college and then to family life. I’ve been trying to find a way to get that creative spark back, but didn’t know where to start. This is where Sketchbook Skool came in.
Sketchbook Skool is a video-based online art school and global community created by Danny Gregory, a bestselling author, along with his partner, Koosje, a Dutch illustrator. There are 4 semesters every year, all offering a variety of 6-week kourses. Every week of the kourse is taught by a different teacher, all among the world’s best sketchbook artists. During each “lesson” you get to meet the instructor, where they will offer unique insights and perspectives, as well as allowing you to view their sketch journal and getting to watch over their shoulder as they create. The best part is, it’s not live so you can work at your own pace and the material will be available to you forever.
In the intro kourse alone, there were so many things that got my brain going. Sometimes I forget that everyone, myself included, is creative. The first lesson helped to foster that old creativity inside of me and made me think about how it applies to my son, my family, and everyone I know. Watching and hearing how others make time to be creative was a big one for me as well. As a mom, I’m always making time for my family, but never really for myself and this was the perfect opportunity. Each lesson and each kourse not only works on sketching, but in a way fosters personal growth and perspective.
When I finally sat down to sketch, I was nervous. It had been years, if not almost a decade since I had a pencil or pen in my hand and just let go. I have been known to doodle on paper while chatting on the phone or waiting at the doctor’s office, but it’s been a while that I’ve had a purpose with my pencil. My first sketch, of my cat, was a little rough, but felt good to do. It allowed me to relax, almost like a meditation, and really helped me to see the detail in things. While it may not come through in my drawing, all of his fur that sticks up and the way his whiskers really fan out are not things I’ve ever really noticed before.
When I finished my sketch, I was proud. I don’t plan to hang it up on a wall any time soon, but I did feel a sense of accomplishment. Not only had I allowed myself time for me, but it was doing something fun. My son was in complete awe of my drawing and has started asking to draw with Mommy. I’ve always hoped he would have a more artistic and creative side, and we all do, it just has to be nurtured a little.
Sketchbook Skool is great for everyone. Whether you can draw or even if you’ve never sketched a single thing in your life, you will benefit from one of their kourses. They help you get into the habit of sketching, and it will evolve over time to be something you no longer have fears about not being good, but to become something you truly enjoy doing.
Be sure to check out their free kourse as well as a free illustrated recipe eBook.
Connect:
You can connect with Sketchbook Skool on their website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and @SketchbookSkool on Twitter.
Winner: Laurie E.
