words to live and draw by

Words to Live and Draw By

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People say they want to be creative, but then a funny thing happens: They never quite get around to it. They get tripped up by excuses about not having enough time, not knowing how to be creative, thinking that forming a creative habit is going to be expensive–all those art supplies!–or that it’s just too late in life and that ship has sailed. Worst of all the excuses masquerading as iron-clad reasons not to make art is that one-word monkey monster: Why? Why should you sketch or paint when there’s so much work and laundry to be done?

You’ll be interested to know that you’re not alone in battling these flying monkey demons that swoop down and try to steal your pens and paintbrushes, along with your will to be creative. Artists throughout time, known and unknown, famous and friend next door, have had to encourage themselves to get back to the sketch pad. Just look at the “Notes to Self” that Sketchbook Skool co-founder Koosje Koene wrote the other day. And she did these while attending a big artists’ conference in Berlin! Even she needed some reminders that yes, she can and should make art–and so should you. You can only answer that Why? question when you finish a drawing.

Here are some words of inspiration from great artists, who needed the encouragement themselves as much as they wanted to share it with you. If one of these really speaks to you, draw an inspirational quote. And by the way, if you think you have another big excuse–“I don’t have the talent to draw”–we have some very big news for you coming next week. Stay tuned, and get inspired…

Best words to live by

“If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” —Edward Hopper

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.”Pablo Picasso

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”Henry David Thoreau

“All creativity is purposeful play.”Abraham Maslow

“People tend to forget that play is serious.”David Hockney

Words to Live and Draw By 1

Greetings from Berlin! Sketchbook Skool co-founders Danny Gregory and Koosje Koene meeting up for the Beyond Tellerand design and technology conference.

Want to learn how to draw? We have online art klasses! What a happy coincidence. Click here to learn more.

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