An introduction to anyone new here, or a refresher for those who have vague memories of signing up at some point: My name is Andrea and I’m a queer writer and audio producer. I moved to Vermont about a year ago to work in public radio. Before that, I lived in Pittsburgh forever and I had a million different jobs. I also used to do improv, tell stories, and hosted a couple karaoke nights. What am I up to now? Well, let’s catch up…
It started because I was new in town. I needed something to do and people to meet. Maybe if I was more introverted I would have stayed home. Instead, I went to figure drawing night, and in the months since, I’ve kept going to figure drawing night.
Honestly, it took me a bit to get into a groove with drawing. I used pencil at first, which I hate because of the way it can smear, and everything I created looked terrible to me. Pencil made it too easy to erase and start over— too easy to get obsessed with perfection. I hadn’t really drawn like this in years, over a decade, and I felt it.
On a whim, I switched to color pencils, and it was like Dorothy walking through the door to Oz. Everything about figure drawing is better in color. I truly enjoy drawing so much more in shades of blue, purple, green, orange, you get the idea. It really makes me happy.
Color pencils aren’t really conducive for figure drawing. You can’t blend them and they’re not great with shading. But that’s the point— it keeps me from taking everything too seriously. I can’t erase what I’ve done, so I adapt and keep going. We go around in a circle at figure drawing breaks— introduce ourselves, talk about what we like about art, etc.— and I’m always like, I’m just here to have fun and turn my brain off for a while.
Some work-friendly figure drawings for you.
It all just snowballed from there. I started painting again, something I hadn’t done for years. Painting lead to collaging, the most packrat art form there is1, and collaging has me glueing teeny tiny scraps of paper and tin foil and whatever else I can get my hands on. I tried things and maybe things didn’t always work out but it felt good to try anyway.
We had an art show at work.
Meanwhile, every time I tried to write anything that wasn’t for work, it all came out in… nothing. Between the whiplash of the move, new job, and all the stressors that accompany both, I was too burned out for words. I needed colors and shapes— yeah, not unlike a toddler. Last year was a good year and hard year at the same time. It was a lot, in the way that shaking up your entire life tends to be. I needed to be gentle with myself and making art has been what feels good right now.
This newsletter has existed in many different forms over the years. For now, it’s a place to share thoughts on the creative process in its many forms. On the 5th of every month, I’ll send a free version of this newsletter with writing about creativity, safe-for-work figure drawings, and other art stuff. More personal writing, not-work-friendly drawings, personal recommendations and fun surprises await paid subscribers later in the month.
I had no idea when last year started that I’d be drawing, painting, and collaging again, so I’m excited to see where 2024 will take me. And I’d love to hear what you’re working on too. What have you been up to? What’s been making you excited lately?
Anyway, see ya on the 5th!
xo Andrea
I will gladly take your old magazines and interesting books off your hands, email meee.