Okay Squad, I made you something. 50 sketching prompt cards — sorted into 10 categories (Observe, Composition, People, Texture, Light & Shadow, Travel, Nature, Story, Practice, Mindset). Print them, cut them wonky, shuffle them, and pull one every morning. No thinking, no “which one is easiest,” just pull and draw. Here’s the thing though — this isn’t just a fun little challenge (even though it is one). Sketching is genuinely one of the best things you can do for your art, and there’s real science behind it: • Regular observational sketching sharpens your eye for proportion, light, and detail — and that skill carries over into everything else you make, painting included. • Sketching engages both sides of your brain at once — the logical side and the creative side — which is part of why it feels so good and clears your head. • Even one short session of art-making has been shown to boost people’s confidence in their own ability to actually finish and succeed at what they set out to make. So this isn’t “just doodling.” It’s foundational reps. Every fine artist you admire has thousands of ugly little sketches behind their good work — you’re just starting yours today. Here’s how we play: 1. Pull a card (or comment a number 1–50 and I’ll tell you what you got 👀) 2. Set a timer, draw for the suggested time — 5 to 25 min, no pressure 3. Post it here with your card number 4. Go look at what everyone else did with the SAME prompt — it’ll never be what you expect There is no wrong way to do this. A stick figure counts. A page you hate still counts. You showing up with a pen is the whole point. Who’s in? Link to the 50 sketch prompt: https://www.skool.com/responsibly-messy-artists-8983/classroom/76b07627?md=2734cd89eae746128d3621e8ccb41d51

How is everyone fairing if you have kids and juggling work and child care? Sorry I've been quiet, hectic trying to keep on top of things. Trying to do art when there's a quiet moment ❤️🥰

Drop your work, get honest feedback from the community (Be kind ;)

‼️ Poll Dates are wrong not Aug but July!!! I can not change this is the poll. So it’s about next week not next month. Correct dates: Wed 29 July Fri 31 July Mon 3 aug ✨ Thank you so much, Anne & Sabine! I had such a lovely time painting with you both. It was so nice to simply make art together—without pressure, without expectations, just enjoying the process. For everyone who couldn’t join: our challenge was to grab a magazine and draw faces (and even bodies) from the photos. There was only one rule: It had to be ugly. 😄 Why? Because nothing holds us back more than the fear of messing up. When you give yourself permission to make something “bad,” something wonderful happens. You relax. You experiment. You learn. And, more often than not, your drawings aren’t ugly at all! That’s exactly what Messy Art is about: creating freely, practising without judgement, and remembering that art should be fun. I’d love to make these creative sessions a regular thing. I’m thinking of hosting another one next week, this time at 7:00 pm (Paris time) instead of 8:00 pm. I’d love your input: Which day works best for you? For me, Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings are usually the easiest, but let me know what suits you. Next week’s theme: Pattern Making 🎨 All you’ll need is: - a square piece of paper (square) - a pencil, - an eraser. We’ll create beautiful patterns together from simple shapes—perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike. If you joined today’s session, please share your artwork in the comments below. I’d love to see what you made in close-up! Thank you again for making this such a fun and inspiring evening. I can’t wait to do it again. See you next time! ❤️

I want to take a moment to highlight someone who has been consistently shaping the energy of this space in a really meaningful way. @Jenny Warden has been showing up with presence, generosity, and momentum in this community. She’s one of the people who quietly makes things move forward here — through sharing, engaging, and contributing consistently. She’s been one of the top 1% contributors in terms of activity and support, and I really want to acknowledge that properly. So: thank you Janny ❤️ Your presence genuinely matters here. At the same time, I also want to acknowledge everyone who supports this space financially through Ko-fi. Those contributions help keep this group running, ad-free, and open for everyone. It directly sustains the work and energy that goes into maintaining it. Both types of support matter. Different forms, same impact. Going forward, I’ll be introducing a monthly (or more) a Community Spotlight — a simple way to highlight the people who help shape this space through their energy, ideas, and consistency. More of this soon. @Jenny Warden