@Koen Kuiphuis very nice, some thoughts on designing details

As artists we all have our weird and wonderful ways of getting inspired to do our art. Whether it's routines, going to nature, watching movies, using materials that inspire us... There are many ways we use to recharge our creative fuel. And also many ways we drain it, by doing things that stop our creativity. I'm curious: What things have helped you to feel creatively charged over the years? What do you do when you don't feel like creating? Is it just discipline? How do you stay balanced as an artist? I noticed I feel the most pumped to draw when I actually have the ambition to get much better from it, instead of it just being a "practice drawing I should be doing". The days where I believe I could become masterful at a high level at this, are the ones where I draw most effortlessly for hours. The days where I somehow think drawing is a trivial past time but I should do it, the practice feels meaningless. There are other things I noticed help me increase my creative output, like doing exercise, going to nature, journaling... but I'm curious, what is it for you? What do your creative ebbs and flows look like? I know @Chris you draw daily? Did you always do this, or how did you get into it?

How did you do this week? Did you make some art or sketches you're proud of? If you have anything specific you need help with, please post in this thread. Thank you 🙏✍️🎨

⭐ New group project starts this month. Our master work of the month is: "La Femme" (1895) by Giacomo Grosso Articles (use browser to translate the Italian): https://abbonamentomusei.it/la-femme/ https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Grosso https://www.artrenewal.org/artists/giacomo-grosso/7503 --------------------------- 👉 To join the project: #1. Study this masterwork to the best of your ability and current skill level. #2. Study with intent and care. Learn from the master, don't just copy. #3. Post your work here in this thread. #4. Along with your work share your lessons and thoughts. Drawing/painting with thought and intention = massive learning. #5. Support, encourage and teach your classmates. Treat this project like we are in a live classroom. In live class rooms students collaborate and mentor others. Complete at least 1 master study per week before the deadline so I can give you feedback. I will also do live demo every week on one of the master study paths. For details on how to study at your level scroll down or read the full project post here 👇: https://www.skool.com/drawing-academy/new-group-project-concept-please-read-and-vote?p=1a7d8fe1 🟢 Basically you can be as ambitious as you want - sketches, line drawings, thumbnails or full size/ambitious copies. It's up to you and your current level. Good Luck! ✔️ If you guys enjoy this project or if it's valuable to you we'll keep going. This is our first run so please share your thoughts and feedback here as we go. 👉 Deadline: Week 1 = Jan 11, 2026 Week 2 = Jan 12, 2026 Week 3 = Jan 18, 2026 Week 4 = Jan 25, 2026 Final Due (full scale / ambitious copy) = Jan 31, 2026 --------------------------- 🔴 How You Can Study this Master Work 🔴 Choose the approach that fits your current focus:

I took a day to visit the John Singer Sargent Exhibition in Paris at Musée d'Orsay. I'm lucky it's only a 4 hour train ride from where I live in Germany. The Musée d'Orsay is also famous for it's impressionist collection (Degas, Renoir, etc), but also got some amazing Bougereaus, Ingres, and some cool works of the students of Ingres I didn't know (Amaury Duval). This is the third museum visit for me in the last 12 months or so (National Gallery London, Rijks Museum Amsterdam), and I must say it's crazy how much I learn each time. The energy, mark making, the detail, it's just so much easier to see in the real painting. The first two were studies from Sargent at school. The charcoal one he did as a student. I added a few close ups.