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

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

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 ❤️🥰

(Please put the paintings you make in 30 brush strokes under this post. ❤️) Ready to loosen up, paint more confidently, and stop overthinking every brushstroke? Welcome to the 30 Brush Strokes Challenge! For the next 30 days, you’ll create small paintings using no more than 30 brush strokes. That’s it. No perfect paintings. No endless tweaking. No pressure. Just 30 intentional marks. Why this challenge? Many artists improve by painting more. But you’ll often improve even faster by painting with limitations. When you only have 30 brush strokes, you can’t overwork your painting. You learn to: - paint with confidence instead of hesitation - simplify what you see - make stronger decisions - let go of perfectionism - trust your instincts - finish what you start You’ll probably be surprised by how much your paintings improve after just a few weeks. The rules 🖌️ Maximum 30 brush strokes per painting. 📏 Keep it small (A6, A5, postcard size… whatever feels easy.) ⏱️ Spend around 5–15 minutes on each painting. 🎨 Use any medium you like. 📸 Share your paintings in the group whenever you’d like. Need ideas? Paint whatever inspires you! For example: - fruit - flowers - birds - pets - landscapes - your morning coffee - your favorite mug - vegetables - mushrooms - trees - people - houses - clouds - seashells - a toy - your paint brushes - something from your garden - something completely from your imagination Missed a day? No worries. This isn’t about having a perfect streak. Life happens. Skip a day if you need to, then simply continue the next day. Progress is built over time—not by being perfect. One more thing… This is not a competition. There are no winners. No prizes. No judging. The only person you’re challenging is yourself. At the end of the month, you’ll have a collection of small paintings that show your growth—and that’s the real reward. Who’s joining? 🎉 For inspiration a link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaQo8uaRsYW/

Just sold a piece? Landed a commission?Drop it below and share the details — let’s help each other grow. Include: • What you sold (commission, original, print, etc.)• Size / medium• Sale price• Where you sold it (Instagram, Etsy, art fair, word of mouth, gallery, etc.)• How the buyer found you• How long it took to sell• One thing that helped make the sale happen• Optional: photo of the piece Bonus if you share: • What you’d do differently next time• Any mistakes to avoid• Tips for pricing• shipping info • Client communication advice Transparency helps everyone. No gatekeeping. Real numbers. Real strategies. Real growth. Let’s normalize artists making money.💰