For the Fun of It - host an ugly drawing night

drawing with friends is joyous

Hi! My name is Ashlyn Anstee, and I tell stories with words and pictures. Sometimes, that’s picture books (like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Select “Hedgehog”), or graphic novels (my series “Shelby and Watts”), and sometimes it’s animation (I’ve directed at places like Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network).

This column, “For the Fun of It”, will also have words and pictures. Sometimes it will be stories, or how-tos, or thoughts. A little bit of everything. Hope you enjoy

Drawing with Friends

One of my favorite things about art school was a chance to draw with friends. Sometimes we’d go cafe sketching (where you go draw patrons and each other in a cafe). Sometimes we might go to the zoo, or off to the city.

Drawing with friends can be intimidating, especially if your friends are as talented as mine! But the benefit of making each other laugh, and swapping pencils and paints is just so fun. Especially when it feels hard to draw, or hard to get inspired, sometimes it helps to make the whole drawing experience less pressure.

Hosting an Ugly Drawing Night

A while ago, some friends and I got together for an “Ugly Drawing Night”. The goal was to make UGLY art! (Play!). Because we were all artists, we had an assortment of mediums between us. So here’s how we did it!

Stuff to Draw With

First! You’ll need a nice big table. It can be a dining room table, or a coffee table (especially if you can sit on the floor and sprawl).

I highly recommend PRINTER PAPER! A big stack of paper (or cardstock) that you don’t feel bad about making bad drawings on.

Then you need stuff to draw with! It helps if everyone brings some of their own supplies, particularly weird ones! I’d recommend sticking to dry media- only because with criss-crossing hands, someone’s bound to knock over any paint water (I have done that too many times to count).

Judgement-free Zone

The scary thing about drawing around other people is that it can bring up those art school feelings, where someone asks to see your sketchbook. Eek! For ugly drawing night, it’s important that it feels like a judgement-free zone. Everyone should be there to draw whatever they want. Silly art!

Try pens, try scrbbling marks, draw whatever you want. It’s all coming back to play, bur this time, you have other people there. Start a drawing, and pass it to a friend. Shout out an animal to draw, and give it your best shot without reference.

Stuff to Snack On

I think it goes without saying that a chance for everyone to chat and goss and eat snacks is the best way to loosen up. My best drawings are usually made towards the end of the night, after my second or third cookie, and my arm’s been properly warmed up!

I’ve been really enjoying discovering new artists on Substack lately! One of these artists is

Beth Spencer

, who runs “The Introvert Drawing Club”! I think she does a fantastic job of showing her art and creating a community for others to join in!

Did you know that Bill Waterson has a new book out? Bill Waterson finished Calvin and Hobbes, and this is his first book out in a while. “The Mysteries”- co illustrated with John Kascht and it’s amazing. I keep finding new details, the art is creepy and beautiful and strange.

ok love u bye