The last month of summer? August 2024
August this year was a very important month for me. I have been doing many things but I did not intend or plan to do so many. It could be a part of my summer holiday while I was productive.
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New sketchbook with 78 pages
I started my new sketchbook this month, which is still Moleskine Classic (hard cover) 240 pages. The first sketch was not done in London but during my first trip in Folkestone. During the month I couldn’t believe I could fill 78 pages, which consist of 39 sketches!
I thought this so-called productivity was the result of a period of break. As the winter is coming and after a period of peak performance I believe I will take a rest again, but the only difference is that I will not have self doubt again.
No matter what will happen, I am sure after a series of deliberate practices, I am more able to sketch better. See if I will share more of my new sketchbook later on.
Social/networking
Yes, sketching or creating is an individual activity, and I stopped taking part in related social events in June and July most of the time. This month I resumed with:
Creative Lunch Club: the club allocated people who are involved in creative sector (like designer, photographer, musician…) so that they can contact each other and arrange themselves to have lunch or brunch.
The Offline Club: the organisation which is originated from Amsterdam has finally arrived in London and organised the first event. It is not directly related to creativity and sketching, however the few-hour event will need you to hand your smartphone so that you will no longer be addicted to social media or web surfing but to do something meaningful like reading books, or creative like doodling or sketching. There is also a session which allows participants to have conversations with others in order to have meaningful social connections!
Sketching events: Urban Sketchers London is one of these, and rejoined a portrait session which is held every Sunday. Every sketching event does let me open up conversations with different kinds of people.
Exhibitions: Two. One was my creative friend Lex in Originals Creator Network, and another was the exhibition of Alison Gardiner who is an urban sketcher.
Substack / blog
Able to come up 5 articles in the whole month, with 3 behind the paywall.
What did I do and learn in July 2024? is a newsletter reflecting my life in July.
On my recent identity crisis as an artistis also a self reflective writing with my “downs” on the road of being an artist and how I come “up”.
My sketching tools shared all my tools both previously and currently in details. [Paid]
Why are we reluctant to sketch (sometimes)? How can we cope with it?This is also my issue even though I become more and more skilful after many practices of sketching. [Paid]
Travelogue - sketch and travel in Folkestone which was written on 31 August and published on 1 September. [Paid]
Don’t worry I won’t make my Substack/blog as fully paid content as there will still be free articles coming soon!
Feel free to subscribe to my Substack or buying me a coffee to support me!
Sketching-related business
Decided to try Meta Verified (Instagram only) and X Premium so that I got my blue badge to see how’s going.
I am glad to collaborate with That Boat Is at Dock (埋洲), an organisation from Hong Kong promoting outlying islands that even locals may not know. My task was to provide illustrative materials for audiences to create their own zines in their zine workshop, as part of the exhibition (Pixelated Chronicles: Tales of Hong Kong Outlying Islands, 拾像：香港群島絮語). My postcard is also being sold in the gallery too. If you're currently in Hong Kong, have a look and even take part in their events.
Trips
Travel, even just as short as day trip, can be good for mental wellbeing and even unleash creativity. Last month I visited Folkestone twice (a day trip and an overnight trip), as well as Eastbourne and Oxford once respectively.
Others (which can be creatively related)
Should we read non-fiction books?
Recently my friends or sketchers did discuss about fiction and non-fiction books. While we all agree that fiction books can open our imagination, I think some non-fiction books like self help and productivity may limit our ways of life, and even well being. Other kinds of non-fiction like history, psychology or science are fine because they can absolutely broaden our horizons!
Because there is no right way or wrong way to boost one’s productivity or pursue a good life. We are human beings not robots who can never be the same as others, and our whole life experience will eventually be unique. So don’t take those books too seriously. You can try to see if those suggestions can work for you, but if you can’t, it is fine or you can have your own new ways that others don’t.
Movies month
I watched 9 movies in August including 3 in cinemas. Movie is one of the best ways to be offline more often, and some movies can open up my imagination.
More observations, actions rather than information
We are living in an Information Age with a lot of advices and suggestions in different aspects of life like productivity and travel. It’s too easy to get “answers” before doing so that we replace information with observations, actions and reflection.
I remember more than a decade ago when I was having a working holiday in Australia, there was a book telling us places where jobs could be easily found, and many people flock to there ending up the places where job vacancies were impossible. My takeaway points: information is just a part of the world, and information is just a fact for that moment which may not be applicable forever. Observations as well as trial and error can allow one to find more unique opportunities and avoid unnecessary competition.
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