Five things for this summer
Bikes, comics, writing, drawing, fresh air
This week I’m trying to slow down, feel the breeze, hear the birds, acknowledge my heart beating, be present in the moment.
I’m a teacher so I have the same schedule as college students. Fall, winter and spring break weren’t really restful this year but were instead filled with grading and planning curriculum.
I think summer break will be different. From now until early September I am contractually obligated to nothing (except my mortgage).
So this week is a little different. Here are five things I’m looking forward to this summer.
1. Sending out this newsletter
This newsletter is great for me. It forces me to make something (typically multiple things) every single week. I’ve completed more personal projects and experiments in the last four months than I have in the last four years. This newsletter is also public documentation of my creative process, growth and discoveries. I’m so glad these things live somewhere besides a folder on my hard drive never to be seen again. The weekly rhythm is great because I can reflect on my week, take stock of what’s actually happening in my life and send out something that’s not perfect. I hate deadlines and I love deadlines. Nothing says this is done like having to press publish.
As you can see, this newsletter is really good for me. But here you are! You’re reading this, commenting, replying and sharing. You’re a part of this. So, what type of stuff would you like to see more (or less) in the future?
More artists interviews? Like this ⤵
Or more posts that have a singular theme? Like this ⤵
Or more links to art, design and other stuff I enjoy? Like this ⤵
Or more animations, drawings and creative experiments? Like this ⤵
Or do you have other ideas? Leave a comment or reply to this email. Let’s talk about it.
2. Riding my bike (with Knox)
I have a hazy vision of riding my bike through the country as the sun peeks over the horizon and ushers in a new day. I have never done this and don’t love the logistics associated with this vision, but I would like to try to make it happen. At the very least I would like to spend quite a bit of time on two wheels this summer.
On Friday we got a pedal bike for Knox. Up until this point he’s been on a balance bike.1 After one afternoon of practicing he was pedaling down the block by himself (after I pushed him and was huffing and puffing beside him, reminding him to keep pedaling and look where he’s going). He doesn’t understand how to brake or that he has to keep pedaling to stay upright. Keep moving forward so you don’t fall down is a piece of wisdom I’ll unpack some other time. The kid teaches us more than we teach him.
Here’s my advice for riding a bike in the suburbs:
Also, I’m a commuter not a cyclist. I think every person pedaling a bike fits into one of those two categories. Which one are you?
3. Reading comics from the library
Whenever I see a comic book I’m even slightly interested in I’ll place a hold at the library. I currently have 31 comic books checked out and ready to be enjoyed in the sun.
If you don’t have a library card you need to get one! Not only does the library have almost every book, they also have ebooks and audio books (Libby) as well as streaming video (Kanopy) for free. Because of the library I have the freedom to take a chance on a book without spending money. I’m not sponsored by “The Library,” just a fan.
GLEEM by Freddy Carrasco has set the bar for summer comics VERY high. GLEEM and You & a Bike & a Road by Eleanor Davis were both books I finished and thought, “I want to make something! I need to make something!”
4. Writing and drawing
Most mornings I sip coffee while I write and draw with one of my CMYK Pentel Pocket Brush Pens. I try to fill up a sketchbook page or two every day.
The permanence of the ink means I can’t delete, edit or change what I’ve written. I try to write slow so it’s legible and to let my mind wander while my hand moves. I think about drawing the letters instead of writing them.
I just want to keep making things. Writing, drawing, animations, prints, whatever.
5. Being outside
We love being outside. I’m typing this on my laptop while sitting in our front yard.
We like to hike and camp and stuff but we don’t really need huge mountains or large bodies of water to be happy. We just need sunshine and fresh air. We’ve talked about moving to where the weather is consistently nice, but I think the cold, dark, lifeless days helps us appreciate the nice ones.
However, I think I have enough bad weather days stored up to be able to appreciate some good ones for quite a few years.
What are you looking forward to this summer?
ALSO:
Well designed UNO – found via Dieline
Was the United Airlines cool, new safety video directed by OK Go?
“Knox, what should we name you sister?” “Jack.”
10/10 would recommend a balance bike! We found a used Strider bike on Facebook Marketplace. It took Knox a minute to get comfortable with it but once he did he absolutely loved it. I won’t spend a bunch of time explaining how cool they are because you can watch videos or read articles about it, but the autonomy it gave him while also teaching him how to balance was incredible. We put him on it at 18 months and at 3.5 years he’s pedaling and balancing by himself.
I'm on the same (academic) schedule and have a similar list of ambitions: drawing, creating Substack posts, getting outside, and reading all things comics.
Im also looking forward to being outside 🌳! It’s quite hard not to want to be outside when we spend 6h months without much sun here in Lithuania 😂