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SUNDAY

Summer Vibes with hippo fait des trucs - As usual, we'll start with three 30-second to one-minute warm-up sessions, then we'll try some timed drawing exercises that are different from our usual routine. - 12pm EST

MONDAY

Drawing is Free Monday Live Portrait Sessions - Monday portrait sessions are free and open to everyone.. The sessions run most Mondays at 9am and 6pm Paris time.\

TUESDAY

The Art of Repetition with London Drawing Group - Join Lucy for a session where we explore repeating subjects and structures and gestures to see what the appeal has been for so many artists. 1 PM EDT

WEDNESDAY

Wonder-filled Wednesday with Live on Substack - 1:30pm ET

THURSDAY

The Mustelid Family with & - ​In this drawing session we will be looking at some of the incredible animals who are part of the ‘Mustelid Family’ of which we are blessed to share this planet with! - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

Draw Derbyshire with (Drawing Club Tier) 9.00 - 10.00am BST

ART HANG PARTY w/ - ART HANG PARTY! is free weekly live hour-ish-long art-making session full of fast-paced drawing and a lot of fun! Open to anyone and everyone! - 7PM EST

FRIDAY

I couldn’t find any events for this day — Start a free trial and draw from our replay library of 90+ recordings or join the Ugly Butterfly Drawing Challenge in its final week!

Catch up on Introvert Drawing Club Goodness 🌻

✏️ Are you hosting a session this week? Pop a link in the comments!

• Below each image, you’ll find a prompt, tip, or materials recommendations. They’re always optional. 💕

• Share your work in the chat and let us know which materials you’re loving!

• If you’d like to receive references to your e-mail, click here to switch it on. 💌

  

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Watching her transform brown paper into this vivid, 3D creature in the 7-minute video is truly an inspiring sight to behold!

Over to Pauline…

I was in the mood to make something 3D, but since it was the weekend I wanted to keep it a bit simple, so a butterfly seemed just right for that.

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SUNDAY

Let’s make zines! with hippo fait des trucs - There’s no set theme: you can create a zine on any topic you like, or use the time to finish up an incomplete one. - 12pm EST

By the Water drawing session with Frances Ives - 6pm BST

MONDAY

Drawing is Free Monday Live Portrait Sessions - Monday portrait sessions are free and open to everyone.. The sessions run most Mondays at 9am and 6pm Paris time.\

Construction sites Live Drawing Zoom with Sarah Dyer: Monday 20th : 7-8.30 PM (Recorded session)

TUESDAY

Scavenger Hunt Drawing Session with - ​We will draw together, chat, and share what we have found so far, on the first official day of the challenge. As always, I will save plenty of time to share at the end. - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EDT

WEDNESDAY

Wax Resist Live Zoom Session with Ohn Mar Win - We'll continue exploring wax resist together, experiment with different approaches and paint live. - 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM EDT

Old Postcards Drawing Session with Odd Orange - Using old postcards as references, we'll be capturing a variety of landscapes, animals, and narrative scenes. - 7 - 8.30pm BST / 2 - 3.30pm EDT / 8 - 9.30pm CEST.

Collecting Places Zoom with monkeymintaka - This month we'll look at finding inspiration outside the studio, how to collect all those special places and use them in our art. 7pm BST

Wonder-filled Wednesday with Live on Substack - 1:30pm ET

THURSDAY

Landscapes with - (Drawing Club Tier & Process Club Tier) 18.00 - 19.30pm

Drawing the Met with Min Lee - We'll spend 90 minutes sketching together from images I've prepared, inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. - 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET

BUILD-A BALLROOM SCENE! w/ - ART HANG PARTY! is free weekly live hour-ish-long art-making session full of fast-paced drawing and a lot of fun! Open to anyone and everyone! - 7PM EST

FRIDAY

I couldn’t find any events for this day — Start a free trial and draw from our replay library of 90+ recordings or draw from our daily references (we’re drawing a metamorphosis this week)!

Catch up on Introvert Drawing Club Goodness 🌻

✏️ Are you hosting a session this week? Pop a link in the comments!

• Below each image, you’ll find a prompt, tip, or materials recommendations.

• They’re always optional. 💕

• There are 4 - 6 moths/butterflies on each image. Choose one or sketch them all if you have the time!

💌 If you’d like to receive this as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

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It’s a tiny book filled with different types of paper. You swatch your favorite materials on every page so you can compare them at a glance!

Why should you make a paper-testing book?

These books show how each paper behaves with art materials. A quick flip through your paper-testing book can help you make an informed decision, saving you time, energy, and paper!

Let’s say I’m going out with a water brush and Inktense blocks. A quick flip through my paper-testing book tells me the Jackson’s Hot Pressed paper didn’t like when I smudged it with fingers. The white Art Creations paper buckles with a drop of water, so that one is out too. Flipping to the next page, I see the Canson Fluid Mixed Media paper holds up nicely to loads of materials.

They’re easy to make. Here are the steps:

First, fold the book.

You can use printer paper for this, because it’s simply a container for the fancy papers you want to test. I made a quick tutorial at the bottom of this post, or you can watch this and follow along.

Now, gather all your paper types you want to include.

Cut pieces to match the size of your book, and make sure to label them. You can be as detailed as you want for this, so feel free to include specs if you find that helpful.

Glue them to the pages of your book.

I started with my least favorite papers, but you can order them however you like. Run out of space? Fold up another one and glue on more paper types.

Now the fun begins!

In our Paper Testing Party, Min Lee and I swatched many, many materials with no rules or expectations, just play. We had so much fun decorating our books and drawing together at the end. Join the fun and let us know which papers you love (and which ones you don’t)!

I recommend doing the blind paper test from Part 1 and add it to your book!

Here’s a quick tutorial to create your paper-testing book:

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Free trials have entered the chat. 🐛

Get 14 day free trial

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SUNDAY

Let’s make zines! with hippo fait des trucs - There’s no set theme: you can create a zine on any topic you like, or use the time to finish up an incomplete one. - 12pm EST

MONDAY

Drawing is Free Monday Live Portrait Sessions - Monday portrait sessions are free and open to everyone.. The sessions run most Mondays at 9am and 6pm Paris time.

TUESDAY

I couldn’t find any events for this day — You can always draw from our replay library of 90+ recordings or draw from our daily references (we’re drawing a metamorphosis this week)!

WEDNESDAY

Zoom Drawing Session with Katie Moody - We'll be painting landscapes! I'll show you how I paint and layer up my gouache so things don't get muddy, and encouraging you to embrace texture and looseness within your mark making.

London Drawing Group Workshop with - Join Emma Carlisle for a class exploring different approaches for drawing foxes through guided exercises in mark making & building palettes. 18:30 BST

Wonder-filled Wednesday with Live on Substack - 1:30pm ET

THURSDAY

By the Water drawing session with Frances Ives - 10am BST

Doggy ABC Chapter 4 with & - There are countless breeds and each is so completely unique and that we thought it would be fun to have an on going series where we make our way through the alphabet of dog breeds. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Let’s draw Emotions of the World Cup w/ - ART HANG PARTY! is free weekly live hour-ish-long art-making session full of fast-paced drawing and a lot of fun! Open to anyone and everyone! - 7PM EST

FRIDAY

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream with - 7pm BST

Catch up on Introvert Drawing Club Goodness 🌻

✏️ Are you hosting a session this week? Pop a link in the comments!

We’re approaching week 3 differently. How? We’re drawing from a sequence of images to produce a series. I’ll take you through step by step.

Below each image, you’ll find a prompts, tip, or materials recommendations. They’re always optional, so take what you need and leave the rest. 💕

💌 If you’d like to receive this as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

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Remember the Pepsi Challenge1?

My friend Min Lee and I created our own version so we could make smart paper choices!

Disclaimer

I’ve created some of my best art on a $3.99 paint pad meant for kids, and had a fantastic time drawing on food packaging. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to have fun drawing, but nicer paper will hold up better under repeated experimentation.

These are the papers we tested:

1. Canson Fluid Mixed Media (250 grams per square meter) - Smooth, sturdy, and recommended by .

2. Caran d’ache Mixed Media Paper (250 gsm) - This is a new one for me. Min and I were both surprised that it had a bit of tooth to it, because it’s labeled “hot pressed.” It was my 2nd pick, because it feels nice to touch.

3. Pith Oroblanco (200 gsm) - I like how paint sits on this paper and it has a lovely, satiny feel.

4. Canson XL Cold Press (300 gsm) - Grain level is high on this one, but she’s sturdy.

5. Fabriano Mixed Media Paper (300 gsm) - This one has a strange grain pattern. If you joined us in this session, you likely remember my excitement when I finished it!

6. Blick Hot Press Watercolor Block (300 gsm) - I really don’t like this paper. It’s grainy and feels cheap.

7. Speedball Printmaking Paper (245 gsm) - I like this but it’s kinda pricey, so I don’t use it a lot because I get precious with the fancy paper.

Prompt: Have a paper testing party with us!

1. Cut or tear strips of all your different kinds of paper, labeling one side with the paper type.

2. Flip them over, so you can’t see the type of paper.

3. Swatch your favorite materials.

4. Choose your top two or three papers.

5. Flip them over to reveal which ones you loved most!

💬 Tell us about your paper preferences:

• What kind of paper do you make your best drawings on?

• Tell me your favorite fancy paper and your favorite cheap paper!

• Which brand of paper do you dislike the most? Why?

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Now is a great time to join or flutter back in 🦋

Membership is only $5 a month (or $50 a year) right now. You’ll lock in that rate for life, catch up on what you missed, and draw butterflies and moths with us!

Subscribe now

💌 If you’d like to receive this weekly list as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

SUNDAY

Let’s draw Lamps! with hippo fait des trucs - This week I invite you to draw lamps within a time limit. - 12pm EST

MONDAY

Drawing is Free Monday Live Portrait Sessions - Monday portrait sessions are free and open to everyone.. The sessions run most Mondays at 9am and 6pm Paris time.

TUESDAY

Kitchen Cupboard Session with Odd Orange - To join this session, sign up for the Odd Orange Newsletter. You will receive an email with the Zoom invite 3 hours before the event. 7 - 7.40 pm BST

WEDNESDAY

🗽 Draw New York City with Min Lee - This session is free and open to everyone. The recording will be saved and added to Patreon later for paid members, so no worries if you can't make it live. 1pm ET

Wonder-filled Wednesday with Live on Substack - 1:30pm ET

THURSDAY

Devon and Cornwall Drawing Session with - Drawing Club Tier - 18.00 - 19.00pm

Let’s draw WATER with - ART HANG PARTY! is free weekly live hour-ish-long art-making session full of fast-paced drawing and a lot of fun! Open to anyone and everyone! - 7PM EST

FRIDAY

I couldn’t find any events for this day — You can always draw from our replay library of 90+ recordings or draw butterflies from paint swatches!

Catch up on Introvert Drawing Club Goodness 🌻

✏️ Are you hosting a session this week? Pop a link in the comments!

Below each image, you’ll find a prompts, tip, or materials recommendations. They’re always optional, so take what you need and leave the rest. 💕 Some of these have multiple images, so you get bonus butterflies this week!

💌 If you’d like to receive this as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

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Does that mean butterflies are easy to draw? Absolutely not.

It means you can be extra playful, make a mess, use muddy colors, and slam the door right in perfectionism’s face. Expansive, vibrantly-colored wings are beautiful no matter how you draw them.

But you know I love a challenge, so introducing...

Rules and regulations:

• Draw a butterfly from reference, video, or imagination. Make it as ugly as you think you can.

• All materials welcome.

• No AI!

• Share and tag me (@bethspencerart) during July.

• I’ll feature a roundup of favorites at the end of the month!

  

  Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

In the video:

Behind-the-scenes ugly butterfly painting process, resources, and encouraging words. I also included a page of butterfly images from my favorite reference book below. I’ll also open up a community chat shortly, so we can share together!

I can’t wait to see your ugly (but actually beautiful) butterflies! 🦋

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Below each image, you’ll find a prompts, tip, or materials recommendations. They’re always optional, so take what you need and leave the rest. 💕 I included a couple of insects as well, since we’re still technically in Bug month!

💌 If you’d like to receive this as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

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Thirty days wasn’t long enough to draw the millions of species of insects, so I’m declaring July to be Moth & Butterfly Month! It’s a perfect time to explore paint, play with materials, and be inspired by these colorful, winged creatures.

👐 References drop on Sundays

I share prompts, material recommendations, and tips for getting started with each image. Then, I start a new chat thread — a safe space to share your work, ask questions, learn at your own pace, encourage others, and soak up inspiration!

• Week 1 References

• Week 2 References

• Week 3 References

• Week 4 References

  🦋 Fun things to try for Moth & Butterfly Month

• Draw them small. If you’re short on time, draw them in a grid, or make a little zine to draw one moth or butterfly on each page.

• Explore color. Paint the colors in the morning, then revisit them at the end of the day to add the details.

• Draw them HUGE. Zoom in and explore the incredible patterns and textures!

• Add a quote, mantra, or letter to yourself. You could write about your artistic transformation.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou

✨ Save the dates

Our next drawing sessions will be in a few weeks, so pop these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for the sign-up links!

• August 7 at 2 pm EST / 7pm BST with

• August 11 at 1pm EST / 6pm BST with

• August 18 at 2pm EST / 7pm BST with Sarah Dyer

Let’s chat 🦋💬

• Do you like drawing butterflies and moths? Do you find them challenging? Which parts are most fun or difficult?

• Which materials do you think will work best for moths and butterflies?

• Tell me about your experience with moths or butterflies.

These are my scanned (and not touched-up) partiers.

I drew them in a Pith Oroblanco sketchbook and am still trying to talk myself into buying an A3 scanner, so I don’t have to do this double-scanning-Photo-merge business. This is all watercolor and colored pencil.

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💌 If you’d like to receive this weekly list as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

SUNDAY

Let’s draw butterflies & moths with hippo fait des trucs - This week I invite you to draw butterflies and moths, still within a time limit. - 12pm EST

MONDAY

Drawing is Free Monday Live Portrait Sessions - Monday portrait sessions are free and open to everyone.. The sessions run most Mondays at 9am and 6pm Paris time.

TUESDAY

AUTOMATIC DRAWING: Accessing the Unconscious with London Drawing Group - Join tutor Lucy McGeown for an exploration of how artists have attempted to access their unconscious minds and create work from their inner worlds. - 6pm BST

WEDNESDAY

🫖🐛 Insect Tea Party with & April Howlett aka monkeymintaka - We’re combining references to create a tea party of tiny (and slightly creepy) insect characters! 2pm EST

Color Your World Celebration and Coloring Party with - ​To celebrate my first adult coloring book, Color Your World, join me at a coloring party! Use your favorite materials and select your favorite page to color along with everyone! - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Wonder-filled Wednesday with Live on Substack - 1:30pm ET

THURSDAY

Summer Meadow Workshop with - I’ll guide you step by step, using an overhead camera so you can easily follow along. - 4 PM CEST

Diary Comics Workshop with - We’ll talk through styles, format, and what to do if you “can’t draw,” then spend the rest of the time making comics together. Open to all levels. - 4pm CST / 5pm EST on Zoom

Let’s draw ANIMAL PALETTES with - ART HANG PARTY! is free weekly live hour-ish-long art-making session full of fast-paced drawing and a lot of fun! Open to anyone and everyone! - 7PM EST

FRIDAY

I couldn’t find any events for this day — You can always draw from our replay library of 90+ recordings or draw beetles from paint swatches! 🪲

Catch up on Introvert Drawing Club Goodness 🌻

✏️ Are you hosting a session this week? Pop a link in the comments!

Below each image, you’ll find a prompts, tip, or materials recommendations. They’re always optional, so take what you need and leave the rest. 💕

💌 If you’d like to receive this as an e-mail, click here to switch it on.

Read more

Here’s my favorite drawing I made in the session:

From the bottom of my heart, I love drawing insects.

Thank you for letting me indulge in this new obsession with you for thirty days. We have one more session to this month, then a few weeks off so I can finish art for a very important book deadline! I’ll pop back in next Friday with the game plan.

Until then, hope to see you at the Insect Tea Party! 🫖🐛

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… yet the bad things seem to be the ones that we think about most.

Our brains seem hard-wired to focus on the negatives in life (for me, my canceled retreat). But when we focus on the negatives, we feel bad, and when we feed bad it’s hard to remember there were any good things at all.

It takes a lot of effort, but reminding myself of what went right helps keep me motivated. I’m not saying to ignore the lows, but tune in and notice if worrying thoughts are showing up uninvited. It’s okay if they pop in once in a while, but don’t let them overstay their welcome.

💬 In the comments

• Tell us something good that’s happened this year!

• In the second half of the year, what would you like to happen?

• Illustrate your sweet spots of 2026 and post them in your workspace, so you don’t forget them.

• you’re “shoulding1” yourself a lot lately

• you want to be surprised and delighted

• you want to play with art supplies

Many, many thanks to Meg Lewis for facilitating this special hour of drawing with us.

Favorite quote from Colleen: “I just started drawing cowboy hats and hoping they’d end up on people.”

I’ll start a chat thread so you can share your masterpiece!

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