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HOW TO START YOUR OWN LADIES DRAWING NIGHT
When N.Y.C.-based Illustrators Julia Rothman, Leah Goren, and Rachael Cole met to brainstorm about a project they were collaborating on, they never dreamed their drawing session would turn into a regular ritual, much less one that inspired an online following. But four years later, they still love to gather and doodle. Their new book, Ladies Drawing Night, documents 10 of these gatherings, each with a different theme and different guests joining the trio (including BUST contribs Kaye Blegvad and Samantha Hahn). It includes enough awesome photos and evidence of camaraderie to make you want to start your own. Which is just the point. Whether you’re a professional illustrator or an amateur artist, getting your own ladies drawing night going will not only inspire and motivate you, but will also expand your skills and flex your creative muscles. Here, they share how you can do it, too.
GATHER A GROUP OF FRIENDS TO DRAW WITH
If it’s your first drawing night, it can help to limit the guest list to just a few people you feel comfortable with. A small group tends to stay more focused and on track and creates a more intimate environment.
MAKE SURE TO GRAB SOME SNACKS AND BEVERAGES
We can’t make it through a night without a bag of chips and a bottle of wine on the table. (And eating dinner first helps, too!)
LAY OUT YOUR SUPPLIES, AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO SHARE!
Swapping materials gives you the chance to find your next favorite pen or paint color. Have everyone bring whatever they love to work with—watercolors, pens, markers, colored pencils, etc.
PICK A THEME
If you don’t know where to begin, having a theme in mind can help you get started, and it’s fascinating to see the different ways everyone interprets it. We’ve done everything from fashion and figure drawing to lettering, collage, and pattern creation.
TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK AS YOU GO
One of the best parts of drawing with friends is being able to hear opinions and learn from each other.
LAY OUT YOUR FINISHED DRAWINGS AT THE END OF THE NIGHT
It feels great to see everything together and it helps you see your progress from week to week. Don’t forget to take pictures! And tag ’em
#ladiesdrawingnight so we can all enjoy one big virtual hang.
Excerpted with permission from Ladies Drawing Night by Julia Rothman, Leah Goren, and Rachael Cole, published by Chronicle Books, 2016
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Lisa Butterworth
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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