Hello! This is newsletter no. 2, only a little behind schedule on account of 2 four-day weekends in a row with children. Thank you for being here!
1. First, a survey
Let me know how you’re doing!
2. Review of pens
I’m less particular about paper. Pens are important.
I started using Micron (02 size but have also dabbled with 01, 03, and 05, the latter of which is too thick in most cases) during my college years circa 2006 thanks to my illustration instructor Kurt Hollomon. Kurt was a huge inspiration and we share a similar “sketchbook-y” approach to drawing: nothing is too precious but everything is special, all the little scraps and ephemera. It’s all about the quality of the lines. If you don’t know what to draw, put something in front of you and draw it. Take advantage of sunny October days when the light is bright and cool and just right. Anyway, I have tried MANY sustainable refillable pen options and Micron is still the best.
3. Podcast interview(?!)
Sean Schumacher had me on his podcast about design, where I talked about how I’m not really a designer but managed to fake it for over a decade in order to pay my bills. I also name dropped a lot of my friends and people I’ve worked with and hopefully didn’t embarrass myself or anyone else…I’ll definitely not be listening to it because the sound of my own voice makes me want to disappear inside a hole, but you can listen here. Thank you, Sean!
4. A Portrait of the Artist as a Mother on a Long Drive With Nowhere to Put the Baby
True story. I have a personal goal to normalize asking strangers to hold our babies when we need an extra set of hands. I’ve done it and mostly it’s been ok! (This is one of those sustainable refillable pens I’m trying to love…I hate it).
5. Another true story
I really want to rant about how individualism is destroying our planet, communities, relationships, and ourselves, but I won’t!
That’s it for now. Thank you for reading!
– Mia
P.S!!! Another obligatory shameless plug for my new book
(Which will ask you to draw a window, among other things. Image linked to preorder.)
