Hello and Welcome
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Hello! I'm excited to launch this Substack to share my passion for drawing and creativity with you. I'm an artist from Barbados with a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK. Initially, I intended to use Substack as a newsletter for my art website subscribers, but the more I explore, the more possibilities I see. So, I'm trying out two ideas.
Idea One: The Newsletter
A monthly newsletter that will highlight:
Curated tutorials about art, science, and experimentation
New art experiments (WIPs)
Print drops
Old portfolio projects, great ideas, and failed ideas
Other interesting bits and media
This combines my love of making art and helping people through their learning journey. Expect a mixed salad of art and science-related content.
Idea Two: Experimental Publishing
I'll use Substack to publish some of my more experimental ideas. More on this later…
My Practice: Experiment, Fail, Experiment
I work primarily with drawing media, especially pens and pencils. They're accessible and easy to use. I also use alcohol markers and acrylic paint. I’m a big fan of digital tools and dabble in Clip Studio Paint, Blender, Sketchbook, and Inkscape (I prefer open-source tools and ethos, but I do use Adobe software from time to time—it’s hard to escape it).
I enjoy looking for challenges online and making up rules and restrictions; this sometimes leads to inspiration. For example, I’m constantly improving my visual library, which usually involves looking up a topic on Pinterest and drawing images that strike me. Sometimes, I spend a couple of hours drawing from life—room interiors or still life with only one tool. Or I challenge myself to use a digital drawing tool I don’t often use and make a series of drawings every day for 50 days.
To me, art is like a game. I’m just collecting experience points as I go. Sometimes, something comes out of it that I want to develop further, or I push it to a point and then reassess. In the end, I make what I feel like making; it helps me stay in the moment and enjoy the experience of mark-making, scribbling, and doodling. Below is one of 52 characters created using Blender’s grease pencil feature. They all live in 3020, a time when the mixed race has emerged on planet Earth after many calamities. I tried out one of the built-in animation options to see what effect it would give. Interesting results; I’ll experiment further…
I hope we can learn and experiment together, earning XP points along the way.
Kaizen: Continuous Improvement
As I mentioned before, I'm always learning new techniques and improving my style. Barbados can be limited when it comes to learning opportunities, so I take online courses on platforms like Udemy, Domestika, and Skillshare. A couple of years ago, I did a few courses on Udemy by Hardy Fowler on concept art (because for some reason I thought I would try to become a concept artist— that dream has since died). I learned a ton about concept art and how to use Clip Studio Paint, much more thoroughly than I would have done on my own. I have three unfinished Udemy courses, so I'll share how I integrate these lessons into my process and art style. Below is a timelapse of my attempt at one of Hardy’s exercises.
I learn by watching others create and then trying it myself. I also love living vicariously through other artists, filmmakers, and video essayists. YouTube is a great resource for this. I'll share my favourite creators and videos with you. I really like Jono Dry; I used to watch his videos back in 2012, so I’ve been following his journey for more than a decade. He makes great videos and stunning graphite drawings. In the video below, he expresses his love for drawing and pencil as a medium.
Art Projects
Here are my ongoing art projects:
Observational drawing: Mostly garden and outdoor spaces, some interiors, but other topics will creep in…
I find constant inspiration in landscapes and plants, regularly incorporating them into my work. There's nothing more alien and intriguing than a tropical, wild plant. I take pictures and draw them plein air (fancy term for "outside"). I try to use ink directly—no sketching or planning, just starting and improvising as I go. I plan to make videos of this process at some point for sure.
I also love photography, animation, and filmmaking, so I'll share some experiments in these media to keep things fresh. I find it interesting to see what I like to take pictures of compared to what I actually draw. I have a folder full of ‘art’ pictures that I intentionally took to inspire artwork.
Exploring automatic drawing for my sci-fi-themed "People and Places of 3020"
I love science (my day job) and science fiction (my escape); both often influence my art. We'll explore art in these genres and themes in film, TV, and maybe a few authors. We’ll also delve into how I construct my art pieces; it’s a mix, a collage of ideas, perspectives, and freely squiggling lines on paper.
I've studied geological and environmental hazards and modelling, incorporating machine learning and AI into some of my work. This may or may not start creeping into my artwork in some way, whether through creative coding or natural hazards, or AI themes. I don’t know yet. Natural hazards and climate change affect Barbados every day, so it’s constantly on my mind. And, well, I don’t need to say much about AI.
Abstract art and journaling
My journals and sketchbooks are my confidants. I enjoy creating abstract work and writing about my problems, delving into my psychology. Recently, I discovered attachment theory, which has profoundly changed my perspective. I'll occasionally share insights on that too.
Random decorative pieces
Miscellaneous: Whatever I make that day, whether it’s writing, drawing, graphics, or filming… meh
I sometimes make posters for no real reason, in Canva or Clip Studio Paint, GIMP 2.0. These are pictures from my 4 years of research work.
The Problem with Subscriptions
Substack suggests I turn on subscriptions right away, but…
Stripe is not available in Barbados (bummer), so I will either use the pledges option or find another way. However, this is what I was thinking for the subscription tiers:
Free subscribers (Ensigns): Monthly newsletter and print drops.
Paid subscribers (Commanders): Monthly newsletter, weekly updates (challenges and learnings), access to print shop discounts.
Patron Saints (Admirals): Monthly roundup, weekly updates, print shop discounts, and a free print every three months, along with other goodies.
Everyone is eligible for random giveaways throughout the year.
Alas, this may not work, on Substack but there is still my website.
So look out for discount codes and print drops in this newsletter.
I could eventually set up some kind of membership on my website or link my wishlist of art supplies.
So…
Conclusion
That's about it—art, animation, film, practicing, learning, personal development, experimentation, sci-fi, and cool art prints, all wrapped up into one! If you're vaguely interested, curious, amused, or intrigued, come along for the ride.
For more art, check out my website here: thisisrouse.com
For more of the 3020 characters, visit my YouTube channel: thisisrouse
I can’t end this without thanking a YouTuber whose work inspired me to finally share, and that’s Creative Minds. He has a Substack: Creative Minds and a YouTube channel. It took a while, but I gathered a lot of courage from his thoughtful insights on creativity and self-expression. So cheers, dude—you’re super cool.
P.S.
Feel free to send me your recommendations. I'm very open to constructive criticism; the PhD gave me thick skin. Let's discuss further.
P.P.S.
Live long and prosper.