ArtStack Podcast

About ArtStack Podcast

Art instructor wielding a paintbrush with one hand and an encouraging word with the other. Pods may include livestreams, interviews, storytelling, and more! sandyallnock.substack.com (https://sandyallnock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Sandy Allnock

Category

arts · arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jul 2025

Latest episode

11 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Jul 2026

   How to use a dried-out tube of Sepia to watercolor a wren

   I’m trying the video at the top - to see if that’s helpful, or is it just annoying? I’ll keep them to a minute, and if there’s any “big news” I’ll put it there so you don’t have to wade through a long video to find out if I was accepted on Dancing with the Stars. These videos will be part of the podcast so just tap on the Youtube link below! Sometimes a little practical tip can change everything - and sometimes, it also has the benefit of saving you hard-earned cash. Today’s first tip is just that - how to get every last little bit of pigment out of those dried up tubes. I’ve seen countless surgeries of tubes, palette knives scraping up some of it - but I promise this is the easiest way to do it. After the video see a couple other tips. And enjoy the little bird with a bokeh background, too! Watch the video below - and if you could, pop over to YouTube (https://youtu.be/eXsOCaH0oyw) to leave a thumbs up to feed the algorithm! Supplies (affiliate links provided at no cost to you; thank you for using my links and supporting my work!) Paper: Arches Bright White Cold Press 22x30 sheet BLICK (https://bit.ly/3LY8h4X) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3Mt4lto) Brushes: Winsor & Newton Kolinsky Sable Series 7 Round #8 BLICK (https://bit.ly/4fzZa8f) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/2WjFI8e) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3Zy96sc) Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round #4 BLICK (https://bit.ly/3TbuFMi) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/4etx3Gc) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4e3gCjY) Da Vinci Cosmotop Mottler- Flat Wash, Size 30 BLICK (https://bit.ly/4emUcur) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/3VZu7d6) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3BjYkwC) Daniel Smith Watercolors: Sepia BLICK (https://bit.ly/4ycNWQf) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/3QYTsFv)| JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4bCFdgv) Quinacridone Gold BLICK (https://bit.ly/4pjaI5a) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/4grIVNr) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4bg5ktu) Quinacridone Burnt Orange BLICK (https://bit.ly/3LCrcWq) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/45PCFsu) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4j4x6vI) French Ultramarine BLICK (https://bit.ly/4eoUSPz) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/4epK5Ve) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3MSdcol) More on cutting open paint tubes In addition to the tip about just using the cut-open tube as a “pan” to hold in your hand…here’s another: I keep a box of paints that have just that little bit left in them. And once a week I randomly pull out a few of those to take out sketching with me! I get to use them up and also play with colors I don’t normally use! What else do you do to save the last of that paint? News from the studio In this week’s poll about when to post drawing videos - the winner is keeping it at Tuesdays. And I’m shocked some people don’t like monsters, lol. But it looks like that’s something I’ll think about for Inktober! More Dad jokes about birdos * What do wrens say before they start building their house?“Measure twice, chirp once!” * Wren does a wren get paid?At the end of the tweet! * Wren is the best time to tell a bird joke?Owl-ways! * How much does it cost to build a house for a tiny bird?A song. * What did the dad wren say to his restless chicks?“Wren are you going to start behaving?” * Why are wrens so good at home improvements?Because they are the doe-it-yourself type! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   10 Jul 2026

   This girl is on fire...LIVE DEMO!

   I’m excited to be back on the Daniel Smith Friday Livestream (https://danielsmith.com/weekly-live-demos/) - this time I’ll be watercoloring a campfire, and you can bring your sketchbook to paint along as well! Everything you need is listed below. Time/date Friday, July 10, 10:30am Pacific (one hour) Completed painting from the demo: Links My recommendation - join on zoom! After the livestream I’ll swap these links for replays; Facebook will be on their page almost immediately, then next week the video will be uploaded to their Youtube page. Size These are 2 versions of this painting - on the left, a quarter sheet, on the right, half that size. Different line qualities and some different colors, but both nice. Feel free to use your watercolor sketchbook to try out painting along with me! Charitable fundraising Shop for paintings (https://sandyallnockfineart.com/store/) - every art purchase in my shop and classes in any medium (https://art-classes.com/) will generate a percentage donated to the International Child Art Foundation! You can also buy a mug or zipper pouch (https://worldwatercolormonth.com/shop/?filter_brand=sandy-allnock) with my art on it too! Colors If you don’t have THESE colors, just something similar will be great: * Daniel Smith Hansa Yellow Light (cool yellow) * Daniel Smith New Gamboge (warm yellow) * Daniel Smith Blue Apatite Genuine (or French ultramarine or any night blue) * Daniel Smith Anthraquinoid Scarlet (warm red) * Daniel Smith Jane’s Black (Red/Green) or any nongranulating black * Optional: white gouache Paper * Arches Bright White Cold Press - or your watercolor sketchbook Brushes Size brushes are for a quarter-sheet painting; scale down for a sketchbook. * Joseph Zbukvic #16 mop * Winsor & Newton Kolinsky Sable Series 7 Round #8 * Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round #4 * Da Vinci Cosmotop Spin Brush (Mottler) - Flat Wash, Size 30 * Da Vinci Maestro Series 17 Maestro Inlaid Needle, Size 8 * An old toothbrush Reference photo See you on the livestream! (And of course right back here on Substack on Saturday! -Sandy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

3. 

   19 Jun 2026

   Majestic Mountains & a weekend Gofundme-ish sale

   (Note: the video was updated to this slightly longer explanation. Not sure how I messed that up and posted the short version!)Why hello there! I’ve been pondering how to handle a crunch I’ve been in lately and…..well I realized I have a community of amazing people that might be able to help. Some of you have noticed (and have told me so in no uncertain terms!) my teaching website has been getting slower and slower in the last few months. It was never speedy gonzales, but it has been getting worse. As an art site, I like nice big beautiful photos, but…well the internet doesn’t. I’ve been working at it, and this week made big progress on one step. But I need to hire someone for the other bits. But the budget has zero space in it. June is a terrible month for some regular-bills-that-all-come-at-once, and I’m just strapped. Web dude promises the work he’ll do should get the site to 4 seconds in response time, and oh doesn’t that sound just lovely? I’ve got not just the watercolor class coming, but two drawing courses too - what’s on your wishlist for watercolor classes? Tell me so I can put it on sale in the shop next month for people who miss this sale…I’d love to give people YOUR recommendation! Speedy sale This is a bit of a GoFundMe where you get a nice sale on a class you want, and I get some quick funds I can use to hire the dude who’ll ride on his white horse to kick some javascript! Or to kick something. I’m not sure what it is, but I trust experts to do their thing! (I use Codeable (https://www.codeable.io/home-page-v2/) and have never been disappointed.) Use coupon code SPEED at checkout for 15% off any adult course that’s not already on sale. THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUT YOURSELF AND ALL MY STUDENTS! I’ve assembled one massive page with all the classes on it - so know that this link will be a bit slow. The 3 new courses are linked below individually. Know someone who likes getting a deal on art classes? Share this post! The Majestic Mountains course, as seen in the video - 5 paintings, zoom calls - so much to learn as we travel the world to see a variety of mountains! Price: $52.99 (with coupon it comes down to $45.04) Drawing Facial Features is literally just that - eyes. Noses. Mouths. Eyebrows. Philtrums. It’s level two because we’re not joining these onto faces yet. Understanding how these things work, how to make an eye look relaxed or excited or look one direction or another, what do lips look like at different angles, how to render the planes on noses. Price: $39.99 (with coupon code it’s $33.99) If you’ve been drawing all those features by themselves and need to work out how to get them onto a face in proportion - this is the class for you. I’ve had some serious breakthroughs in how I approach a drawing now, and I have faith that this is going to be a huge help to those trying to draw people! I’ve selected 5 people - men and women, old and young, different ethnicities - and different emotions. We’ll talk about what parts of the face like the globella and other features that show those emotions. Come join me! Price: $44.99 (with coupon it’s $38.24) Alrighty. That’s me setting aside my pride and putting that plea out into the universe. I’ll keep you posted if I get to hire the smart web dude and get things all spiffed up this coming week! If you’re not subscribed- what’re ya waiting on? OH I almost forgot - I mentioned there’s a Sunday newsletter. You have to jump a lil hoop to sign up: just go to https://sandyallnock.substack.com/account (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/account) on a browser (not the app) and check on or off any lists you want to be on or off from. THANK YOU AGAIN! —Sandy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

4. 

   21 Mar 2026

   Leaf gelliprint replay

   Thank you Gerard Byrne (https://substack.com/profile/242311096-gerard-byrne), Deb Emerson (https://substack.com/profile/23895049-deb-emerson), Marci Hays (https://substack.com/profile/3280414-marci-hays), Karen (https://substack.com/profile/24568702-karen), and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Supplies: Supplies: Gel Press Gelli plate, 5x7 BLICK (https://bit.ly/48k2kve) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/3MdgZQn) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/48xU3Tb) Richeson Printmaking Paper BLICK (https://bit.ly/45GoiGU) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/45b0ECk) Speedball soft rubber brayers BLICK (https://bit.ly/4obviC2) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/47U4D7Z) | JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/485IEK8) Amsterdam or other heavy body paints BLICK (https://bit.ly/48rj8jM) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/48xTvwB) Interested in more gelli printing fun? Try the Gelli Plate Therapy class! Tomorrow’s watercolor livestream, 8am PDT Saturday’s a-coming, and instead of a prerecorded video on SandyPaints, I’ll be going live! You can head over now and find out what time it’ll be in your zone: Sad news: I couldn’t figure out the tulip photo in the poll this week - those flowers kicked my behind! I need more practice before I can paint that one. So I picked the second place photo, the vase of flowers. And I’ve adapted it from there to simplify the window a lot, so I could keep the painting to about an hour. This is my practice painting: Here’s the sketch and photo so you can get ready: Colors for the window: Cobalt Teal Blue or whatever blue you like for a sky, any mix of greens and yellow, and Paynes Blue Gray for the surrounding dark window. Colors for the vase: Cobalt Teal Blue, French Ultramarine, Paynes Blue Gray. Colors for flowers: Imperial Purple (or Carbazole Violet), Yellow Ochre, Sap Green, Hansa Yellow, any of the greens you have. After the livestream is over I’ll create a post here on Substack - with more info about it as usual. :) Sandy's ArtStack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

5. 

   28 Jan 2026

   The Bookmark Project

   At long last, an overdue update to The Bookmark Project! This July, I’ll be attending the big event in DC called the World Children’s Festival! (I’ve mentioned July 4th as the weekend it happens but on the website it now says July 25 to Monday, July 27, 2026, so I’ll confirm!) I’ve been fundraising for the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) for years now, and this is a natural next step for our community to get involved hands-on! The Bookmark Guidelines Let’s make the children served by ICAF at the festival this summer feel SPECIAL. Imagine owning your first piece of real ART from a grownup artist at the age of 8-12! So...with that, some guidelines for the bookmarks: Handmade. It would be so lovely for each one to be lovingly created by hand, unique. Any medium is fine. No storebought, no digital prints of your art. Themes. While they can be childlike (recipients are age 8-12), think about creating something that can still be inspirational when they’re 15, 20, or 30 - encouragement for even later in their lives! No religious or political themes, please. Do your best. Nothing’s perfect, and kids need to know that - but let’s use our good materials for them and take our time. Quality over quantity! Size. Your bookmark measurement is 2-1/8 x 6.5, I’ll slip it into a plastic sleeve and add a ribbon. Sleeves are already purchased so please don’t buy more; I’ll have ones that all match. Nothing bulky. Paper layers can be fine, but limit thick embellishing. Write an encouraging message to the child artist on the back of the bookmark in clear PRINTING, not cursive. No religious or political messages, please. Sign it with your first name and hometown only. See samples on the next page. Postmark by Feb 28, 2026. I’ll assemble a big box to send to ICAF with everything at once. Download the instructional PDF (http://art-classes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Art-Classes-ICAF-Bookmark-Instructions.pdf) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

6. 

   14 Jan 2026

   Ritzy Space Robot monoprint

   Hey friends! I was going to post this on my now-taken-hostage Youtube channel (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/p/my-youtube-channel-was-hacked-grumblegrumble?r=9q974), but since I can’t, it’s here on Substack! Hooray for having alternate places for creative content, right? Sandy's ArtStack is a reader-supported publication. Join up for free, or become a paid sub and get to attend monthly livestreams here! Before I get on to the project info below, let’s get to the URGENT stuff with a deadline: If you’re a lover of gelli plates, mixed media and all that good stuff - today’s your notice that it’s your LAST CHANCE for freebies in the BAD ASS ART JOURNALING Workshop: (https://bit.ly/48k5qiE) * Sign up by January 16, 2026 11:59pm eastern time and join us LIVE via Zoom for a handmade book making session and party. * Workshop officially begins February 2, 2026. (This is when we begin our weekly mixed media lessons.) * Registration closes: February 3, 2026 * Signup HERE (https://bit.ly/48k5qiE) using coupon code SOBAD10 for 20% off! I’ll be a teacher for one of the lessons, and I’ll share a technique I worked up that’s gonna blow your mind…..you might think there’s drawing involved, but I promise you, my Weapons of Mass Creation project is going to be easier than you think! Ok back to our little robot! He’s just a prototype, and I think he’s darned cute for a practice print. Supplies are below. What do you think the robot’s name is?? He might need to become a storybook. Got some plotline ideas? Supplies used: * Gel Press gelli plate, 5x7 BLICK (https://bit.ly/48k2kve) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/49G1OXW) * Amsterdam paints: Black, white, yellow, orange, lavender BLICK (https://bit.ly/48rj8jM) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/45aP3mR) * Speedball brayer BLICK (https://bit.ly/4obviC2) AMZ (https://amzn.to/4qs7zzI) * Ritz Crackers and Cheese snack packs (https://amzn.to/4qkRDyT) * Kirkland Babywipes (https://bit.ly/4qldTc7) * Tonic Nuvo Media Spatulas (https://amzn.to/3Lpq1JX) (silicone palette knives) * Swissper Swabs, can’t find them now! (cheap version (https://amzn.to/3Lpq1JX)) * Richeson Printmaking Paper BLICK (https://bit.ly/45GoiGU) | AMZ (https://amzn.to/45b0ECk) Thanks for watching, for your ideas….and for sharing this with a friend who’d get a kick out of it! For those coming here from the email sent this morning If you’d like more creativity to inspire you, I’d love to have you as part of this growing Substack art community! If you tap to free-subscribe, you’ll get tutorial emails 2x a week, or this week, three times. If that’s more email than you want: first, free-subscribe, then go to the WEB (not the app) and click on https://sandyallnock.substack.com/account (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/account) and you can uncheck everything except the weekly or monthly newsletter. Boom done. Do me a favor and go back to the email I sent, and unsub so I can start killing off that monthly subscription ransom I pay them each month…I appreciate it! Sandy's ArtStack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

7. 

   29 Dec 2025

   Why unboxing this YouTube Award makes me want to beat the algorithm even more

   In this episode of the monthly podcast: Unboxing the recently-arrived award that YouTube sends to creators as they cross the 100,000 subscriber threshhold. Unless you’re Sandy Allnock, in which case you get it after another 60,000 subscribers. Grrr! I had to do my own legwork to find out what happened. Every few years I got a bee in my bonnet and would try to reach out to them, but to little avail; I was always told there “must have been something wrong with my channel” because the process is automatic. But this fall I found someone willing to escalate it to higher ups, and I received the box in early November. The unboxing was saved til now since I knew I’d be making changes - and looking at the box just made me more mad by the day about how YouTube treats video makers. They want us to jump hoops, yet never tell us when a yawning canyon is opening beneath our feet, filled with alligators. Alas. It’s free, so I guess we don’t get to complain. The list of YouTube channels and social media sites is as follows….you may already be following some of them, as a few are repurposing ones that I hope won’t be adversely affected by zombies! Thank you for not just subscribing, but committing to, at least for a few months, watching videos fully through, and leaving likes and comments. That should get the channels started on a good foot! WATERCOLOR (WET MEDIA): * INSTA @sandyallnockwatercolor (https://www.instagram.com/sandyallnockwatercolor) (my old sandyallnockfineart page) * FACEBOOK SandyAllnockWatercolor (https://www.facebook.com/sandyallnockwatercolor) (my old Art Classes Facebook page) * YOUTUBE Sandy Paints (https://www.youtube.com/@SandyPaints) (new) DRAWING (DRY MEDIA): * YOUTUBE Sandy Draws (https://www.youtube.com/@SandyDraws) (new) * INSTA @sandyallnockdraws (https://www.instagram.com/sandyallnockdraws) (new) * FACEBOOK Sandy Allnock Draws (https://www.facebook.com/sandyallnockdraws/) (new) While you’re here, how about subscribing to Substack too as a free or paid sub? Have a HAPPY and SAFE New Years Celebration!! See you in 2026!!! Sandy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

8. 

   13 Dec 2025

   Fly Agaric Mushroom sketch

   Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Oh my - this is a poisonous mushroom! Fly Agaric (https://commonbynature.com/2018/09/21/top-10-facts-fly-agaric/) is romanticized in all those “cute” kids book illustrations, tea towels, and more - but don’t go eating it! yikes. Symptoms include “nausea, drowsiness, muscle spasms, low blood pressure, hallucinations and loss of balance. In extreme cases, seizures and coma have been recorded. Symptoms typically appear between 30-90 minutes after consumption and peak within three hours, although many unlucky souls have reported ‘piercing headaches’ for many days after.” New accounts for 2026 If you’d like to give any of these a pre-follow….have at it! I’ll be perhaps changing names on some - depends on how confusing it gets for me to remember what’s what. If there’s content on any of them, feel free to give it a like and a comment too, I’d love to juice the algorithm and see how fast I can get the new channels and pages to grow. * INSTA @sandyallnockwatercolor (https://www.instagram.com/sandyallnockwatercolor) (my old sandyallnockfineart page) * FACEBOOK SandyAllnockWatercolor (https://www.facebook.com/sandyallnockwatercolor) (my old Art Classes Facebook page) * YOUTUBE Sandy Paints (https://www.youtube.com/@SandyPaints) (new) * YOUTUBE Sandy Draws (https://www.youtube.com/@SandyDraws) (new) * INSTA @sandyallnockdraws (https://www.instagram.com/sandyallnockdraws) (new) * FACEBOOK Sandy Allnock Draws (https://www.facebook.com/people/Sandy-Allnock-Draws/61584478875961/) (new) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

9. 

   18 Nov 2025

   Watercolor Lace (Podcast Season 1 Ep 7)

   Introducing….the pod! I accidentally started one, and thought, well, hey - let’s see if this thing has legs, right? I know that I love me a good podcast with a silky voice. I listen to all kind of pods - history, science, politics, international affairs, trade, tech. As long as the voice tickles my fancy, I’ll let someone talk in my ears about whatever they want for an hour. I don’t know that I’d listen to me, but fortunately that’s not something I can make the call on. It’s you, the listener, who has to make that choice! You can listen on an audio pod app to episodes that are out there….watch out because my livecasts are in there too, and some of those have a paywall! If you’re on an audio pod, hop over to the “Episode notes” link to get over here to substack so you can watch any visuals…but I want to create a pod that’s truly fine for just listening. With video for those who want to just look. The watercolor lace painting Supplies may be affiliate links - supporting my work with a percentage paid to me at no cost to you: Daniel Smith Watercolors: New Gamboge BLICK (https://bit.ly/4cLrRMP)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/3ADDmsb)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3Mp5CkS) Yellow Ochre BLICK (https://bit.ly/3Z5OgkF)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/4d30X3j)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3AHHiYV) Aussie Red GoldBLICK (https://bit.ly/4al5yhe)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/3CfLGQg)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/40EoHI3) Transparent Red Oxide BLICK (https://bit.ly/4e5EIKI)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/3Xoin5y)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4g5kFOi) French Ultramarine BLICK (https://bit.ly/4eoUSPz)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/4epK5Ve)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3MSdcol) BrushesEscoda Joseph Zbucovic #16 mop JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4k97dcZ)Winsor & Newton Kolinsky Sable Series 7 Round #8 BLICK (https://bit.ly/4fzZa8f)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/2WjFI8e)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3UkL41x) Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round 4 BLICK (https://bit.ly/3TbuFMi)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/4etx3Gc)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4e3gCjY) Step by step The first pass was creating a difference between the lace panels; some were warmer in color, some cooler, and I added some golden light to a few just to brighten things up a bit. Negative painting leaves the whitest whites as plain paper. Next, negative painting to create lace textures - golds into browns for depth. This linen piece was really fun - creating the bobbles in the fabric like this line: …followed by the embroidered daisies and crosshatched texture… Thanks for reading Sandy's ArtStack! This post is public so feel free to share it. Then the tatting - I think this is tatting? Some golden colors in sunny areas… …and more neutral browns in shadows. Sandy's ArtStack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The embroidered floral was a fun punch of color! Nice strong colors…. …then a nice big shadow to make that fabric push behind the lace. The last bit was the almost beaded detail that had gotten lost - and a little white on the details on that piece of lace since it felt like it sunk too deep into shadow.. All done! Is there a particular lace you’d want to see fleshed out more? I think this whole painting is a bit much for a tutorial but I’d be happy to try to do something :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

10. 

    4 Nov 2025

    Nature journaling: supplies + DIY sketchbook

    Today I’ll be discussing the upcoming Nature Journaling class in the video below, and as paid subs…..you get the DIY sketchbook video above, in case you want to do your class shopping on Black Friday weekend and pick up some sheets of paper at your local art store! But first - quick notes: UPCOMING EVENTSNovember 13, 10am Pacific, Substack live November 14, 5pm Pacific, Open Studio on ZoomNovember 28, 10:30am, with Daniel Smith on ZoomRSVP for any of these on the event calendar at Artventure! So let’s talk about the nature journaling class, first, then supplies! (if you prefer to watch on YouTube directly, click here (https://youtu.be/Mt-eiJM85Gg)): Supplies may be affiliate links - supporting my work with a percentage paid to me at no cost to you: Watercolors I love using Daniel Smith paints; I was lucky enough to get started with them after a quick dabble with crafty colors, and saw the difference early on. Good paints and paper can give those “watercolor edges” we think of as gorgeous, and the cheap ones didn’t do that for me. If you want to try out some Daniel Smith colors, I recommend their “Essentials” set of 6 that I’ll use for this course so we can talk about mixing color; Pick them up at Blick (https://bit.ly/3UyT8Mm) or Amazon (https://amzn.to/3yFf1l7). You can either get a mini palette (https://amzn.to/40tiYkY) for them like I have, or just squeeze out some color on a white ceramic dish or tile (pick one up at a hardware store for about a dollar) and not have to invest in another art supply! Dry paints will reconstitute with water so you can just leave them on that surface and paint again another day. Brushes Small brushes for small sketches will really help; I’ll have 3 sizes at hand when creating videos for the class. Again, for sketching without big washes, any decent brand (ie not dollar store or unnamed craft store types) will be fine - I like DaVinci and will be using their synthetic Cosmotop Spin set of four (Round sizes 0 and 6, one size 10, and one Oval Wash size 8) is what I’ll be using, and you can get them here (https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101232695-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fitems%2Fda-vinci-artist-brush-set-cosmotop-spin-set-of-4%2F). Pens I recommend some nice thin pens for these small drawings; a fountain pen is great (I love me a TWSBI Eco (https://amzn.to/3OXJr5n)!), technical pens like the Rotrings (https://amzn.to/4pPJ4MZ) I’ll be using - or microns are great too! This set is one I used during the Ink Drawing Jumpstart class and can recommend it - it’s got a great range of sizes of nibs. You can pick that set up here (https://bit.ly/4mHAgWA). Sketchbooks This is where you get all KINDS of freedom! I’m preparing to use a lot of sketchbooks throughout the year. You can have just one to start with and decide to switch it up if you fill the first one! Below are photos of each of mine, and I don’t promise I won’t add another to my collection as 2026 wears on. LOL! Lake Michigan Book Press: My friend Crystal makes hand-bound (stitched!) sketchbooks, and she had a sale on some samples she wanted to get rid of that have Arches cold press in them. By the time I clicked, there was a yellow one left - so I snagged it! You can order a custom one from her in all kinds of sizes with whatever kind of paper you’d like….this one is listed as “medium” on her website here (https://lakemichiganbookpress.com/products/design-your-own-jewel-tones?variant=40554389307553). Moleskine: These come in many sizes and shapes, and I’m trying out a square one - this paper does buckle a little but if I’m careful I think it’ll work nicely. You can see this one on Amazon here (https://amzn.to/437MMYy). Pentalic Nature Sketch: It had the word nature on the cover so of course I tried it out! The paper does buckle evvvver so slightly, but not in a bothersome way. Pick up that sketchbook here (https://amzn.to/4qAfL1a). Pentalic Aqua Journal: Love love love these books for wash and ink. Bigger washes work fine, though you’ll see a little difference between the front and back sides so play with it to see how much water you want to use on either. They come in different sizes, and I picked up a new 6x6” one for this class, which you can get here (https://amzn.to/3LgeNHa). Speedball with Fluid100 Cold Press paper: I do love the size of this sketchbook a lot, and the hard cover with spiral means you can take it out easily to work on-site. You can pick that one up here (https://amzn.to/4gNZ2CT). Speedball with Fluid100 Hot Press paper: Another version of the above sketchbook - and this time with hot press paper. Which I’m glad I picked up because it might be the first hot press paper I enjoy working on! That one is available here (https://amzn.to/4hvGHuG). Handmade sketchbook with Fluid100 Hot Press paper: Shown in the video above, I purchased it specifically because of the Speedball book. I won’t be switching to this for my regular watercoloring, but it’s quite nice for small sketching. Get the hot press paper here (https://bit.ly/4oIKpUk). Got questions? Let me know in a comment! A few bare minimum other materials: * Pencils: You can use a number 2 pencil, but you might like to get a little set of pencils and try out different hardnesses to see what you like. I recommend this little Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencil set of 6 at Blick (https://bit.ly/4h5OQpe) or Amazon (https://amzn.to/4h0j7WB). * Erasers: depending on your sketchbook, having a kneaded eraser (https://amzn.to/3XNhzGD) and a plastic eraser (https://amzn.to/4drVcfp) might well be helpful. Different erasers work better on different papers. * White pens: A Copic Acrea (https://bit.ly/4glbrwq) pen is my go-to white pen, it can cover more than a gel pen (https://amzn.to/4e4r0HM) does, sometimes. * White paint: White gouache (https://amzn.to/4eiBqnn) can be “flicked” off of a toothbrush for winter snow, or painted onto areas to cover them. Or even to mix with watercolors to create real pastels for tiny flowers, too. * Pencil case: I keep a little Rustic Town Leather Zipper pouch (https://amzn.to/4hyE7Ea) with pencils, erasers, and pens, and my little palette fits in there too. In the class you most certainly can add anything else to your art - colored pencils! Watercolor pencils! Acrylic! Collage! During weeks 2, 3, and 4 I may do gelli printing or other crazy things, but you aren’t expected to - I hope this class will inspire everyone to try all kinds of fun things to enhance their art pages! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

11. 

    22 Oct 2025

    Ocean Monoprint

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sandyallnock.substack.com (https://sandyallnock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7) Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video by becoming a paid subscriber…you’ll be notified in the app and via email.

12. 

    13 Sept 2025

    How a book artist is made

    I love hearing about people’s passions in whatever they’re into, and since I love Crystal’s work making sketchbooks, it was particularly wonderful to hear how she got into it - and came back after a hiatus. It’s important that we take care of ourselves in the midst of even living out our passions…a lesson I need to learn from her! I do hope you’ll take time this weekend to listen to her wisdom, as well as see the watercolor tutorial later in this post! Crystal’s links so you can find her: her shop is at Lake Michigan Book Press (https://lakemichiganbookpress.com/) - if it says “sold out” just email her about what you’re looking for (also find her on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/at/shop/LkMichiganBookPress))……I found her old art website that she mentioned - go see it here (https://crystalshaulis.wixsite.com/crystalshaulis)! And of course join her great Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lakemichiganbookpress/) community and DM her with any questions or sketchbook ideas, and catch her on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/CrystalShaulisBookArts/videos) too. From one Sketchaday to Two In 2020, I purchased a sketchbook that I’d looked at online over and over again at Lake Michigan Book Press (https://lakemichiganbookpress.com/products/sketch-a-day). It’s a biggie—both in page count and cost—but since we were in the throes of a deadly pandemic that year, I decided I needed something to keep me busy! The Sketchaday took me until December 2023 to complete, so obvi I wasn’t painting in it every day, but ohhhhh I was so tickled to have finished! Crystal says I was the first to complete a book - so there’s a club of at least two of us who’ve completed such an epic sketching journey! (A flipthrough of the book is at the end of this post.) By the time I had saved up to purchase another Sketchaday, Crystal had put her business on hold for a while. We kept in touch from time to time while she took care of herself. But when she messaged me that she was back in business - OH how happy I was! It didn’t take her long to get it to me…but quite a while for me to open it because I was….afraid! I knew how much went into my last sketchbook. While I want to do it again, I put it off for over a month. Yes, I’m chicken! It really is beautiful though. The green cover, the yellow threads…and all that lovely Arches paper to paint on! Know anyone who’s a sketchbook nerd who will want to know about these books? Email this post to them! Watercolor Tutorial Below is a video of the first painting completed in the new book less than a week ago, and I’m tickled that the sketchbook has now been broken in…so I need no longer be afraid! (If you prefer to watch on YouTube directly, click here (https://youtu.be/Z_POPOcUOeE)): Supplies may be affiliate links - supporting my work with a percentage paid to me at no cost to you: Lake Michigan Book Press Sketchaday (https://bit.ly/3c5rfFz); House of Hoffman Palette (https://bit.ly/3hH5fnP) filled with Daniel Smith Watercolors: Duochrome Cabo Blue (BLICK (https://bit.ly/429Gd7U) /AMZ (https://amzn.to/4gQJGgn)/ JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3DOznLd)) Verditer Blue (BLICK (https://bit.ly/4e95QsL)/ AMZ (https://amzn.to/4e1kJxm) /JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3MJ5NIb)) Hansa Yellow Light (BLICK (https://bit.ly/3yW7fnh)/ AMZ (https://amzn.to/3z7HBvG) /JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3yZbnmp)) Ultramarine Turquoise (BLICK (https://bit.ly/4h6T9j6)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/42eY79p)/ JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3WhDhT8)) Hookers Green (BLICK (https://bit.ly/4pfQw3y) /AMZ (https://amzn.to/4nhSO05)/ JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3IHzXwB)) Sap Green (BLICK (https://bit.ly/474z6OF)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/3z0SJuo) /JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3X4NkKJ)) Transparent Red Oxide BLICK (https://bit.ly/4e5EIKI)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/3Xoin5y)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4g5kFOi) Brushes: Escoda Joseph Zbucovic #16 mop (https://tidd.ly/4k97dcZ) Winsor & Newton Kolinsky Sable Series 7 Round #8 (BLICK (https://bit.ly/4fzZa8f)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/2WjFI8e)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/3UkL41x)) Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round 2 (BLICK (https://bit.ly/42uEE4U)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/4eGM3BC)) Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round 4 (BLICK (https://bit.ly/3TbuFMi)/AMZ (https://amzn.to/4etx3Gc)/JACKSONS (https://tidd.ly/4e3gCjY)) Classes included in the coupon code mentioned in the tutorial video: Branching Out (https://bit.ly/38s0DMi) (level 2), Trees I (https://bit.ly/3IiC226) (level 4), and Trees II (https://bit.ly/3t3QsH7) (level 4) I’m leaving the rest of this post open for all readers - because my passion for getting everyone into using their sketchbooks runs strong! LIVESTREAM THIS WEEK! On Wednesday 9/17 at 5 PM Pacific, come join the watercolor livecast for paid subscribers. Not subbed yet? The September sale is still on - 20% off!! Crystal will have an earlyish deadline for deliveries BY Christmas, but she said she’ll have a gift certificate available by December 1st - so you’ll be able to tell Santa - or a bunch of friends and fam - what’s on your wishlist this year! Follow her on Instagram to be notified about the GC, and I’ll try to remember to put a reminder in a December newsletter. On breaking in a new sketchbook I mentioned in the video that I was afraid of breaking this one in. I remember how daunting it was to start the last Sketchaday! I had a “vision” for this book to be a portfolio kind of item - a beautiful overview of my mad skills and variety…..and oh did that put the pressure on! Most sketchbooks aren’t like that - most don’t cost this much! So don’t let anything intimidate you that way. Here’s a few ideas to think about: Give yourself permission to keep a sketchbook that NO ONE WILL SEE. It’s just for you. Create in your sketchbook from life whenever possible. Every day if you can. You learn more this way, since you can move around and adjust the angle, you’ll see the various light sources, where a shadow is coming from. Photos don’t give you that info. Consider a themed sketchbook. I’ve got a couple going at any given moment; it gives me the excuse to take time to pull it out. “I’m studying this thing, I need to get on it!” is a great reminder to me to sit down and fill out another page! Here are some of the books I have going: * Pen and ink urban sketching, no color * Wash and ink urban sketching * Inktober, World Watercolor Month - if it’s a month-long challenge it often warrants its own sketchbook * Black and white linear drawings, square format. Common border on all, some images break out of the box. I found a no-name watercolor one that’s terrible for painting but lovely for pen. * Ideas for big projects - things I know I can’t get to right now but one day I will flesh them out. Usually a mixed media cheap book of some kind. * Colored pencil book - Stonehenge of course. The square books (https://bit.ly/3zsagvK) seem to be my jam the last few years. And while I’m thinking of it - I link to several shops when I give you links, but of late, Amazon prices have been skyrocketing! I haven’t found much that they beat anyone for price lately. Dang tariffs. * Marker sketchbook (https://bit.ly/3VUQj9x) with ideas for videos. A little one and a big one. Yes I’ll be doing another marker video soon - did you know Olo (https://olomarker.com/) has 96 new colors coming!? They’ve got a pre-sale going on, 10% off, if you see any colors you simply gotta have! Revamped hex chart will be coming eventually once my markers arrive in December… * Graphite drawings as I work on the drawing book I’m writing. Oh, you didn’t know that’s comin’? It’s going to be a drawing book for adults - especially those afraid of trying. Full of all the encouragement you get from me in classes and videos, with all you need to know broken down into bite-sized bits. I’ve been sharing some of the ideas and tutorials with Patrons (https://www.patreon.com/c/sandyallnock) if you want to follow along. * A drawing prompt book, technically not a sketchbook, but it’s got 301 Things to Draw (https://amzn.to/463F5V9) and it gives me nudges to draw things I’d never thought of drawing before. I’m making myself go through it daily, even drawing the prompts that make me scratch my head. :) If you follow my Daily Sketches (https://sandyallnockfineart.com/sketches/) posts, you’ll have seen some of them…I had to draw lace recently, and that was so fun! What subject do you love? Or have a lot of? Create a sketchbook with all your houseplants, art supplies, wooden spoon collection, birds that visit your feeder, dog’s toys…..you get the idea. A sketchbook filled with what you love! What to do if you mess up a page I don’t know that I have any sketchbooks with NO messed up pages. If there was a perfect one, it’d be an illustrated journal or something, not a sketchbook. But I do understand the gut-wrenching feeling you get if the sketchbook is proceeding well, then there’s suddenly one drawing you want to run through a shredder then burn the tiny pieces. It’s like humility decided to take your pride and crush it like a bug! If the sketchbook has LOTS of drawings that I like and one really bugs me, I’ve been known to pull it out. With some books it’s not hard to remove it without harm to the binding….but don’t go looking for a sketchbook that’ll let you use that excuse. Early in my career I had a spiral one that kept losing pages one after another - it had a nice hard cover and I just didn’t think it ‘deserved’ to have those sketches in it! By the time I reached the last page, the 30 page book had….3 left. It’s on my shelf of completed sketchbooks, but….to be honest it’s only there as a reminder of my pride and shame. I won’t let myself do that again! I’d rather see my own growth and progress from the months I worked in that book than to see such a skinny one. What to do with completed sketchbooks If you’re a sketchbook nerd like me, you go through a lot of them. One day when I’m gone, I have no idea what someone will do with them all! But for now, I have a little ritual. The sketchbooks go on a shelf with the other completed books, as seen in the video, and I tie a ribbon onto the spiral spine or tuck one end into the book. I have a nice cacophony of ribbons from all the sketchbooks, and it’s a wonderful reminder of the years of work put in to get me to where I am today. As I’m working on writing my own drawing book, I recently had reason to spend a weekend going through all those sketchbooks, page by page. I looked for seeds of ideas that could be worked into the book, taking photos and making notes about which chapter they might go into. It’s like having my own encyclopedia! And if I ever get ‘discovered’ (ha!) perhaps some gallery will do a retrospective and put my sketchbooks in glass cases. I almost think I should write in them that these are never to go under glass; sketchbooks are made to flip through, so I hope people thumb through them all! :) Thanks for reading Sandy's ArtStack! This post is public so feel free to share it with your friends who love sketchbooks…or are afraid of them and need this help! Flipthrough of Sketchaday #1 This was shown to patrons at the time, but it’s public now - to help nudge me toward getting moving on Sketchaday #2. There’s a playlist of all my Sketchaday paintings here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvwI47YF7kGXLgfzdX4VCGS5YB0aavqje). Pop into the comments A few idea-starters: * Which of the three videos did you watch? I don’t expect anyone to do all three! * What’s your sketchbook routine or process? * Are you working in one (or several) sketchbooks regularly, or just periodically? * What have you done with completed sketchbooks? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

13. 

    8 Sept 2025

    Autumn puddle in Tehran

    Tehran puddles look just like American puddles. When writing this post I found out where it was taken - and had a little smile inside knowing that some things really are the same wherever you go. So here’s the photo (https://unsplash.com/photos/a-sidewalk-with-leaves-on-the-ground-AVHZrwQeZnM) I worked from by Abolfazl Raghebi, a car photographer in Tehran - cropped in to fit my horizontal sketchbook. Thank you Tara Dawn (https://substack.com/profile/46754518-tara-dawn), Debbie NV (https://substack.com/profile/2774468-debbie-nv), Nancy (https://substack.com/profile/7575389-nancy), Michele Kudrich (https://substack.com/profile/209810904-michele-kudrich), Beth Mattheus (https://substack.com/profile/221461014-beth-mattheus), and many others for tuning into my live video! It was slightly nervewracking to do live, especially when I wasn’t sure how to handle those leaves, but…yay for completing it in an hour? An hour is about what most of the sketches in the flipthrough took me during the year that I did them (see this post (https://open.substack.com/pub/sandyallnock/p/a-365-page-sketchbook?r=9q974&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true) if you missed that video, it’s way down at the end of the post)….this may have gone a little faster had I not been yammering while painting: For anyone who’d like to see the next livestream - become a paid member, and maybe your request will be the one I’ll create live! These livestreams are for those who are invested in this page….and did you know subscrptions are 20% off right now? The year-long subscription’s the best deal since you get 20% off for a year, but 20% off a pay-as-you-go ain’t bad either. It ends September 30, so get on it quick: Sorry for the vertical format by the way. Next time I’m going to work out the OBS system and find out which button I didn’t click that would have connected up a horizontal video! So stay tuned for that in October. Or some tech-tests that might pop up here randomly before then. I’ll be back on Saturday with more fun - cardmaking and color theory! In the meantime go have an awesome end of the week….create something every day! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

14. 

    9 Aug 2025

    Lion's mane in pen and ink

    Trying out Substack live, drawing a lion’s mane in pen and ink - and attempting, as much as possible, to speak in complete sentences. Which isn’t always an easy thing to do while drawing! Thank you so much to those who helped me come kick the tires and find out a livestream is vertical only…. At the end I flipped through the sketchbook that might become a coloring book to fundraise for my more serious drawing book - let me know if there’s something in there you’d like to see more of for a coloring book? I’d like to complete the sketchbook with drawings that’d be included! Supplies may be affiliate links - supporting my work with a percentage paid to me at no cost to you: The dip pen used here is J Herbin Belle Epoque (https://bit.ly/3FKtBLt) with Nikko G nib (https://amzn.to/3YMugDc). My buddy Crabbie is a pen holder (https://bit.ly/3RlJcDA) who keeps it from rolling off the table or laying on the paper and potentially getting ink on it. For some reason I felt like using Montblanc Mystery Black ink (https://amzn.to/46qSGGA) which isn’t waterproof but this won’t be watercolored so it’s dandy for this project. Get some Bombay Pen Cleaner (https://bit.ly/4jhq3zd) to keep a dip pen clean. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

15. 

    20 Jul 2025

    How World Watercolor Month was born

    Hello my friends! I’m back. Or about to be. The video posted here isn’t about me being back, but….it’s one I’m tickled pink to share. My friend Charlie O’Shields and I recorded this on Tuesday, and he just makes me grin from ear to ear when we talk! (And now apparently after this video, we’re committed as lifelong friends, which also makes me happy!) Charlie’s an encouraging soul, a big kid, a guy with a lot on his plate. He started World Watercolor Month (pick up some swag for charity here) (https://worldwatercolormonth.com/shop/), he has written books, he posts at Doodlewash (https://doodlewash.com) and you can keep up with him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/doodlewashed). After my hiatus from Substack, you might have some questions, and I hope I’ve anticipated them below! (no paywall on this post!) Thanks for reading Sandy's ArtStack! Subscribe and join me as I figure out what’s going to be rebuilt here. “Why are you back?” As I’m crossing my 12th anniversary soon, it’s time to have a little rethink! Things never change if we don’t reassess, and a business milestone is a great time to do that. The online world is very different than it was back in 2013. I was “hot” on both YouTube and my blog. My struggle then was on social media, but YouTube carried me. Then as YouTube became crowded in successive years, the social media scene was where it was at. I grew there - but then that’s slowed significantly with all the changes in algorithms and AI. Watching some sites changing and growing while others shrink is super hard - but nonetheless, we can’t embrace the new and keep all the old. So, what’s an artist to do? Try something different. I’d attempted a Substack when this site first appeared. The owners made some sketchy business decisions, and I’d worried they’d turn into the blogger version of X. That may be true in some areas of the site, but I’ve seen enough individuals and companies growing here that I think the good outweighs the Nazis. :) And also - Substack offers an opportunity for more folks to contribute to supporting my work. I’ve got a Patreon page too (more on that later) but some folks really don’t care to open an account over there when they’ve already got themselves set up here. Thus, I’ll be meeting the people where they are! “What’s the Substack plan?” I’d like to do more storytelling writing than I’ve been doing on my blog - since no one really reads those posts anymore (play me a sad violin!), I’ve not been putting my efforts into writing. I want to write where there are readers. And that means you! I’ve been enjoying writing articles in my newsletter, Creativity in your Inbox, that has been sending for a year now, and will continue that, but I’ll be bringing that voice even more here on Substack. For free subs: * Backstory - why I made the art, the thinking behind it * Encouragement - helping us keep a positive attitude about our art and life For paid subs: * Everything above * Growth tips - more ideas that there weren’t time for in the video; other projects using related techniques; other artists who do related work * Personal stories - my own history as an artist and things learned along the way * Study of the day - a sketch and its explanation (from my free Daily Sketches (https://sandyallnockfineart.com/sketches/) but with more to learn from) * A monthly live broadcast, chatting with paid subscribers while I work. For all star members: * Everything above * A sketch from me once a year during your subscription I hope my art and writing will reach more people this way—if you know someone who’d be interested, please do let them know by sharing - or forwarding the email if you’re a subscriber! Sandy's ArtStack is a reader-supported publication. Join in now for a discount through the end of September 2025! “How does this differ from your Patreon?” Right now Patreon is focused on the drawing book I’m writing. Or trying to write! I’ve posted about 30 posts with sketch doodles of things I’m thumbnailing out for myself, topics to cover, some with draft posts about a technique or a concept. I’ll soon be sorting through all of that and making myself a wall of stickynotes to help me organize it into a teachable outline, then start deciding what drawing subject will be best for each chapter, etcetera. $10/month+ folks get weekly posts, others get them less often. Plus, $10/month+ patrons automatically get a Substack membership for free! Patreon content won’t change; eventually when I get further into the book, I’ll be sharing video snippets with patrons, as my plan is to include technique snippets through QR codes in the book. Substack will be more of what I’m currently working on in public. Like tutorials, classes, fine art, etc. “Well, what about your blog?” I’ll be posting here differently than on my website’s blog. I’m going to include a stripped-down post over there, embedding the YouTube video and a few keywords just for the sake of the Google machine, but the “blog” tab will convert to an “archive” tab, and if those who go to my sandyallnock.com site tap on “New posts” they’ll be directed here instead. The archive will always be there for anyone who wants to read it - and in every YouTube video I’ll include a link to wherever the writing portion is included. Now that’ll be Substack. If you’re a subscriber to my blog and you get it from Wordpress (ie you get the ugly ones that WP sends out, right at the moment they go live), then you’ll get them, but with only the videos in those posts. You’ll need to go to YouTube to find the supplies, and the posts will include a direct link to easily get there for that information. “What does this mean for newsletter subscribers?” I’ll still be writing my newsletter, and linking to new videos on YouTube, but also linking here to Substack. Videos will be here too, so newsletter folks can decide where they want to watch. Since some of the content here is just for paying subscribers, some may decide just to stick with YouTube and that’s all. Totally fine! For those who want more tips, ideas, and examples of the same idea in the artwork shown in the video? Just subscribe here and you get the whole enchilada. ”Why are you confusing us with so many sites?” Ha! If only you knew how confusing it is for me to keep up with them all! And every time things change, my whole posting routine does too. I’ll be wading through it all with you. But the real reason for the confusion is trying to find where I can best spend my limited time; posting on my blog isn’t getting me anywhere, since so few people read blogs, and I’d like to figure out a better way to live this digital life. The TL;DR….. If you want ONE place where you get ALL the news, all the links to tutorials, art, sales, new classes - my newsletter will be the hub. It’ll link out to all the places. I’ll be including much of that here on Substack, too, but I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to pay for Substack just to get the important stuff. And I hope, in time, you’ll come to see which location has the content you want to see or read. Remember, you’ll be able to do a test subscription here and view a few previous posts, so you might wait til September when you can go back through and see if this is the place you want to be. Study of the day Yesterday I planned on going to the free sketchwalks at Sketcherfest in Edmonds - but when I got to the place the website said was the hub of Saturday activity, the lovely gal at the front door said they’d moved to a different location. I tried to find parking at that location, near a very busy Farmers Market, and unfortunately would have been walking half an hour to get there. And of course by then everyone would have dispersed and I wouldn’t know where, or what time to return, or if they’d return to see each other’s work….you can see how this wasn’t going to work. I almost decided to stop at another place in town and sketch on my own, but was too frustrated to even think about drawing at that moment. I drove home, debriefing with a sketching buddy who, lucky Lisa, is at Yellowstone National Park right now. I got to hear her stories of the silly things tourists were doing - as well as the sad story of a bison who wandered into a hot spring and was slowly cooking. :( I thought they were smarter than that?! I returned to my home as I saw on the weather app that the sun would be out in a few hours, and was rewarded by said sunshine when I made my way over to Tacoma. I stopped to sketch the Murray Morgan Bridge, which I’d had on my list for a while; a big hill ends at the bridge with some small rollercoastery hills near the end. I love this old clunky bridge; it was built in 1913 as a “lift” style bridge to replace a “swing” style bridge constructed there in 1894. A few decades ago the bridge was nearly torn down, but Tacoma convinced DOT to give it to the city to maintain. It closed in 2013 due to its condition (fortunately Highway 509 was in place so traffic could go around), and was repaired for a while just for bikes and pedestrian, then eventually to full traffic. I cross this bridge to go to the other side of the Thea Foss waterway to sketch, and you can see the view from there in this recent video (https://youtu.be/t448Zg0oUH8). I once would have considered this too much for a sketch; I’d have included every window, every sign, even that fire hydrant. I’d have been glad for the lack of cars and people in this photo, taken after cars had moved and while pedestrians weren’t wandering! And I’d also have gotten closer to the bridge to get a better look at the detail to draw. But in recent months I’ve been practicing the art of simplicity. Trying to learn how to edit a scene in front of me and not include it all. And I also have to say, now that my eye surgery is behind me, I could actually see the bridge from up here on the hill! My sight had been failing so much in the past few years that many of my art decisions were made because I couldn’t see much at all. (You’d think that would have helped me eliminate overly detailed drawings, but I think I tried to make up for it by sitting too close to a subject!) I was thrilled with this sketch - the many things that were cut out, and those included the dude with the long hair and winter coat (?!?!) carrying a huge box, the cars that I caught while still parked, a family down the hill with their dog. I once didn’t include cars or people, and would create “post-apocalyptic” drawings with no vehicles or humans! This is loose enough to make me feel happy, it was done quick, and I also played with a new-to-me mix for greys: cobalt teal blue and pyrrol scarlet. Pop into the comments I’d love to know what you think about my return. * Is there something specific you’d like to see, or to hear about? * Is there a tidbit you’d like to see tucked into Substack as a benefit just for paid subscribers? * What questions did I not answer above, or were some answers a mushy mess of confusion? I’ll be officially doing a “substack relaunch” with a video on August 2, which is my actual business anniversary, detailing these changes being made. I’d love to have your input before then so I can get my ducks in a row and be as clear as I can about what I’m doing. Haaaaalllllppppp! :) Create something every day,Sandy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe (https://sandyallnock.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

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