I don’t tackle my sketchbooks in any sort of chronological order. Often, I’ll half-finish a page spread and then come back to it months later to fill in gaps or add new things. I’m constantly collecting bits of ephemera to paste in wherever they fit best, timelines and date stamps be damned.
But sometimes, I just sit down and draw something in one sitting - this was one of those times. I just thought “I feel like drawing a moth” and this is what happened. I did a vague pencil sketch before going in with pens - mostly just to get the layout right, since I am notoriously horrible at spatial awareness and often find myself drawing off the edges of pages or overtop of things I was sure I’d be able to avoid.
The quote on this spread is a reminder to myself. Another tendency I have, especially when it comes to making art, is to overthink. I get so caught up in the planning and the perfecting, that I don’t even draw anything. And the truth of art is… planning can only get you so far. Eventually, you have to just Make Something. And that Something might not turn out the way you envisioned, but at least you did it. At least you Made The Thing.
If you’re struggling with brain fog, stagnation, or fear of crossing busy streets, I hope this moth can serve as a reminder to you too.
“Doubt is a creature within the air. It grows when someone hesitates.”