📰 Good news break: the kindness of strangers

And five other creative inspirations for your week ahead

💫 Inspiration to draw on this week

New segment: the week in 3

In the spirit of my eternal desire to declutter and simplify my life, the blurb at the beginning of this update will be replaced with three photos to sum up my week. Here goes:

1. The best mess is a creative mess

2. Plein air: get outside and draw

3. Inflatable fun in the sun

Moments from the week

🖍️ Get creative: learn to draw or play music, Simply

Discover the joy of drawing or playing music the Simply way. Imagine having your own personal music or art teacher at your fingertips. With the help of AI and some clever little videos, the Simply suite of apps is perfect for anyone looking to pick up a new hobby.

Whether you've always wanted to learn to sing, play the piano or guitar, or explore the world of drawing, this could be just what you're looking for. As someone passionate about drawing, I’m exploring the Simply Draw app because I’m always curious about these apps, especially to teach my own techniques one day. 😃

🎵 Music to move your pencil to: 🎹 Crate Diggers Funk

It's the perfect soundtrack for your summer BBQ or a creative session in your studio. I love this compilation—it has the right grooves to keep the creative vibes flowing.

✍🏻 Artist recommendation: Si Scott

This week, instead of recommending a book or podcast, I wanted to share one of my favourite artists with you—Si Scott, who has been a profound inspiration to me for years.

Si Scott began his career in graphic design, but his unique fusion of hand-drawn techniques and digital design quickly garnered attention, leading him into the world of illustration. He has collaborated with top brands like Absolut, Nike, and Coca-Cola, seamlessly adapting his distinct style to various commercial projects. His intricate black-and-white pieces, characterised by delicate swirls and bold lines, are masterfully crafted and full of life.

Although details about him are scarce, it’s fascinating that he has transitioned from graphic design to tattoo artistry—a path I’d love to explore someday! Whether on paper or skin, his work continues to captivate me with its perfect blend of elegance and attitude.

Si Scott illustrations: the perfect blend of elegance and attitude

🌟 Good news break: the kindness of strangers

When "the computer says no" in Little Britain style, the UK public knows how to step in! I was thrilled to hear about a street cleaner, Paul Spiers, who 'won' a holiday after public outrage erupted when his bosses denied him a £3,000 gift raised by the community.

Paul, a beloved figure in Beckenham, was initially unable to accept the gift due to restrictions from his employer, Veolia. Thankfully, travel company On The Beach stepped up and awarded him a £3,000 holiday to Portugal instead.

Read the full story here.

💬 And finally…a quote to live by

“Humans are messy, and it can be dangerous to deny our common fallibility by drawing up lines that separate and divide. Right side? Wrong side? Mostly, we are the mess in the middle, dazed within a fog of unknowing, stunned by life and amazed by it too, and all the more beautiful for it.”
~ Nick Cave, musician and writer of The Red Hand Files

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