I started an illustration course in January and, with a ‘New Year – Raaaah’ sort of energy, immediately threw myself in to a daily drawing practice. I joined in with #ShapeChallenge on Twitter, drew picture after picture and between January and March I noticed a definite improvement in my ability. I really can’t speak highly enough of doing something creative every day. No matter how limited your abilities at the beginning (or, more to the point, how limited you THINK they are because we all seem to doubt ourselves massively!), you WILL improve and seeing that improvement spurs you on to do more and get better!
So there I was, feeling quite chuffed with myself (‘New Year Raaah’ with a tangible outcome has to be something to be proud of), when in Mid-March I was hit by a whole heap of stuff that totally derailed me from my drawing. I couldn’t find time and, because I was drawing so infrequently, everything I produced on the odd occasion I tried, was rubbish. Honestly, it made me cringe. I totally lost confidence and felt quite fed up about it all.
Then last week I gave myself a huge mental shove. I’d felt like I had no time for drawing because so much of my energy was going into blogging and running the #THISislearning campaign, so I decided to combine the two. I started doing tiny daily cartoons about the sort of activities kids love. The sort where they learn masses without even realising it. Where they experiment and persevere and imagine and create. I shared my first two in my last blog post. Here are my next three:

I love maths with a positive outcome. Admittedly, “0+effort = lots” is maths only in a very general sense but still…

This was inspired by this post from Luisa at Teaching Tiny Minds: https://teachingtinyminds.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/making-a-river/
I did tiny pictures because somehow it helped my confidence. I’m not sure why… maybe because drawing big feels more risky (if it’s rubbish it’s a big pile of rubbish) and drawing small feels more safe (less of a potential mess)? Who knows, but I’ve enjoyed doing it.
And then a really fab thing happened – an awesome friend of mine – Sus @MrsJTeaches – started drawing some #THISislearning pictures too. I LOVE them:
Since then, a couple of other people have expressed an interest in drawing something for the campaign too (thanks guys!) and it got me thinking that I’d love to put together a gallery of #THISislearning pictures on my blog (and share them on social media of course). And I would love you to join in!
It DEFINITELY isn’t a talent competition it’s really about having a go at something creative and having some fun. In fact, you don’t have to draw, you could paint or glue or photograph a tower of creatively poised bananas or something…
If you’d like to join in just tweet your image @writingbubble using the #THISislearning hashtag. Go on, don’t doubt yourself, create.
what a great idea! I love these drawings! #thisislearning #pocolo
Thank you!
Maddy recently posted…don’t doubt, just draw.
Brilliant! What a wonderful way of expressing all the different ways of learning and I love all your drawings and the fact that other people are joining in too

Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted…A little slice of blogging brilliance: being shortlisted for the BiBs
Thanks Louise – I’ve love your little cartoons too… would love you to do a #THISislearning one!
Maddy recently posted…don’t doubt, just draw.
I love the whole sentiment of this post, and I love your drawings! “Don’t doubt, just draw” – absolutely!
Thank you! I really loved your #THISislearning cartoon, thank you so much! x
Maddy recently posted…don’t doubt, just draw.
Those drawings are fab! I went on a visual thinking course a while back and we were all very nervous about drawing and doubted we even could. The instructor asked if five year olds could draw, we said yes. Then he asked if we were once five, again yes – and his logic was well you were once five so you must be able to draw. yeap we were speechless and picked up our pencils!! Thanks for linking up to #PoCoLo x
Stephanie Robinson recently posted…Laurel and… hardly there anymore
These drawings are beautiful. I really can’t draw but I do admire and will look forward to see what you come up with next!
Louise recently posted…Fifteen