Another week, another set of pages that started as nothing and ended as something. Sketchy Thoughts is a running document of the daily sketching process — first-person, chronological, and committed to pen and paper in a world full of undo buttons. No layers, no filters, no going back. Just the mark, the hesitation before it, and whatever comes next.
Documenting the week of May 13-19
Substack: https://monumentsinruin.substack.com
Starting this blog feels a touch strange this week. Kind of like a time warp. Being a post-dated is both a blessing and a touch awkward. The early momentum and additional pressure of typing directly on top of the working process may have had a positive aspect I had neglected but having a moment to breath, reflect and revisit these moments without a looming 24 hour deadline lurking is certainly the way to go.
I’m watching/listening to the Tony Alva Story episode of Jeff Grosso’s Loveletters to Skateboarding and making notes. This series continues to be one of my all time favorites. RIP Grosso. Let’s roll!
Daily Art | May 13-19
Sketch and Catch! What a beautiful day to be outside for a few minutes. The pup had fun and the ink was flowing in a nice way. This day was a bit warm and the pup nudged me in a nice way to find his water bowl so this was kind of like a lightning sketch. There was enough time to find a stopping point but not one second longer. haha! No color added this time. There was a lot of potential in this piece.
Ok. Let’s step backwards a day and start working through the week. Some days we feel like everything is out of step and low on steam. Fatigue, depression, some type of weight sitting upon our shoulders. We all experience this and it can make starting feel ominous. Most important, put something out there. Share it or don’t. That is not the point. Sitting idle only amplifies whatever we are sitting in. Movement helps. Sometimes it even heals.
The creature peering out at the world from a lurking seclusion accurately reflects the way I felt at the time. Note the starburst occurring and the space in the background.
Though the opening for this page was questionable, it did not hold a candle for what would follow. After a 3:30pm visit to the dentist that took 3 hours my body was physically done. I was barely able to hit the pharmacy, buy some Tylenol and cash in a prescription. My breakfast was around 9am but the remainder of the day was without. Made it home, numb, swollen, swallowed an antibiotic and laid in bed for the evening around 7pm.
My wife had suggested trying to eat due to the antibiotic but I had no interest in such. I could barely get the antibiotic down due to the numbness. Sleep was my future. Woke around 8:30pm with her recommendation rolling through my head. There was also this strange urge to carve this clawing imagery onto a page.
Since Feb 18, 2025 I have tried to do SOMETHING every day. Morning and evening. So far, it has been successfully locked in my schedule. Decided to get up and give something a shot. Food and sketch. Both would be questionable.
It took me almost an hour to make it through a package of Ramen Noodles. In that time the claw vision in my head converted to these stalagmite looking things. Something about it made me want to see some eyes lurking behind them.
That’s it. We survived. Let’s go back to bed.
Friday afternoon and we have some down time to relax on the porch. The weather is beautiful and we are taking a moment to see where the work last night will lead us today.
Looks like creature design is the way. This bumpy texture was really appealing to me in the moment. It was inspired by an image of an octopus so it naturally leaned into that direction.
I was hesitant to showcase tentacles. One is already sneaking into view. In one way it would work naturally and be cool to see them wrapping around other elements. In another way, it would be fun to avoid total commitment to the creature until the point of no return. Perhaps it is not the purpose of what my heart is putting into the work yet.
Added some more sack to the octopus allowing me to dig deeper into this texture development that feels so good. Also added a seashell with the consideration of wrapping those tentacles around it later.
The choice has been made. The landscape has stolen my focus. Something about the shell really unlocked the direction for the next phase. Hatching and shading has been a discipline that requires more work. I wanted to force myself into that arena. Though the mind longs for it, my hand is still struggling to connect the path. For now, this feels really rewarding and visually pleasing to me.
“Embrace the darkness”
The words of my friend Dee at Sour Leaf Studio keeps ringing through my head. “Embrace the darkness” Perhaps that path will come into focus one day.
Take the time. Nothing is required of us. A moment to live stress free is a moment that can not be purchased. It can not be scheduled. It can not be replaced. When it arrives, take advantage of it. In this case, sitting on the porch, beautiful weather, a quiet afternoon. Lets enjoy some reading and artwork to recharge our inspiration.
Shown: Shudder Issue #25
After taking a break, there was a bit more touch up here. Still reaching for that darkness.
Added more landscape. Tentacles are officially no longer in the cards. This landscape work has completely captivated me.
Funny to me, I knew this piece only required a few more scratches of the pen but chose to stop for the evening and finish it the following day. Really happy with the way this work made me feel emotionally in the moment. By the end it was totally opposite of the way it started. A real time showcase of momentum becoming the cure. We can chose to dwell. We can also chose to search.
Sketch and Catch! We are back in the work week. Though it felt like the art concept was strong, the pup was not having it today. This piece was barely executed as the sound of the outside had us on edge. The pup is not a fan of machinery. Nor does it allow for a peaceful moment of reflection. Couple that with some humid heat and disappearing shade. It was easy to tap out of our late afternoon lunch break and return inside.
This was still a cool work. Would have been fun to attach some color here and there.
Weekly Sunday Theme Challenge | May 17
The Sunday theme for this week was “The most delicious food ever”. It immediately brought to mind this vision of some gross, drooling mouth, dripping with spaghetti. Maybe not the most delicious representation but it made me laugh and had a blast bringing it to life on the page. Is there a hack for drawing noodles? haha!
Daily Sketch Challenges | May 13-19
This week I achieved a personal record within the daily sketch challenges. Though it is not part of the format, most days I quietly attempt to work these into one larger work. Connecting them at random as a way to trouble shoot ideas, concepts and create a flow within the work.
Keep in mind, this is how my day starts every day. There is not a lot of time to dig in. It happens fast and loose within under 10 minutes before leaving for work on weekdays and is the way my weekend mornings kick off with coffee.
This week the page was pushed into 9 days. A personal record for what I consider a cohesive work. Below you will see Monday May 11 (Cocktails) and Tuesday May 12 (Lucky Charms) already featured where we pick up on day three.
It was a fun challenge to commit to frosted tips. It required some commitment to the character size, if it would become one with the previous challenges.
It made me laugh to think the dogs hair mirrors the humans hair!
It felt like we needed some jams in this salon.
The idea of a creepy crawly quietly mingling their web into the hair makes my skin scrawl. haha
Was really excited about the way the peas in a pod turned out. My wife actually suggested the pod shaped bowl and totally saved the day.
Corner flower in a pot with some insects who love the scent.
Had to raise Captain Caveman up because the feet are important!
There we are! Nine days. What a fun adventure!
Other | May 18-19
…is this the end?