Thank you for this lesson! Ben & Jerry's had a great post today about choosing community over chaos and shared a fitting MLK Jr. quote that perfectly aligns with this exercise. "If we make that choice... to listen rather than speak and to see rather than look away, we will choose community over chaos." I am so grateful for this GUT community of artists. 🎨🙏🥰
This is a great lesson for today. I would say it’s a distraction, but it’s so much more than that. Engaging our hearts with the world.
Just a reminder: not all of us can walk or even stand. It would be appropriate to include alternatives - e.g. when I’m outside, I use a mobility scooter and I call it going for a scoot instead of a walk.
I am really loving taking part in these lessons and am happy for a new spin today, and I think we need to be careful about assuming that people have time today because it is a holiday. Many people, especially those in the service industry, do not have today off. I am sure the intentions here are all good, and let's be supportive of people who have to squeeze things in even when the rest of the country is resting.
Point taken, Amy. And a lot of people in the GUT are outside of the USA! I tweaked the language a bit to make sure it's clear that you can do 10 minutes or 1000 minutes. But today is a good day for a little *extra* time spend looking for hope and drawing. <3
Wendy Mac’s posts meet us where we are - at work, at home, on the go, in need, sickness and health 🫶
Today is a holiday for everyone here in the USA. Not necessarily a day off work, true. But per her mission, Wendy makes space for us, and we make space for each other and everyone welcome!
I so appreciate your spirit, Wendy. Big! Open-hearted! Happy MLK Jr Day everyone 🕊️
My heart hurts too much today, so I will tend to it quietly and save this assignment for another day. I’m loving this month of drawing — it is enriching my little watercolor practice.
I will have to leave this for another day, as my today is already dark at this hour. That's ok, it would be a pitty not to enjoy this assignment in sunshine :). I hope I will find the time tomorrow or some other day.
Oooh! I can’t wait to do this later. I have always had a funny love of paint/color samples! I look forward to pairing color with the list to create my own. Thanks Wendy, and feel better!
In case anyone else can benefit (screen reader users, dyslexia-friendly font users, large text, et cetera), I've transcribed the mini assignment text from the images that follow "Alright, here we go." Hope it can help others!
Transcript:
An Artist's Call to Attention
Today,
taking a walk is a radical act.
Drawing is an act of protest.
Making anything with your hands is, in fact.
Time with loved ones & no phone is a coup.
Today I'm inviting you all to turn off your screen,
I spent the inauguration time in an online multifaith prayer circle. My heart is so full, and reading today’s call to attention feels like a further widening of the circle. Thank you. 💜
Wendy Mac, sending you love and wishes for your recovery from flu.
Thank you, Wendy. I just have to tell you how helpful this lesson was for me today. In 2017, I returned to drawing after 25 years because I was so filled with anxiety after the election I needed an outlet. It helped me so much. In 2020, I found you when we were locked in by the pandemic and you really saved us, me and my 9 year old, with Draw Together. Today, in 2025, another horrible day for our country, I thought I would hide under the blankets. But I went for a walk. And I drew. And I SAW. I looked for the good and the sad and the interesting and I found them. For a while, I wasn’t buried under the weight of the future. I was grounded in the present, in my life, in the neighborhood, and in my art. Thank you so much for this. It really meant everything.
Reading your assignment today made me cry a little, cause it touched my heart deeply. I‘m feeling stronger from day to day by this beautiful process. Drawing. Looking. Loving. Thank you Wendy, also for your kindness. Get well soon from the flu.
I enjoyed today's lesson. I tried unsuccessfully yesterday and today to access the Chat section for subscribers to share my work. It is not accessible, sadly. I miss being able to see other people's work.
This assignment helped me to have an entirely different January 20 than I otherwise would have. I stepped out of the house and was looking and seeing so much so intensely that within 5 minutes I was deeply moved by other beings and I needed to sit to gather myself and jot some notes. What a great exercise for today and such a fulfilling example of seeing what we look for and going where we look Deep thanks for this Wendy Mac and I am sorry you have the flu and hope it leaves soon.
Thank you for this lesson! Ben & Jerry's had a great post today about choosing community over chaos and shared a fitting MLK Jr. quote that perfectly aligns with this exercise. "If we make that choice... to listen rather than speak and to see rather than look away, we will choose community over chaos." I am so grateful for this GUT community of artists. 🎨🙏🥰
This was so helpful today. It brought tears to my eyes, and I felt comfort, encouragement and a real sense of belonging. Thank you Wendy & crew ❤️
Happy you're here, Laura. <3
This is a great lesson for today. I would say it’s a distraction, but it’s so much more than that. Engaging our hearts with the world.
Just a reminder: not all of us can walk or even stand. It would be appropriate to include alternatives - e.g. when I’m outside, I use a mobility scooter and I call it going for a scoot instead of a walk.
Thanks for a good start to this year.
Great reminder, Terri! Super appreciate the mobility/ability flags, and will work to integrate them moving forward.
I am really loving taking part in these lessons and am happy for a new spin today, and I think we need to be careful about assuming that people have time today because it is a holiday. Many people, especially those in the service industry, do not have today off. I am sure the intentions here are all good, and let's be supportive of people who have to squeeze things in even when the rest of the country is resting.
Point taken, Amy. And a lot of people in the GUT are outside of the USA! I tweaked the language a bit to make sure it's clear that you can do 10 minutes or 1000 minutes. But today is a good day for a little *extra* time spend looking for hope and drawing. <3
Wendy Mac’s posts meet us where we are - at work, at home, on the go, in need, sickness and health 🫶
Today is a holiday for everyone here in the USA. Not necessarily a day off work, true. But per her mission, Wendy makes space for us, and we make space for each other and everyone welcome!
I so appreciate your spirit, Wendy. Big! Open-hearted! Happy MLK Jr Day everyone 🕊️
My heart hurts too much today, so I will tend to it quietly and save this assignment for another day. I’m loving this month of drawing — it is enriching my little watercolor practice.
Maybe a good day for a heart spiral, Jane. Sending love.
Sorry to hear you have the flu! Hoping you have lots of soup and cozy things. 🍜 Thanks for this hopeful assignment.
I will have to leave this for another day, as my today is already dark at this hour. That's ok, it would be a pitty not to enjoy this assignment in sunshine :). I hope I will find the time tomorrow or some other day.
It's always here for you, Roxana! Thanks for rolling with the earth and it's spinning <3
I’m sorry you have the flu. Thank you for taking the time to do this exercise today. It is very needed and appreciated from me. Get well. ❤️🩹
Oooh! I can’t wait to do this later. I have always had a funny love of paint/color samples! I look forward to pairing color with the list to create my own. Thanks Wendy, and feel better!
In case anyone else can benefit (screen reader users, dyslexia-friendly font users, large text, et cetera), I've transcribed the mini assignment text from the images that follow "Alright, here we go." Hope it can help others!
Transcript:
An Artist's Call to Attention
Today,
taking a walk is a radical act.
Drawing is an act of protest.
Making anything with your hands is, in fact.
Time with loved ones & no phone is a coup.
Today I'm inviting you all to turn off your screen,
get up & take a walk with me.
If you can't go outside, turn towards a window.
Take A Walk
Look outside.
Go outside & look.
And look for something hopeful.
A good sign from the universe.
(They are everywhere but only show themselves
when you look.)
If you're not sure of where
to start, here. I made you a list.
Ten things* to look for
on January 20th, 2025
1. Something starting
2. Something struggling
3. Something protecting
4. Something caring
5. Something shining
6. Something sharing
7. Something growing
8. Something loving
9. Something watching
10. Something waiting
*Things can be people
Print this list out. Copy it
into your sketchbook. Just
get it off the screen & onto
paper & take it outside.
And, if you want, you can go a step
further: do that crazy thing you
loved to do when you were little &
is still there deep in your bones & heart:
draw them.
They can be stick figures - worse than
stick figures - they can be scribbles w/
a word underneath, but use that ancient
tool you used to use to help you think*
called "a pen."
*More than think- express! Communicate!
Studies show when we write by hand
(which is, in fact, drawing) our
intentions - what we pay attention to -
gets burned into our brains & can change
the course of our lives - our destinies!
(well, the studies don't say that exactly,
but it does redirect our focus &
can influence our behavior.)
Today seems like a good day to
turn off the screen
you're looking at right now, stand
up, grab a pen & paper & go outside
Make something.
Say "Hi" to someone (a stranger, even!)
Do the things you want
to see more of in the world.
More to the point,
make them.
XOXO, Wendy Mac
Thank you!
I spent the inauguration time in an online multifaith prayer circle. My heart is so full, and reading today’s call to attention feels like a further widening of the circle. Thank you. 💜
Wendy Mac, sending you love and wishes for your recovery from flu.
Thank you, Wendy. I just have to tell you how helpful this lesson was for me today. In 2017, I returned to drawing after 25 years because I was so filled with anxiety after the election I needed an outlet. It helped me so much. In 2020, I found you when we were locked in by the pandemic and you really saved us, me and my 9 year old, with Draw Together. Today, in 2025, another horrible day for our country, I thought I would hide under the blankets. But I went for a walk. And I drew. And I SAW. I looked for the good and the sad and the interesting and I found them. For a while, I wasn’t buried under the weight of the future. I was grounded in the present, in my life, in the neighborhood, and in my art. Thank you so much for this. It really meant everything.
Reading your assignment today made me cry a little, cause it touched my heart deeply. I‘m feeling stronger from day to day by this beautiful process. Drawing. Looking. Loving. Thank you Wendy, also for your kindness. Get well soon from the flu.
I spent the day at SFMOMA with a great friend and saw works by artists we have studied: Sherald, Kelly, and Martin!
I enjoyed today's lesson. I tried unsuccessfully yesterday and today to access the Chat section for subscribers to share my work. It is not accessible, sadly. I miss being able to see other people's work.
This assignment helped me to have an entirely different January 20 than I otherwise would have. I stepped out of the house and was looking and seeing so much so intensely that within 5 minutes I was deeply moved by other beings and I needed to sit to gather myself and jot some notes. What a great exercise for today and such a fulfilling example of seeing what we look for and going where we look Deep thanks for this Wendy Mac and I am sorry you have the flu and hope it leaves soon.