69. Making “bad art” with Sleepyfroggy, physicist and master of cuteness
“Drawing something is always better than not drawing at all.”
Let me introduce you to one of my dear friends, my favourite stationery addict and purveyor of snacks. Amy Q. is a physicist who grew up in Canada and lives in Germany. We met during her PhD at UBC, when one cafe meeting at Breka evolved into a wholesome little art club. We even tabled at a few craft markets together in the early days of the pandemic.
Amy moved to Europe in 2021: sad for Vancouver, but a boon for western Germany, because Amy’s art practice has blossomed through her frequent trips and cultural immersion. You can follow Amy’s various challenges on her Instagram Stories: daily drawings of food or flowers show off her trained eye for cuteness.
Also, Amy’s travel photo game is on POINT! Look at this stunning landscape, only matched by Amy’s perfectly delightful yellow coat:
Here is our interview, lightly edited for concision and clarity. We touch on Amy’s evolving art style, the freedom in “bad art”, and the fulfillment in saying “I made that.”
Rachel: Hi Amy! How are you doing today?
Amy: Hi Rachel! I'm doing great, thanks for asking! I just got back from a two-week trip around Europe with my parents, which was really nice but also a bit tiring, so now I'm looking forward to settling back into my daily routine at home.
R: Nice! It’s fun to be on that edge between travel and everyday life – each enhances your appreciation of the other.
A lot of our hangouts and shared hobbies revolve around drawing, painting, and of course food. As long as I’ve known you (since 2019 now!) you’ve been irresistibly artistic. Did you always draw as prolifically as you do now?
A: I drew a ton as a kid! My mom would put up all the drawings I made and we covered a whole wall in our apartment. But as I got older and started gravitating towards math and science, I started to feel like a "serious" scientist shouldn't be "wasting" time on things like art (yeah, I was one of those). I never stopped drawing completely, but I remember there was one year in undergrad when I was drawing a lot and I always felt so guilty that I wasn't studying or working on my research instead. Only in the last few years did I start to believe that it's OK, and actually good, to spend time and effort on your hobbies, even if they're "just" hobbies. I think meeting you, Rachel, and seeing how much heart you were putting into your art really helped me with this process! Since then, I've made a much more conscious effort to make time for art whenever I can.
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R: Aw, thank you so much. It goes both ways: you’re one of my biggest inspirations to make more, too!
How has your art practice changed or evolved over the years? Are there any subjects or themes to which you find yourself continually returning?
A: In my teens, I mostly liked to draw people in manga style. Then I had a phase where I was really into Pokemon/Neopets and drew a lot of animals, both real and imagined. Around 2016-17 I started discovering all the good food in Vancouver and correspondingly started drawing a lot of food. I still draw a lot of animals and food, plus a bit of urban sketching and landscapes every now and then.
I used to think a good drawing was detailed and realistic, and I spent a lot of time on getting things perfect. These days I'm trying to care less. I just wanna make cute and colourful art however I feel like and not think too hard about it.
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R: So interesting how we followed a similar trajectory in styles. We both started with those highly-detailed food watercolours, to the point where people could barely tell apart our work when we tabled side-by-side. Now, we both play with more simple shapes. No matter what form the work takes, I think your technical skill and your exuberance for life shine through.
You mentioned something I want to dig into: the mindset change, from aiming for perfectionism to allowing yourself more roughness. What advice do you have for aspiring artists, say if someone feels that perfectionism creeping in, or thinks they’re bad at drawing and doesn’t know where to start?
A: I think it's really important to embrace making "bad" art. I used to spend so much time and effort on making my art look perfect and I think it took a lot of fun out of it. These days my art mantra is "quantity over quality." If you make enough "bad" art, the "good" art will come along naturally. I try to enjoy the process of making art rather than only looking forward to the final result.
My suggestion is to get a cheap sketchbook that you wouldn't mind "wasting" (I am personally way too precious with my good art supplies) and make a little time to draw in it regularly. I like to draw in pen or marker so that I don't spend so much time erasing and trying to make things perfect. I try to always finish the drawings even if I don't like how they're going. Often they turn out better in the end. If I don't know what to draw, I always default to objects from my everyday life. Maybe I ate a slice of pizza for lunch or opened a new bottle of shampoo or wore a cute outfit. Sometimes I draw the room I'm in. I love experimenting with new materials but I also try to remind myself that I can draw with just a pencil and a piece of printer paper, and drawing something is always better than not drawing at all.
R: That’s such a good catchphrase to embrace. Documenting something, even a mundane object from daily life, is way better than nothing. Even that practice can reveal surprises and new techniques to explore.
Of the additional ways you’ve explored arts and crafts – such as carving stamps, painting on ceramics and jean jackets, and making beaded bracelets – which is your favourite and why?
A: Hmm, that's a hard one. I go through a lot of phases where I do one thing obsessively for a few months, and then it sort of fades into the background. I think what I like best is actually trying new things and seeing how my art translates into each one. But in general, I really enjoy anything where you end up with something usable and one-of-a-kind (a bowl, a jacket, a bracelet…) and being able to say "I made that!"
R: So good! I love that feeling too.
Even when you’re away on vacation, which is often with your European jetsetting lifestyle 😎, you make time for art, and post your beautiful pen drawings and scrapbooks on Instagram. What do you think is the key to your consistency?
A: To be honest, I'm not always consistent about drawing on vacation! It depends a bit on who I'm with and what their pace is like. But I always have a small cheap notebook and a pen with me so that if I have a few minutes, I can scribble something quickly without being too precious about it. I think that drawing something, even badly, makes a much stronger impression on me than taking a photo. I try to not have any expectations though. I don't want to beat myself up over not drawing when I'm on vacation!
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R: I appreciate that you are honest about lapses, since Instagram can make it appear that artists are consistent if they time their posts just so. The reality can be a bit more messy, but your intention and output remain an inspiration.
What are some things you’ve learned from making a lot of quick art in this way – either about drawing techniques, or about yourself?
A: I think basically I learned to care less, haha. When I spend hours and hours on a piece, I get really emotionally attached and then I'm really disappointed if I make a mistake, or if it doesn't turn out the way I imagined. But if the whole drawing only took five minutes, I can just do it again, or do something else, or even both. So that takes the pressure off and gives me a bit more room to play.
R: For sure. I just finished reading The Creative Act by music producer Rick Rubin, and he echoes that idea of taking the pressure and seriousness out of the process. You’ve mentioned not being too precious a couple times, which is key to moving from “thinking” to “making” modes. For a creator to keep the energy positively flowing from one piece to the next, there has to be room for play and experimentation – as well as the willingness to share (as you do on your Instagram Stories) and move on to the next thing. Too often, we don’t allow ourselves that freedom, but it’s so important!
What’s next for your art practice? Any new materials or subject matter you’re excited to explore?
A: Now that I've been living here for a few years, I've been thinking about making a series of pieces about my experiences in Germany, but I haven't really figured out what that might look like yet. It might be something like paintings of my favourite cafes in Frankfurt, or comics about working at a German company, or illustrations about what Germans typically do throughout the year. I'll keep thinking about it!
R: I think that’s a lovely idea, no matter how it turns out; the fun will also come from letting the project take its own satisfying shape. We’ll keep an eye out on your Instagram!
Over to the comment section: what does “bad art” mean to you? Have you ever made art while on vacation, and how did that feel different from making at home (if at all)?
Thanks again for your time and insights, Amy!