Sylessae
@sylessae.bsky.social
Helping tired artists rekindle their love for art.
✏️ Portrait Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/sylportrait
📖 Mentorship: https://mentor.sylessae.com
🖼️ https://www.sylessae.com
✏️ Portrait Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/sylportrait
📖 Mentorship: https://mentor.sylessae.com
🖼️ https://www.sylessae.com
Pinned
Sylessae
@sylessae.bsky.social
· Nov 27
My portrait bootcamp is for you if you:
- Spend too much time thinking about drawing rather than actually drawing
- Don't know what to focus on in your studies
- Get overwhelmed by all there is to learn
- Struggle to balance art with other responsibilities
- Thrive with accountability & structure
👇
- Spend too much time thinking about drawing rather than actually drawing
- Don't know what to focus on in your studies
- Get overwhelmed by all there is to learn
- Struggle to balance art with other responsibilities
- Thrive with accountability & structure
👇
If you're feeling a bit aimless when creating, it helps to have something bigger to work towards. An example is my convention prep:
- It creates a clear goal
- Every project has a purpose
- Everything is an experiment (yay dopamine)
- The monotony of packing and printing is a brain reset from art
- It creates a clear goal
- Every project has a purpose
- Everything is an experiment (yay dopamine)
- The monotony of packing and printing is a brain reset from art
January 23, 2026 at 2:35 PM
If you're feeling a bit aimless when creating, it helps to have something bigger to work towards. An example is my convention prep:
- It creates a clear goal
- Every project has a purpose
- Everything is an experiment (yay dopamine)
- The monotony of packing and printing is a brain reset from art
- It creates a clear goal
- Every project has a purpose
- Everything is an experiment (yay dopamine)
- The monotony of packing and printing is a brain reset from art
This has come up a lot in recent mentor sessions and feels important to reiterate:
It's important to know the difference between pushing past your comfort zone versus ignoring your own needs for rest and regulation. 👇
It's important to know the difference between pushing past your comfort zone versus ignoring your own needs for rest and regulation. 👇
January 20, 2026 at 1:57 PM
This has come up a lot in recent mentor sessions and feels important to reiterate:
It's important to know the difference between pushing past your comfort zone versus ignoring your own needs for rest and regulation. 👇
It's important to know the difference between pushing past your comfort zone versus ignoring your own needs for rest and regulation. 👇
Reposted by Sylessae
Playing with other mediums can feel like becoming a master of none, but I've found each one feeds the next. What I learn in one medium always carries into others and has a funny way of leading me back to the one I love most.
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
January 18, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Playing with other mediums can feel like becoming a master of none, but I've found each one feeds the next. What I learn in one medium always carries into others and has a funny way of leading me back to the one I love most.
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Reposted by Sylessae
Self doubt is something every artist deals with.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
January 9, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Self doubt is something every artist deals with.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Reposted by Sylessae
It took you hours, days, months to make.
✨ Why should your art only live for a few hours in a single post?
Here is permission to repost your work.
✨ Why should your art only live for a few hours in a single post?
Here is permission to repost your work.
January 18, 2026 at 4:27 PM
It took you hours, days, months to make.
✨ Why should your art only live for a few hours in a single post?
Here is permission to repost your work.
✨ Why should your art only live for a few hours in a single post?
Here is permission to repost your work.
Reposted by Sylessae
it's my birthday today. i ask that you please make a shitty little drawing in a journal without posting it and revel in your human heart. maybe write a nasty curse against an ai bro in the same journal. 😌
January 17, 2026 at 4:16 PM
it's my birthday today. i ask that you please make a shitty little drawing in a journal without posting it and revel in your human heart. maybe write a nasty curse against an ai bro in the same journal. 😌
Reposted by Sylessae
My grievance with the notion of talent is how much it disempowers individuals and how deterministic it is — how it causes most to believe that there is an age limit to learning and developing skills, and most importantly, that it’s not as worthy of trying as a result
January 17, 2026 at 10:00 PM
My grievance with the notion of talent is how much it disempowers individuals and how deterministic it is — how it causes most to believe that there is an age limit to learning and developing skills, and most importantly, that it’s not as worthy of trying as a result
Playing with other mediums can feel like becoming a master of none, but I've found each one feeds the next. What I learn in one medium always carries into others and has a funny way of leading me back to the one I love most.
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
January 18, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Playing with other mediums can feel like becoming a master of none, but I've found each one feeds the next. What I learn in one medium always carries into others and has a funny way of leading me back to the one I love most.
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Quick croissant study in watercolor 🥐
Reposted by Sylessae
Unsure what to study? 👉 Draw from memory and study what's hard.
Want to draw faster? 👉 Simplify subjects into memorable shapes.
Need more detail? 👉 Use reference.
Stuck in a frustration loop? 👉 Get feedback.
Struggling with proportions? 👉 Compare elements as you draw.
Want to draw faster? 👉 Simplify subjects into memorable shapes.
Need more detail? 👉 Use reference.
Stuck in a frustration loop? 👉 Get feedback.
Struggling with proportions? 👉 Compare elements as you draw.
March 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Unsure what to study? 👉 Draw from memory and study what's hard.
Want to draw faster? 👉 Simplify subjects into memorable shapes.
Need more detail? 👉 Use reference.
Stuck in a frustration loop? 👉 Get feedback.
Struggling with proportions? 👉 Compare elements as you draw.
Want to draw faster? 👉 Simplify subjects into memorable shapes.
Need more detail? 👉 Use reference.
Stuck in a frustration loop? 👉 Get feedback.
Struggling with proportions? 👉 Compare elements as you draw.
Reposted by Sylessae
Can we talk about @tinamon.bsky.social's progress since starting the portrait drawing bootcamp??
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
January 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Can we talk about @tinamon.bsky.social's progress since starting the portrait drawing bootcamp??
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
Reposted by Sylessae
Reposted by Sylessae
Let's make 2026 the year of drawing whatever you want, whenever you want, for whoever you want.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
January 8, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Let's make 2026 the year of drawing whatever you want, whenever you want, for whoever you want.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
Reposted by Sylessae
An eye study for #sylbootcamp that got real painty real fast.
But I’m not mad about it.
I was a very strict line-and-color kind of person until… just this year, really.
I’m learning that not everything has to be bounded by crisp and precise linework.
~metaphors~
(Ref by @trueref.bsky.social)
But I’m not mad about it.
I was a very strict line-and-color kind of person until… just this year, really.
I’m learning that not everything has to be bounded by crisp and precise linework.
~metaphors~
(Ref by @trueref.bsky.social)
January 11, 2026 at 11:23 PM
An eye study for #sylbootcamp that got real painty real fast.
But I’m not mad about it.
I was a very strict line-and-color kind of person until… just this year, really.
I’m learning that not everything has to be bounded by crisp and precise linework.
~metaphors~
(Ref by @trueref.bsky.social)
But I’m not mad about it.
I was a very strict line-and-color kind of person until… just this year, really.
I’m learning that not everything has to be bounded by crisp and precise linework.
~metaphors~
(Ref by @trueref.bsky.social)
It might be good for someone who has had no taste of pressure. But if you’re no stranger to discomfort, and have been grinding for years, I think there’s more to learn about yourself in the quiet pauses than to keep pushing through pain. 💛
January 10, 2026 at 4:18 PM
It might be good for someone who has had no taste of pressure. But if you’re no stranger to discomfort, and have been grinding for years, I think there’s more to learn about yourself in the quiet pauses than to keep pushing through pain. 💛
Self doubt is something every artist deals with.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
January 9, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Self doubt is something every artist deals with.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Instead of trying to erase the doubt, invite it in. Let it sit with you while you create.
When you show up WITH doubt, you build confidence.
Finding freedom in abstract florals
January 9, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Finding freedom in abstract florals
Reposted by Sylessae
If posting art on social media has diminished your desire to create, taking a break will change how you show up for your art.
I didn't realize this until I stopped posting.
🧵Let's reflect:
I didn't realize this until I stopped posting.
🧵Let's reflect:
January 6, 2026 at 4:14 PM
If posting art on social media has diminished your desire to create, taking a break will change how you show up for your art.
I didn't realize this until I stopped posting.
🧵Let's reflect:
I didn't realize this until I stopped posting.
🧵Let's reflect:
Reposted by Sylessae
I got approved for a booth at @zenkaikon.com this year!
This will be my first convention in the decade that I've been making art so any advice is welcome!
I'm really excited to see you all in March!! 👀
This will be my first convention in the decade that I've been making art so any advice is welcome!
I'm really excited to see you all in March!! 👀
January 7, 2026 at 12:58 PM
I got approved for a booth at @zenkaikon.com this year!
This will be my first convention in the decade that I've been making art so any advice is welcome!
I'm really excited to see you all in March!! 👀
This will be my first convention in the decade that I've been making art so any advice is welcome!
I'm really excited to see you all in March!! 👀
Reposted by Sylessae
Unpopular motivation hack for drawing:
Start drawing immediately, even if it feels impossible.
After 15 minutes, your brain will recognize the difficult task and create dopamine to help you keep going.
Agonizing endlessly before the drawing doesn't help your creative process.
Start drawing immediately, even if it feels impossible.
After 15 minutes, your brain will recognize the difficult task and create dopamine to help you keep going.
Agonizing endlessly before the drawing doesn't help your creative process.
October 26, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Unpopular motivation hack for drawing:
Start drawing immediately, even if it feels impossible.
After 15 minutes, your brain will recognize the difficult task and create dopamine to help you keep going.
Agonizing endlessly before the drawing doesn't help your creative process.
Start drawing immediately, even if it feels impossible.
After 15 minutes, your brain will recognize the difficult task and create dopamine to help you keep going.
Agonizing endlessly before the drawing doesn't help your creative process.
Let's make 2026 the year of drawing whatever you want, whenever you want, for whoever you want.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
January 8, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Let's make 2026 the year of drawing whatever you want, whenever you want, for whoever you want.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
It's your year babes. Draw what makes you happy.
Reposted by Sylessae
Today I played with woodless colored pencils (featuring apples)
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Today I played with woodless colored pencils (featuring apples)
Reposted by Sylessae
Can we talk about @tinamon.bsky.social's progress since starting the portrait drawing bootcamp??
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
January 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Can we talk about @tinamon.bsky.social's progress since starting the portrait drawing bootcamp??
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉
It's been just over a month of practice and she's made a huge jump! 🎉