drawing your requests while I answer your questions

[@sarahogborn8024]

A very appropriate quote from the one and only Lemony Snicket: “If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

[@liart6219]

Just love this evolving of your illustrations, great Fran! By the way, I’m almost 61 years “old” , pleas don’t let age intimidate you! Ones a friend of my mother , while paying her a visit told me, “ look at this garden, when I started it I was 70 and I felt I was to old for the project, now lm 90 and I have a mature garden full of life. And I still have new plans for it. Just try, take care of your dreams. All the best from Italy and the fourth week of self isolation. A hug to everyone!

[@IvnaLinsIllustration]

definitely the most beautiful thing i read today! thank you so much for this 💛

[@parkhana01]

i really like when we can watch someone drawing directly on an ipad instead of just the timelapse, please keep filming yourself drawing w the ipad

[@Kirzhuna]

"Do you like my metaphor" should be a t-shirt xD

[@fortytwocrayons3485]

Yes!

[@thedesignscribe]

I am awful at drawing people. I always feel like I'm cheating when I use reference photos, because I don't fully understand human anatomy. I really appreciate knowing that maybe that's just part of the process and not cheating.

[@avek.2654]

Definitely not cheating! It's all part of the artistic process. The shere fact that you acknowledge you need to look at a reference or a pose or a style is proff your a smart artist. Our imaginations are magical things, but they don't know everything. So never feel uncomfortable when you don't know what something looks like from off the top of your head, EVERYONE uses references. Believe me, you're smarter and more talented than you think and definitely not alone.💖

[@klaudiawegrzyn224]

I'm sitting here in the quarantine alone for almost 3 weeks now - your video is like a call from the close friend, so heart-warming. Love your work and good, pure energy. Be safe! Cheers from Poland! 💕

[@TheBigmamabird]

Sending hugs from Vermont in the north of the US where the snow is still melting and the daffodis are slowly standing up!

[@andresifuentes5815]

Hey! You can do this! Greetings from Perú ✨

[@lindahazel5075]

There is one good thing about all this. We have the Internet. We can talk to people. We can find out what's going on. It's scary as hell out there. We can find good people still.

[@weikaillustration]

Oh my goooosh Kiki's Delivery Service, I watched it like a week ago and it's my favorite scene too, it almost made me cry, I love the parallel between art and magic and I agree with everything they say, that whole dialogue is perfect and on top of that the cozy cabin vibe just fills my heart with happiness and comfort

I can relate so much with the age thing! I’m 33 and I’m feeling like a proper granny when it comes to creativity, career and trying new things!

[@lauralutine]

I watched an article about famous people blooming very late, and it helped me a lot!

[@ScharonArt]

I really love some of the very quote-worthy things you said in this video. "If creativity was a plant you had to water it every week." "Be patient. All the the things in life that are meant to be stable take time." Words to live by :)

[@Mrmuffinlol]

architects dress mostly minimalist-'i'm cool'-relaxed- black or gray colors- dont put to much effort but i care a lot kind of style

[@chiaramarker]

I'm to shy to sing as well! We should have a band named "the awkward singers" :D

[@alwaysyoutome19]

venue: the karaoke room :D

[@IrinaDuarte]

me too! I love to sing but I'm so bad at putting myself in the spotlight, I'm so shy and awkward, it's a struggle, at this point I feel like if it happens it will be by accident jaja

[@katvogel98]

fran could you please post some more of your meals and snacks? only if its convenient to you but I remember from watching all way back with your christmas blogs and how nice it was seeing you and Ed make cookies, you always give a lot of inspiration for nice vegan recipes!

[@pippinarts]

Best day of my entire life. I literally screamed and ran around the house showing my parents that my favorite artist answered my question! Thank you so so much. I'm sure you'd as amazing a singer/actress/forest ranger/coffee shop owner/baker as you are as an artist ❤

[@beeswithtoast7154]

I love how authentic your videos are. You are not afraid to share your actual thoughts and feelings with people even if it doesn't portray a picture perfect image. It's pretty cool.

[@clemencelartigau]

WoW. I was literally thinking « I’d love to hear Fran and chill with her right now ! »... 😍 and here you are !!!!!

[@artbyjov]

I’ve seen other people say the same thing but watching your videos is like listening to an old friend. You bring so much comfort💖

[@sues1446]

My useless (and annoying) talent: Most of the time when I watch a movie/series I guess what the "weird suprise element" is going to be and it turns out to be true. Even hilarious ones.

[@HeyItsMia]

your videos always make me so happy! hope you're doing well Fran (& you, if you're reading this 🧡)

[@valenr.1277]

I'm doing a Ghibli marathon with my father and today we are going to see Kiki: Delivery service!! I'm super excited about it 😍

[@Punkaroonio]

just skip the fireflies one, have a nice marathon!

[@valenr.1277]

@@Punkaroonio Thank you very much! I will keep that in mind, have a nice day 😊

[@emzyh]

I was an architect student in 2010-2013. You got everything right (especially the inclusion of glasses, drawings pinned up and a cool shirt) but we never got taught at desks. We were either in a Lecture theatre or sat on chairs listening to a crit

[@CraftyKarin]

Oh and on the being patient, some advice that I’ve really loved for that is to compare yourself not to others, but to yourself from yesterday, last week, last month, last year and see the progress.

[@StetStudio]

I loved getting to see how you fulfilled/interpreted the prompts as well as hearing your answers to the questions. As for weird talents... I can curl my tongue (that's a pretty common one...) but my girlfriend can fix the pressure in her ears after they pop! I suppose that's not totally useless...

[@ArborParva]

Oh my gosh Fran, that scene from Kiki's delivery service was so cozy, I just paused your video and found it on Netflix straight away. The movie is so great, I literally cried just because I was so touched by its beauty and its kindness. I can't thank you enough for suggesting this wonderful piece! Now back to watching your blog ❤️

[@eoschandre]

Fran

[@bayba4366]

Oh Fran you dont know how much your videos have helped me in the past two years Since i found you on youtube. Ive moved to the Uk alone 3 years a go and struggled alot with life and everything. I stopped art and lost all my confident completely also depression has been a huge part of my life this past few years. Last year I started doing and practicing art again. And you ve been like a sister or a very good friend and helped me, motivated me a lot. Thank you fran ♥️

[@mariannedelaforge5922]

I am sure I am not the only one who would love to hear about your future songs ! Thank you so much for everything you do!

[@Meoxypoo]

In regards to you feeling like an a**hole or being discouraging by telling people that it actually takes longer than just a few months or a few tries when figuring our your style, I think ( at least for me) it's actually more encouraging and positive to hear from illustrators and artists that I admire that it takes time and you aren't going to figure it out right away. You're being real and relatable in that it's taken me years to even get anywhere close to "figuring it out". If that makes sense. So thanks for being real.

[@TheNaifl]

Thank you so so much, Fran, for this video. In a way it was super helpful, and not only regarding drawing and professional struggles. But also for your piece of advice about audio messages. I started feeling a huge need to record one myself for my friends from abroad. You are a love 😻

[@gretathunberg5]

My weird talent is, that I can remember exact numbers that don't really matter. And I can paint bunny's really well but all other animal paintings I try to do look silly and wrong. LOL

[@yariarenas]

I love your draw with me Q&A videos 💕

[@jenniferchen5351]

Fran thank you so much! I loved this video and I especially loved your extract of lying down on the floor to get a picture of your pose. I used to draw a lot as a teenager and that is exactly what I used to do as well!!

[@lolawall3765]

I LOVE the way you color your illustrations! It looks perfect

[@adihrespati]

Your advice to ShikoNez is so kind. I wish I had a mentor like you. You make me want to learn drawing again. I am going to really freaking start. Thank you, Fraaaan.

[@josimmons799]

Hey Fran! Your video really hit a chord today especially when talking about age. I’m 37 & Im obsessed with watching YT vids about illustrators, and wish dearly to be able to draw/illustrate. I often feel like I am too old to start and that my images are too childish. I wish more people would talk about the fears behind being creative

[@Liz-ls7hu]

"just do it, baby. do it for me." LOL love it!

[@radkidsart]

Thanks for the inspiration, Fran. Your videos are so clear and easy to watch. I love how you walk us through your process in Procreate. It's something I want to start learning this year. Can't wait to do this in my own videos soon.

[@nataliaferraro3761]

My weird talent is that I’m good with smells. Haha I can recognise a lot of smells. But is annoying too cause a lot of them are disgusting to me haha I don’t know if any of this makes sense

[@EmiCrazyDoll]

My sister ir very good with smells aswell she picks really good parfums, but she's very picky with food smells specially eggs and chicken, she can smell those even on washed dishes (and I can't smell almost anything unless is very strong and in front of my nose haha)

[@nataliaferraro3761]

Catherine Artola haha haha I knooowwww! I don’t think I can smell things from washed dishes hahah but I am picky as well. It can be an annoying “talent” haha

[@EmiCrazyDoll]

@@nataliaferraro3761 yeah, I think it can be a super talent, but as you say it can be anoying sometimes

[@agnes.roberta]

This is not entirely useless. You could work with perfumes, coffee, beer, wine, chocolate. Specialists in these areas need a keen sense of smell.

[@21kittensArtStudio]

Hahaha same here! And if they’re too strong they will give me headaches and irritate my nose.

[@Aneriana]

About your question from Jorge on using reference: it's absolutely fine to use reference! In fact, this is what you're supposed to do if you want to create good illustration. Many experienced artists mention using reference photos as a fundamental part of creating a good artwork. How are we supposed to know how to draw things if we don't know what they look like. We're artists not visionaries. 😆 And it doesn't only apply to realistic painters. Even with a cartoony style - you need to know the rules well so you know how to break them properly.

[@beetheartist8715]

Random useless talent: I have a lazy, yet controllable lazy eye. I can look at you with one eye and look a different direction with the other one. Also, I can pick up things with my toes, but I think a lot of people can do that.

[@justinkeefe3456]

Bee Lauren please show this magical eye on camera!!! Haha. That’s great, I’ve only known one other person that can do it, and it was years ago. Fantastic video. Lot of fun. Wonderful art, and good luck with the band! We expect to see your first song within 3 months. :) Ps. Do you want one more audio message buddy!? Lol.

[@lauralutine]

I can do THAT too ;-) (the eye, and the toes, hahah)

[@fraffee]

Fran, what you said about the stable things in life you want to build take time building..oh man, that is going to stick with me for a very long time.

[@emilyrosewright507]

I love seeing your hands at work, more than the Procreate time lapse personally! Love this video, so nice to hang out while we are all stuck at home

[@alishacostanzo2689]

Weird talent: I can lift both of my eyebrows individually and make them dance. Apparently, it's genetic. It's funny because when I lift my right, it's usually a good reaction. When I lift my left, it's a negative reaction. I told one of my friends this, and she spotted it when we were out at lunch one day. She keeled over laughing because she'd asked me about someone who rubbed me the wrong way and kept pointing, "The bad eyebrow. The bad eyebrow." We had to explain to her friend, who had joined us, what that meant.

[@ChloeNyiri]

Yayy! I'm so happy! I actually just went over to your IG to look through your lovely comics because I missed you already! 🌻 And then your name popped up! 😁 Thank you for the video! 💕

[@awaliyahm9890]

i'm an architecture graduate and i can say that your architecture class drawing is so spot on i love it hahah anyway thank you for all the answers and advices; those are really good and some of them are what i exactly need to hear now :)

[@evafeld]

My work process is very similar to yours. I found it most interesting to see you film yourself working in procreate on your ipad. I felt inspired about how you do your colouring in. The speed in which you film your work process is also easier to learn from than the procreate time lapse. Thanks, I love your videos. I love how you explain everything.

[@anggieb.2936]

I like watching your hand move around the screen. I love seeing the process so much!

[@CheeCheeMcFee]

I found your account recently and now often have them playing in the corner of my screen as I sketch. I really like the advice you give, it's comforting to hear you say you use multiple references for illustration, I do that too. Especially for shading, it really makes a difference! I like to mash up different references to create something new! Hope you're doing ok with lockdown, here in Italy it's been nearly 5 weeks and two more to go :o

[@TheEgevejFamily]

Perfect video to keep me company while eating dinner 🌸 Your videos are always a calming space for me and makes me want to draw (without fail!).

[@canthave6minutes]

Fran! Your videos make me so happy! especially on this freaky times.

[@jennylomax1112]

Oh my goodness I would buy so many prints of the girl in the terrarium!! Beautiful work, hope you and Ed are both keeping safe ❤️

[@TheBubblypumpkin]

you're not being discouraging. You're being honest. It takes a lot of hard work especially those with an "artistic talent". You always have to keep your portfolio fresh and stay in the public and continue to work on your craft, or you loose it.

[@artbyjane1]

this is such a wonderful video.. I could watch you draw and chat for hours, sending you love Fran!

[@clarisserodarte8560]

yeah, we architecture students are always so tired, thanks for the recognition fran loool also thanks for this video! i loved it ♡

[@PolinaKalina]

Loved the video!!! The combination of the process + the timelapse is just perfect! Hope you make more of this kind of videos in the future. I'm 33 and feeling super old already but luckily no longer under an illusion that I can live multiple lives, as it felt only a couple of years ago lol. If I don't try things I want to do here and now - then when... Thanks for the vid Fran! All the best!

[@lizard9375]

I loved the succulent reading sesh! This was fun. I love your style and the kind way you give honest advice.

[@sambhavisingh3551]

My random weird talent : I always wake up before my alarm goes off. Without fail. Every. Single. Time. Even if I am taking a nap for an hour or if I have to wake up really early. I set my alarm and I always wake up up like, 10 minutes before it's supposed to go off. PS: I really love you and your videos. They are like virtual hugs and I look forward to them every week. 🖤

[@mounthive]

Nothing like your soothing voice and meditative drawing to get me through the day! 😍😍😍😍😍

[@lisassodiangelo]

Ay fran me ha encantado el video!! 😍💕

[@meganfernandez2641]

You made my day with your video//Me hiciste el dia Fran

[@emublue]

I like both timelapse and seeing you drawing, if I had to pick one it'd be seeing you drawing because I feel like I can see more of your process and feel the effort you put in❤

[@capristone]

This was a wonderful video to listen to while I did art! I love your voice and it was so calming to listen to everything you had to say.

[@bromlebibiz9889]

So amazing! I really loved seeing both the timelapse AND the recording of you actually drawing on the ipad! It was a great idea to put in both! 💕

[@TheBigmamabird]

These were so fun to watch, both ways... I can always find what my guys are hunting for, sometimes by just pointing at it right in front of them! Also I pick things up with my toes... Also I am 54 and still feel like a kid a lot, hahahhaa...sigh, a very tired, and creaky kid who wonders why all these babies are having careers and babies and etc!

[@daniloaiza9473]

I loved the last illustration, since I study architecture I feel all of you tired and lost wombats, but it's a beautiful career ❤😭😭😭 thx Fran i loved it

[@AmyGiglio7683]

I really enjoyed this video! Just watching you create combined with the questions was super interesting.

[@squeallymae]

keeping it real with Fran. So much truth here

[@monikakopcilova9594]

Thank you for answering my question re The Artist's Way

[@annalipka273]

Loved your video today🤗In this mad times of coronavirus there are still things that can make us happy. Thank you Fran😘

[@louhortonsculpture]

I love the detail in the architecture teacher’s shirt ☺️

[@cesso91]

Love love love how you drew the lantern light on the two girls 🌸

[@haleytippmann4415]

I really enjoyed listening to this while I draw. Thanks, Fran!!

[@sandramcfarland5229]

It’s now Monday April 13th and I went back to your last day in Hastings because I missed that one. I’m so teary! I guess I needed that! Thank you for your vlog.

[@carlosalaniz2047]

Makes me so happy hearing you talking about architecture students because I am one of those jaja and just rn in Mexico we’re in quarantine and all my clases went to online and latterly I just don’t feel it and makes me feel kinda anxious... love ur videos and art greetings from Mexico

[@nausea2005]

Yes. The art. How lovely.

[@Doolemethis049]

I draw from memory since I was a young especially when I'm interested specifically on the image and want to study it more which came in quite handy since it was the time where cellphones weren't available yet. Currently though of course we have tons of pictures of things that inspire us in our phones but I am still grateful for having this gift of photographic memory.

[@ellamoody2280]

Thank you Fran!!!! your really helping me through this hard time! :)

[@freakMasha]

thank you for all those great answers! I'm encourage a lot! Will save this video to my "mood" playlist where I save encouraging and wholesome videos to boost my mood

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

I totally relate to feeling that "real illustrators" can just draw anything from their heads. I used to feel really guilty for using reference, which I now realise is so bizarre! I also used to think that all illustrators came up with the perfect idea/composition/finished illustration on their first try!! 😂 Thankfully from talking to other artists or just listening to podcast interviews I realise that these things take time. 😅

[@Intervain]

as a 42 year old watching this I was thinking exactly that 'you're so young lol'

[@aat10Kyoko]

Intervain as a 56+ year old, everyone and thing are sooo young *･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*best.

[@ecomsnacks6122]

audrey takeshta you're as young as you feel :)

[@siroranga1861]

I had to laugh so hard when you described the architecture students😂 I feel seen! Thanks for the support on architecture students❤️You did a great job on the architecture class! The teacher inspecting the tree😂😂 Thanks for the wonderful video! Be safe!

[@mayrabelen3015]

I really love when you pronounce the spanish names and comes out your chilean accent 🖤 luv u fran

[@CraftyKarin]

Love this video, and I love your characters, I think there is absolutely no shame in using references, I was amazed at how you were drawing that girl drawing at a table, my people drawings are often so terribly flat looking and I loved that you mentioned references at that point. I started drawing last year after years of being convinced I wasn’t good at it and what I did love was to find some drawing prompts and just see what I could do from memory and was really surprised at how well I could draw things without references. I liked this because I always felt like all I did with my creativity is imitate, work from examples, patterns, ......, and I was looking to express myself more, but after a bit of sketching from memory to see how far you get, to spark ideas and to find what comes from me, and then go to references to get things right, like you said, postures, perspective and all that is just not something that you can get right from memory all the time. Thank you for this video!

[@sumayaink]

I absolutely love the illustration at 25:10

[@TheSewistbyCen]

Ohhh I love Kiki Delivery movie ❤❤❤ all Studio Ghibli movies actually... thanks Frans for this video... im a fan from the Philippines ❤ a youtuber too sharing my Sewing Skills .... your videos are on play while Im sewing 🤗

[@dhayakarishma4020]

Yay!! She's back right when u need her💛😄🌼✨

[@tspacefullstop4161]

Oh Fran..you're a genius! REference your own body!!!!! Audio messages....yes...thank you. I'm 50 years old and only started teaching myself to draw, 4 years ago. Need to reference my hands....urgghhh.....every day is a gift. I'm still at work...last week coming up and will be the school holidays...crazy times. xxx Love the Wombat. Peace.

[@EveBlum]

This video was so relaxing to watch! Thank you for sharing all the tips

[@vintagecladius]

The girl in the terrarium was my favorite. :) I loved this video!

[@Ifra444]

Wierd talent of mine - I can very realistically meow, dogs and cats respond when i do it :) also fran, I love watching videos of people drawing on the iPad when they're actually filming in real life - I dont know why but I find it really relaxing. Love your videos!!

[@nanachan8719]

I saw that some other artists have made a live drawing (streaming on youtube) because of the quarantine this days, I would love to you see you draw live and chat with you, love you fran big hugs and love for you, your husband and your little pets (love hamburguesa)

[@stracciatella]

Love this type of video, your answering questions while drawing our requests 🤩 Top content. Muchísimas gracias por haber escogido el wombat, Fran. Me encantó el resultado 👌

[@Sipho1856]

This is also my favourite Kiki scene!! When I first watched it I was really not expecting the kick in the feelings this movie gives. Sometimes I put it on just to watch this scene.

[@LauraPalmer_]

Jo, que video tan bonito, relajante y útil, Fran ✨Me decidí por fin a hacerme Patreon la semana pasada y es lo mejor que pude hacer. Tus vídeos, podcast, ilustraciones... me ayudan a sobrellevar este tiempo de confinamiento y mantenerme creativa 💖(y por qué no, también me ayudan a mejorar mi inglés jaja). Y he aquí mi talento raro/oscuro: puedo sostener cucharas (de las grandes, de las de sopa) en mi nariz y mis pómulos (hay fotos del descubrimiento de este talento en mi infancia, por si en algún momento necesito dar cuenta de ello en mi CV). Ah, y también puedo levantar una ceja y moverla arriba y abajo sin mover la otra, tanto con la izquierda como la derecha ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¡Un abrazo, fuerza y ánimo!

[@MituDjakarian]

This video was so so helpful and nice. I'm gonna write a big ass comment now. - I change mediums many times and sometimes I feel bad. It's good to feel reassured. I think each medium is good for specific things so I change depending on what I want to make or express. - I thought I was a weird illustrator because I don't have much of a visual imagination. I work with concepts. I think of a concept and I try to translate it visually through illustration. So, when I begin, I don't really know what colours, lighting, etc will be used in the drawing. It's more like, I know which elements have to be present because they have a specific meaning that will symbolize my concept. The rest I decide as I go. I change the piece until I feel it represents what I want to put out. For that reason, I work better digitally because it's easier to change things. - There are singers that started singing really "late" in life and still did incredible things. Also, you can just start by singing/composing/recording to yourself, just to have fun with it, and then you see where it takes you. - I love the last illustration with the wombats, it's amazing _ < - "(...) which is basically girls and cats." hahahahahaha!!! thank you Fran for this video, i really enjoyed it :) stay safe y'all!!

[@agnezia16]

yayyyyy been waiting for this since a week ago haha, gonna watch it now just wanna say how happy i am right now because you upload this video thank you fran

[@GravityCatnip]

Kiki is one of my favorite movies too! I love that you don't sugar coat your encouragement it makes it so much more genuine. useless talent: I can roll my tongue in clover. I know it's weird lol

[@hannamelba375]

This is the most satisfying video I've watched in a long time! Thank you so much! This is so helpful and inspiring! Love from France x

[@jtru0]

This was a fun video! My favorite illustration was the succulents.

[@nematarot7728]

I love these videos!!! ♥️ and one of my random talents is that I can build really huge card houses, towers, and pavilions. I learned this skill from my grandmother when I was little because the family had tons of packs of cards and the internet wasnt really a thing yet.

[@biancan3257]

I like more when you film it showing your hands! Is really cool. I loved the first one, the princess cat! ❤️ I will watch your favorite movie, thank you for the recommendation Fran! Have a nice week 🙂