An entire spread filled with sneakily drawn tiny people. All artwork shown copyright © Nishant Jain from Make (Sneaky) Art published by Quarry Books/Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Used by permission.

If You See Something, Draw Something: A Toolkit to Make Sneaky Art

Originally from Kolkata, India, and trained as an engineer, NISHANT JAIN defied expectations and abandoned a PhD in neuroscience to reinvent himself as an artist, podcaster, and writer. Known online as the Sneaky Artist, Nishant began drawing as a way to make sense of his new home, after moving from India to the United States and later Canada.

Nishant wrote his new book, Make (Sneaky) Art, to make it easier for others to recognize beauty in our distracted, divided, unhappy world. To use a sketchbook habit to reclaim our attention span. To equip artists and curious people with the tools that help add more beauty to this world we share. In this excerpt from his book, Nishant discusses what you need to get started on your own sneaky art journey.

A Toolkit for Sneaky Art

You do not need much to start drawing. It could be just a simple sketchbook and one or two pens (or pencils!). In fact, a minimal toolkit is sometimes the best decision for the aspiring (sneaky) artist. To take out a full kit of colors and brushes and a big sketchbook would be inviting undue attention upon yourself. Who is this person? People may think to themselves. What kind of crazy thing will they do now?

Very un-sneaky.

But outside of the ordeal of dealing with unwanted questions, a minimal toolkit is also great for anyone who hesitates to get started. Here are some reasons why:

Do not waste time getting started. Carrying only a few — but trusted — tools means always reaching for something comfortable. When inspiration strikes, we must be ready to begin!

Overcome decision anxiety. Agonizing over which pencil to use, or trying to find the right color, can be exhausting. Having a small toolkit allows us to stay in the flow of creating, to go deeper in the journey, instead of constantly interrupting ourselves.

Creativity thrives within constraints. A limited toolkit will fire your creative instincts! To adapt and improvise is at the heart of creative thought. Doing this on the sketchbook page can lead to fun and insightful discoveries about your art, your taste, and yourself.

Forgive your errors. I started drawing with a pen because I was tired of my own perfectionism. Putting myself through several “bad” drawings taught me that the joy of finishing is greater than the joy of getting it exactly right. There is a dopamine hit waiting at the end of every page, and turning the page is a gift we get to give ourselves. A simple toolkit leaves no room to get everything exactly right, and allows us to focus on the joy of making art.

A drawing with fountain pen (black ink) and acrylic markers — light and dark blue

When planning your minimalist toolkit, refer to the following for some useful combinations.

LINES AND COLORS

Carry one trusted pen for linework, and up to two tools for colors. These can be brushes, markers, pencils, or other pens.

LINES AND MORE LINES

Carry one primary pen to draw with and two fineliners (one thinner and one thicker). Different linewidths are useful when working without color.

Here I drew with a fountain pen and fineliners to establish depth of scene.

ONLY THREE COLORS

Take three colors at a time. Think warm, cool, and a bold highlight. Carry a different combination of three every time, keeping in mind colors are not correct or incorrect in isolation — they are relational. A three-color challenge is a good way to learn which colors work best with each other.

Experimenting with colored pencils while sketching my infant son

Whether you’re an experienced artist or a complete beginner, Make (Sneaky) Art will help you build a sketchbook habit and approach your world with mindfulness and attention.

Nishant Jain is an artist, writer, and podcaster. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his family.