That's So Sketchy

July is International Zine Month! You can get all of the zines we've released over the last month by becoming a Zinester member of our Patreon! As of July 19th, that's seven zines for $3, plus all of the zines we release on Itch while you're a member.

Looking to level up your drawing skills, you see an ad in the paper for sketch artists. They're offering training and with words like "challenging" and "skill growth", it sounds like a great way to hone your skills. 

But putting it nicely, the bootcamp situation you arrive to is... well, SKETCHY! You're here though and might as well make the best of it!

That's So Sketchy is a game you play in pairs. You can play with just two players or make it a competition with other pairs of challengers.  You take on the roles of sketch artist and describer and try to draw a picture from the describer's photo reel. What makes it silly (challenging) is a series of dice rolls and prewritten questions you ask to structure the description of the photo as you draw. 

Questions like "Why did you take this photo?" might lead to really insightful answers like: "The sunset was so beautiful. I couldn't resist pulling the car over and snapping a picture". or "It was so funny, I had to get a screen shot to text to a friend." But questions like "Is there a sign or text in the photo?" could turn out to be a simple "no". 

When you're done with your sketch, will it look anything like the describer's photo? With a lot of luck... you never know.

Inspired by

Written for @blancisthecreative #minizinejuly25 challenge. July 11th - 15th prompt "Sketch Book" with the following instructions: "Imagine your mini zine is a tiny sketchbook. Doodle in it, stick your stickers inside, write little notes for yourself." And the Sunday Zine Club #12 jam theme of "dozen".

I need much more practice to feel ok with putting art out "there". I did sit down and art but cringe at the idea of putting it out in the world. So instead, I have made a two-player game with sketching in it. It's silly so that there is no pressure to have a perfect drawing at the end of it. I like to gamify the things Beth and I want to make more time for so that we will definitely give it a try. Even if just to playtest what we have made.

How Do I Fold It Though?

This video is a great example of how to fold an 8-page zine!

More Zines

You can check out our other zines on this list, along with some previous mini zine July zines below:

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