Hey there!
If you're here, that means you either liked what you read, accidentally clicked a link, or (my personal favorite) you're looking for creative sanity in a world thatโs not helping. Iโm Urmila, writer, artist, educator, accidental IT professional, certified yogi, and full-time believer that creativity is for everyone.
โ Teacups and Tiny Victories โ
This Substack is my love letter to slow growth, messy beginnings, and the magic that happens when we show up as ourselves, even when weโre still figuring things out. If this piece gave you even a tiny spark of joy or clarity, Iโd love it if you bought me a coffee.
Thank you for being here - for reading, reflecting, and showing up with such beautiful humanity. You make this all worth it. ๐
Now, letโs dive inโฆ
๐๏ธ Part 2: I almost quit on my creativity until I found Sketchnoting (Part 2/3)
I observe a lot. I feel deeply. And I love sharing my thoughts and visuals with the world.
But for a long time, I wasnโt finding joy in creating. Not really. Not in a way that felt effortless or exciting.
Telling stories โ especially the ones that move me โ brings me alive. And when they resonate with people like you , who leave heartfelt comments or send messages saying โI want to try this too!โ โ well, that means everything.
A big thank you to thank you to Mohammed,
and for showing up with such beautiful energy and curiosity ๐Some of this comes instinctively to me now. But I think itโs also a muscle Iโve built over time. (If you havenโt read Part 1, go ahead,Iโll wait right here ๐.)
Before you even think why you should take my word for it, let me share my past with you. Over the last decade, Iโve tried a lot of creative mediums:
๐จ My Creative Journey in Mediums
1. Urban Sketching
I started sketching on location โ cafes, temples, streets โ and it led to my first solo exhibition, art sales, and helped me feel seen in a place like Hong Kong, where being a brown woman made integration tough.
โ The good: Real-time, raw, and rooted in observation.
โ The not-so-good: I chased perfection, compared myself endlessly, and burned out before a major symposium in Amsterdam. I quitโฆ for years.Now? Iโm coming back to it gently, slowly, and on my own terms.
2. Mixed Media Abstract Painting
During the pandemic, I painted abstract pieces rooted in mental health. That work landed me an exhibition with Schoeni Projects in London.โ The good: Therapeutic, expressive, deeply personal.
โ The not-so-good: A friend once said, โI wouldnโt hang this in my house.โ I spiralled. Doubt crept in. Plus, setup and cleanup were a nightmare.some of the pieces that got featured
3. Digital Illustration
This was portable, fast, and perfect for collaborations, such as my first art fundraiser for the Covid relief in India featured in the South China Morning Post, fundraisers for Afghanistan, mental health causes, Haw Par Mansion Foundation.
โ The good: No mess, instant shareability, easy edits.
โ The not-so-good: Too much screen time + over-reliance on tools killed the magic. I got bored.
4.๐ Creative Journaling
My lifeline during one of the most stressful times in my life โ juggling a toxic full-time job and a second postgraduate degree. I even hosted creative journaling workshops! Seeing others connect through self-expression was pure joy.
โ Pros:
Tactile & grounding
Expressive & flexible
Collaborative & therapeutic
โ Cons:
Resource-heavy (art supplies, stickers, pens!)
Not always accessible on the go
creative journaling is like a love letter to your inner child
โจ And Then Came Sketchnoting
I discovered sketchnoting just two days before my trip to Thailand and decided to use it to document the entire journey.
Within 15 days, I felt something Iโd been missing for years: pure, unfiltered joy in creating.
Itโs flexible, personal, and keeps up with my pace of thinking and observing.
People loved it. They wanted to try it. It wasnโt cumbersome or intimidating.
Nothing gives me more joy than getting people inspired to try something creative
๐ฏ What Makes Sketchnoting Different for Me?
Not a drawing test: If line work isnโt your thing, you can lean into words. My first two sketchnotes were mostly text because I was rusty, and still worked!
Color freedom: You donโt need a rainbow. Stick to 3โ4 colours. I use primary colours โ fewer choices = faster decisions + more visual coherence.
Words-first? Go for it: Keep it short, legible, and let the layout guide the reader.
Hereโs a quick peek into my Thailand trip that reignited my creativity, plus the basic tools you need to start sketchnoting today!!
๐ Whatโs Coming Next
In Part 3, Iโll answer all your questions, walk you through:
How to make a sketchnote spread
Positioning, spacing, and highlighting
Keeping visual interest (for yourself and readers!)
And how to never run out of things to capture
Plus, Iโll share: โ
A video walkthrough of how I create my spreads
โ
A free downloadable template to start your very first one
You asked โ Iโm delivering ๐.
Your work is beautiful! I'd absolutely hang it at my house.
So glad i stumbled upon your work! Sketchnoting looks fun and Iโm amazed by your talent! I love that youโre not afraid to pivot and try new mediums