Before we begin, let’s get one thing straight:
You do not need fancy supplies to make art that matters.

My friend Jeanne is a master calligrapher—truly extraordinary work. And do you know what she often uses?
The little pew pencils in church.

Yes, she owns beautiful inks and specialty tools… but her magic isn’t in the supplies. It’s in the years of relaxed, exploratory practice that built her confidence and ease.

When I was learning calligraphy, I sat next to her in a workshop. I had one careful row of letters. Jeanne was on page four. What struck me wasn’t her speed—it was her comfort with imperfection. That moment shaped my entire philosophy:

The beauty comes from showing up, not from what you’re holding.

That’s the heart of How to Make Ugly Art.
We lower the stakes so your creativity has room to breathe.

Start with what you have. Truly.

To keep this course accessible and low-pressure, I’m intentionally using simple, inexpensive supplies—nothing precious, nothing curated, nothing “too good to waste.”

Here’s exactly what I’m using in this course:

• Prang watercolors
• Sharpie markers
• Canson mixed media paper
• Canson watercolor paper
• UHU blue glue stick
• A basic paper cutter
• Duct tape (yes, for bookbinding!)
• Bone folder (when I folded my pages)

Every page I made while building this class used these basic tools.
No perfection. No performance. Just honest marks.

And when you finish the course—and only if it feels joyful, not pressured—I’ve included a few optional upgrade links you can explore anytime.

But for now?

Use what’s already within reach.
Let it be enough.
Your creativity doesn’t need fancy—it needs freedom.