We’re overjoyed to today launch our new webseries about drawing and stuff, Two Sketches. Here’s what it’s all about – plus, watch the first episode below.

Popular illustrator and The Spinoff’s resident cartoonist-in-chief Toby Morris loves drawing and loves chatting to other pencil pushers, so why not combine the two? In this new webseries we call Two Sketches, Toby talks to some of the land’s most interesting scribblers while they both complete a finished piece of art. It’s a good long chat designed to be watched while you fold the laundry or tinker in the garage.

“Drawing is a meditative and reflective activity – for me I usually need to be quite relaxed, and my mind wanders while I do it. When I shared a studio with other illustrators I found the conversations we had while we drew were often quite weird but honest and insightful. I think it’s like talking in front of a bonfire, or a killer view – with a big chunk of your mind fixed somewhere else I think you can often be less guarded,” says Toby.

In our first episode Toby draws and chats with Samoan artist Michel Mulipola. Apart from being a pro wrestler, Michel is also a comic book artist working for the WWE comic line and for Marvel trading cards. Michel talks about his early days learning his craft, why he feels like an outsider in the New Zealand comic scene and explains that you have to be chill to win in the ring.

Two Sketches is a monthly webseries of eight episodes during which we’ll be talking to talented New Zealand comic book artists, political cartoonists, painters and more. Join us for a good long soak in the soothing arts of drawing and conversation.

Two Sketches is made with the support of NZ On Air.