I work a soul sucking day job so to help my mental health, I bring a small sketchbook and a few Tombow brush pens and some fineliners and give myself 10 mins on my last coffee break to create something. I have been doing this for a couple months and it really has helped me feel like I get to have some creativity in my work day. Thanks Amy for your content!
Great job! Taking a sketchbook along when I was my moms caregiver for years really helped me cope with the emotional drain that dealing with dementia is and also I believe it helped my own health during that time. I have sketchbooks stashed everywhere : in my car, my work bag, under the couch, in a kitchen drawer…. I find moments whenever I can. I hope you are able to look for a job that won’t be so stressful to you. I’m glad you are taking that time during your break to do something you love. 💕
It sounds like you are doing a great job at showing up for yourself atm. I read lots of comments in this thread from people saying why stay in this job. I think there can be many reasons we stay in such a job and I’m pretty sure you have your well thought out reasons. So, I’m not going to tell you to find another job I’m just going to acknowledge your showing up for yourself! Well done!
@dianewillard4269 Dear Diane, Hi! I am Pamela, and I am 59 and a half years old. I have stopped calling myself “wannabe” and “baby” artist over a year ago, maybe two years ago now? I am an artist. I did not suddenly have a brake through, I did not get any better nor did I graduate or earn any degree or certificate. I just stopped the negative self talk. I started making it a point to always have a sketchpad, pencils and erasers in my purse, so when I can, I do something quick for myself. It might be an apple or a pair of boots, or maybe a vase or a list or a an idea for a garden bed or a loose overview of how to rearrange the furniture. And I follow a couple of talented and silly artists on Twitch that do Monster themed Draw-Along streams which I participate in when I happen to catch them. It pulls me out of my comfort zone and lets me be silly while also pushing myself to be more loose in my sketches. I have scraped out the free time over the last year to renovate a spare bedroom and it is “almost” my new art studio. All this to say, be kind to yourself. Give yourself the grace and courtesy to call yourself an artist and see what you are capable of with some love and encouragement from yourself. 🥰😍
New subscriber here. I'm an art teacher grades 4-6 and you might think: wow- you get to create all day, how dreamy. You would be wrong. 😢 I help young artists all day and never have the time or energy to create my own art anymore. I haven't in years, sadly. I just found your channel and have been binge watching all day long. This video stopped me in my tracks and I've watched it 3 times now. I have GOT to get back to making art for myself and finding my artist again. My soul is depleted. I love the kids, but teaching has become a battlefield most days the last few years. This will certainly spark that creativity in me again and help me find my spark. Thanks for your videos. I love watching you.
Mine are really for sketching and playing and whatnot. A lot of them I never show on here because it's important to have that place just for yourself! Thank ypu for watching!
"Not for social media" --- this is HUGE point and bravo to you for making it. I see SO MANY artists creating stuff FOR social media likes. It's one thing if it's your livelihood (I can see, likes build patronage, etc.), but if you are a hobby artist, make art for yourself and who cares if it's like anyone else's! ❤
My daily art practice is to copy art from other artists, via books and photos, mainly books. I try to reproduce my copy in a different way or a similar way using the same medium . Sometimes I used watercolours to copy oil paintings and acrylics to copy watercolours.
Nice reminder!! I have a little sketch-on-the-go kit I always keep in my purse. Tiny 4x4" sketchbook, a pencil, 2 sizes of Micron pens, a few watercolor pencils, an aquabrush and a rag. I don't pressure myself to produce anything, but the supplies are there when I need them. The kit serves as a friendly invitation to very simply record things I observe, and I can always further the sketched ideas at home. A consistent daily habit, no...but a reliable way to access my creativity wherever/whenever, yes. It's made a huge difference in my confidence.😊
Thank you. Georgia OKeefe ONLY made art for herself -- "I paint what I want to see." She said the first few years of her art journey she looked at all she had done. She could see with each one who she was doing it for. She hated all of it. From then on she refused to do that and never did again. Unconscious and conscious people pleasing is inevitable in the human experience. Your video is a great reminder of that. People pleasing is learned behavior as a child because it is expected of children. So although the body matures, often the emotional, psychological, & spiritual body do not. This is NOT bad nor good. It simply is. I am a writer and poet but actively beginning to explore other artistic expressions: sketching, painting, & sculpting. A significant revelation of this journey is that the way in which I am able to feel inspiration breathing & moving me is when I feel the inner sense of play. This spirit of playfulness becomes conscious when I am aware of the of happiness within. The dictionary of my emotional world defines happiness as synonymous to the sense of inner safety & security. This is a very new mental & spiritual muscle. Exploring new art expressions is such an ideal practice for it. Again, thank you for this fantastic share & tutorial.
Retired me would go to my art desk and start reading emails and then start scrolling. Next thing I know wasted hours went by, then I got sparked by a video I saw, someone showing art books for water color and showed her sketchbooks and all the BASIC exercises in the beginning of the books. I always skipped those basics. I got a bunch of art books and now I start my morning with those basic exercises! Gets my juices flowing! I like a lot of your ideas as well. You are a very good artist .
I commit to doing something (drawing, painting) every day. Sometimes that’s a couple of hours, sometimes it’s a few minutes, but it is a commitment. It helps ,y mental health enormously.
Yep, me too! It's been rough here lately and I know it's my daily practice that's keeping me in a decent frame of mind! I am so glad you've found a daily practice!
I really appreciate this video. I have a good friend whom I met through a pottery class. He got shot in the shoulder area missing his heart but rendering his left arm completely useless. Within a year of the shooting he was back to throwing on the wheel and makes huge beautiful pieces. He’s learned to ask for help with certain things like getting the pot off the wheel but it’s been an amazing experience to know his story and know what a huge influence creating can have in our lives.
Something I have done to get out of the internal pressure to create a ‘perfect’ output is to force myself to focus on the process of painting. I selected a photo, and then everyday for a week painted that same photo. I painted for however long I felt for each day, but when the session was over the ‘painting’ was done. This process allowed me to explore different ways of representing the same thing. It made it okay if it wasn’t perfect because the product was limited to the single session - sometimes that session was 15 minutes, sometimes that session was an hour or more. Ultimately what this did was allow me just to remember to enjoy painting, and feeling the paint on surface, to explore different uses of color. Using the same reference removed any pressures regarding composition. I didn’t use a sketchbook. I wanted to force myself to paint big so used 16x20 to 18X24 pieces of paper.
I like this approach, of painting the same reference photo several times. I feel like my big struggle is deciding WHAT to paint! This will require a lot fewer different reference ideas.
I started drawing in febuary 2024 during a difficult time. Just 5 minutes a day. It has evolved into 30 minutes of drawing and painting. But my aim is still 5 minutes everything added to this is a bonus.😊
Healthwise, 2024 has been an endless struggle for both me and my wife - with some more medical 'treats' to come for both of us before the year is done. And it's definitely had an effect on production levels in my 'scribble' factory - which have shrunk to almost nothing. However, with 2025 now starting to come into view over the horizon, I'm wanting to break out of this slump and I really like your idea of easing back into things with a short daily run-out with a sketchbook (intended for my eyes only, to keep the pressure at bay). Your persuasive recommendation has encouraged me to try and make a start even before I can (gladly) wave goodbye to 2024. So thanks for that and hopefully I'll soon be wreaking various kinds of havoc on any number of blank pages in my chosen sketchbook! Kind regards, Brian.
It’s doesn’t sound like 2024 has been much fun for you and your wife, Brian. I hope a daily sketchbook scribble will help your mental health. My point of replying on your comment is simply to acknowledge how crappy 2024 has been, by the sounds of it. Sometimes someone just acknowledging our “pain” can help. I would also like to wish you and your wife the very best of luck in whatever upcoming medical stuff is happening and to pray that 2025 finds you both in better health in all ways and that you are able to get back to the business of living life on your own terms, perhaps with more enjoyable scribbling and other hobbies happening. 😊
Canson XL multimedia notebooks are a great and inexpensive notebook to use for a sketchbook. You won’t be able to cross the gutter because they are spiral bound. They have a printed cardstock cover with the name of the product on it instead of a casebound cover. I find that format helps people feel a little less precious about ruining a sketchbook.
I LOVE canson XL mixed media sketchbook! I have like six going on my shelf right now! I used to pick them up at my walmart all the time, but they stopped selling them for some reason. I was there yesterday though, and they had some bound pads of Canson mixed media paper, so I picked up the smallest one to test out. Thanks for watching!
What a delightful find! Having a swathe of time on a cool and rainy November not-quite-evening, I happened to see your video; upbeat, full of information on materials to get anyone started on their own great habit of daily art! An adventure sure to lead you to new discoveries and abilities within yourself, and all starting with that magical idea of, “I’m just going to spend 5 minutes here…” which often carries you much farther than that. Thank you for the refreshing approach to getting out of square one…and tho I am loathe to being a slave to any habit…some are the kind you can begin to look forward to every morning. Like this one! Cheers and Peace to You. ❤
Thank you for the kind words! I hope you enjoy building your new habit! And you are so right! It's not really a habit but more a little restful refreshing practice I look forward to each day! Thank you for taking the time to watch my video!
I decided to learn and watercolor every day in November to try and wake up the spark. Well, the spark is awoken! I’ve already progressed from wc to mixed media portraits and it feels so good to create, again! 🎉
I'm watching you for the first time, and this for the support to do what I have been thinking about doing instead of just paintings...Starting each day, first thing, with art in the sketch book., which I am new to, for freedom, loosening up, and practicing drawing skills. I recently got the micron pens and a book, ready to go! Thanks!
Welcome! It's great to have you here! And what a great idea for a practice! I hope you love it like I do! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Its funny i never used to like working in sketchbooks untill subscribing to your channel a few months ago. Now i find sketchbooks are my go to as im learning my art again after years. Im having fun and rpyal talens are my go to for this aswell as a couple cold pressed watercolour sketchbooks. So thank you.
That's awesome! It feels so freeing to work in a sketchbook. Like you know it's meant to be practice or playtime subconsciously,. I'm so glad you are enjoying it!
I appreciate that you mention some may think this process would be easy but I struggle creating repetition habits. I need all the help, tips and tricks I can get. 😂. Thank you ❣️
I know, it's not always easy, you are definitely not alone. I really feel like using the timer and telling myself on a hard day that I only need to go for five minutes really helps! I hope it helps you too!
You do inspire me, I've started a swatch book thanks to you and your advise for doing a sketch book is spot on - thank you! I will do it! I've become a patron of yours and look forward to everything you share! Pat
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the swatch book and are finding my advice helpful! And I can't thank you enough for becoming a patron! It means the world to me! Thank you for all of your support!
I find it really hard when i've finished a journal page (particularly one that i have really enjoyed) to come up with the idea for the next one. I'm a real novice jornaler for my own pleasure but i get angsty if i don't do even a few minutes art a day. Neurographic art is my go to in order to pick up a pen or brush and to break a blank page just with simple lines . It's renowned for being therapy and certainly lives up to that for me.
I’m new here you just showed up on my page and at the best time. I really have done any art in about 6 months or so I’ve been going through a lot and just pushed myself to make my best friend a birthday card because I always have in 55 years we’ve been together and I really did enjoy it at the end and your idea of 20 minutes a day is an awesome idea. I can’t start it now because I still have a lot going on here and the holidays coming up, but I’m going to start it next year if I’m able to get everything taken care of by then. Thanks for the idea and I’m going to subscribe now and probably bin watch you at nite before bed so I wake up and push myself to get what I need done to art again.
It’s so great to hear you’re going to get back to your art! You can always start with even just 5 minutes a day! And I am sure your friend loved the card! What a sweet thing! Thank you for watching!
I enjoyed this video and can relate. I do hope your shoulder is feeling better ❤ This past June I picked up my brushes and paints for the first time in about six years. I made a promise to myself that I would paint every day, that I could. As of today I’ve missed five days since the beginning of June. Yes I kept track, lol. You see I’m disabled and am mostly bed bound. I figured a way to paint while in bed with tv trays, clamp lights and all of my supplies. It works! My creativity and mood have improved tremendously. Thank you for sharing your story as well ❤
I love hearing your story. What a great way to stay creative! Art has been such a help to me! It's almost like my therapy! I am so glad your art has been helping you too! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment! I appreciate it!
I am glad I came across your channel..! I have always been distracted about.. kids, driving, decorating my home, guys etc, the art has become second - others are better than me.... Then I got carpal tunnel syndrome and got surgery in both hands - recovered and started to paint with watercolour, drawing etc. Then, suddenly, I broke my right hand - straight off. But this time it was more difficult to recover, AND I even had artros in my fingers. So I just use my hands for regular stuff - cleaning and so on.. But, my brain wants to paint and draw so I try and try. AND Now You are giving me a "tool" - THANKS 🌺🤗🌺
This is such a great advice! I was doing something similar when I got burned out in college. I was studying art and design. Creating so much stuff, but nothing that I enjoyed. I think that technique was the only reason that I got back to creating art and enjoying it. Edit to add this: Art Creation sketchbooks are the best! I use them for multiple years now for practice, sketching and journaling.
Love the ideas in this video! What you said about have too many choices rings true with me. I get overwhelmed by all the different mediums, paper, etc. sometimes just a pencil is your best friend.
I agree, sometimes it's best to keep it simple! I've been keeping a sketchbook, a 2b pencil and an eraser by my chair tin the living room and am finding I am drawing way more than I used too! Thanks for watching!
Wowzers!!! This video is exactly what I need. Absolutely amazing, thank ou so much. No matter who you are or what you do, there never seems to be enough time to fit in time for ourselves to paint or sketch and you plan is so simple. Even if the day is jam packed with stuff, it's easy to develop a plan like yours, I think I'll start with 15 minutes and see how that goes. Thank you so much for this video.
You got this! I’m so glad you are going to try it! You'll have to let me know how it goes! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Amy, thanks for another great video! I scrolled through the comments and it looks like you’ve inspired quite a few folks! ❤ I love the idea of a timer and a reward! My therapist has me doing that for everyday tasks on my to do list, but I’m going to apply it to my sketchbook practice now! Thanks!!
Loved this video. I plan to do this! I have been working hard to sew up unfinished projects to be able to move my art into my sewing room but it’s taking me forever!!!! and I miss my watercolor time. Maybe the 20 minutes a days will help while I continue weeding through sewing projects! Thanks! I always look forward to your videos.
Thank you for all your videos. i struggle with art block alot i tend to jump from craft to craft to get past it. I've always wanted to do a sketch pad but hate when something comes out wrong, but im going to try and not rip out the pages lol Thanks again, i find watching your videos great for my art block ❤ oh and your hair looks lovely
If you have a page that really bothers you, just turn it into an art journal page and paste some pretty paper over it. that's what I do! Or paint right over it with acrylic! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wow! I just found you and subscribed. You are an awesome artist! This is good advice. You inspired me to try and do my art at least 20 minutes a day.Thanks!
I have several types of sketchbooks, but I have several that I got at Dollar Tree, so if anyone is needing a cheap sketchbook, I would recommend Dollar Tree. I mean, I love the expensive ones, but in the Dollar Tree ones, I feel free to just play with abandon without worrying about wasting my expensive sketchbooks.
My creativity has really dropped lately, and I like your idea of committing to 20 minutes per day for "art for myself." Like you, I have many art supplies including a number of unused sketchbooks, art pads, etc. I'm retired and art is one of my hobbies, but I get very little satisfaction from copying; what I do get from copying is improving a skill. I have no excuse for not being able to commit to at least 20 minutes per day, and there are so many things to try. I like your idea of keeping things simple to begin - too many choices can be overwhelming and lead to nothing. And I also like your idea of rewarding myself (in a healthy way of course) for sticking with it for 10 days at a time. It might help to set out the sketchbook and supplies I plan to use the next day the night before.
Thank you. This has helped me to stop procrastinating and just do something. Even if it's only a small time it will benifit greatly me greatly and to try to no longer get hung up on perfection any more. Thanks again for the little push i needed. 😊
The struggle is real! I was just trying to remember the last time I had actually made something on nice paper! lol! Thanks for watching and commenting!
This was a fantastic video. I keep buying supplies wanting to create, but due to the arthritis in my dominant hand I put it off. I am going to use this method to get myself back into drawing. Thank you so much for posting💕💕
You got this! I know it can be tough with arthritis. Do what you can and remember to take acre of yourself! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
this is such an inspiring video! I do have to confess, your art is almost intimidating! you are such a great artist. I feel as if my sketchbook is never gonna be as good. but it makes me wanna try tho :P
Thank you for this video! I have struggled with a major creative block for about a year now. It SUX! But, thanks to your video, i am going to commit to the same thing you did, although i am going to start with 20 min instead of 5, because i am not currently working, I am a mom, but my kids are getting older, and dont need me as much, so i definitely feel like 20 min a day is do-able, I just have to "get my ass where my heart is" :)
Unexpected health challenges are no joke. Work injury with perm damage here. Watercolor kept me from going to dark places. I just love it- makes me feel free. Now a few other challenges & haven't felt much like arting, so I'm grateful to see this post & hear the reminders. Thank you!❤
I’m so glad to hear that art is helping you to cope with the challenges you are facing! Thank ypu for sharing and thank you for taking the time to watch my video!
Thank you for your inspiring video..I too have been in such an ARTIST BLOCk… due to too many outside influences….I WILL start my 10..15..20 minutes !!!
I have only been doing watercolor for about a year, self teaching with videos like yours. I don't consider myself to be an artist..I am more of a hobbyist. I don't know how to draw. I am much better at abstract work and I fond it hard to come up with my one inspirations. Maybe this comes with time, I don't know. Thank you for your insight I watch your videos often.
That’s so great that you’ve taken up watercolor! I like to make a list of everything I like, so I would write "Fox, owl, candles, quilts," then I just pick one, and go to a copyright free photo website like unsplash or Pixabay, and search one of the words on my list and then sketch/paint that. After a time of that, you'll start to come up with your own ideas and maybe even be able to draw from imagination. Thank you for watching!
I really love to make Neurographic Art with watercolor pencils, ink pens, and watercolor paints. I'm just getting back into my art after being so busy making craft fair goods. The idea is to just get comfortable with the art supplies again, and not have any pressure in terms of the image quality. These are just warm-up doodles, but then I will find myself painting something a bit more complex.
It's so great you're taking the time to just get comfortable with art supplies again - it's so important to enjoy the process! I lost that for a bit myself, but have gradually realized that for me, enjoying the process is the most important thing! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Hi Amy, I’m new here. Your video just showed up in my feed, I guess because I’ve been watching random art videos for a little while. I have liked and subscribed and will do as you suggested and watch all your other videos. Perhaps I won’t binge too much as then they’ll last longer 😅 I have loved art since I was a little girl but was never really given the opportunity to learn or create. I did a couple of pictures with small supply of art stuff I had for school back then. During my marriage and as I raised my 4 children I didn’t have any of the necessary tools, including mental space, for it so I haven’t really had an art practice for many years for those and a bunch of other reasons. I have supported my 2 daughters with their’s though and when my youngest moved out she left a stack of supplies I’d bought her behind. Life has been a bit of a struggle and so, to get myself into a more positive head space, I’ve decided I really want to start using those supplies and your idea of just showing to each day, even if it’s just for 5 minutes sounds like a manageable place to start. The scary bit for me is facing the blank page and feeling like my imagination has gone on vacation, lol. Anyway, I’m so glad you showed up in my feed today and really appreciate the inspiration 😊
There are several art subject randomizers. I found one that you can pick topics, colored pallets, times of day, even foods. Try one of those and skip the blank page fear! Let the computer pick what to work on 😉 I tried it and it sets me right off into sketching some interesting surrealism ideas to paint. They are magical.
Welcome to the channel! I'm so glad you found my video helpful. I understand about facing the blank page, but just starting is the biggest step! You got this! And good for you!
I just bought two Art Creation sketche books last week and I am in love with these books. The price is super great for that quality. It is thick enough for watercolor wash and its surface is not rough like real watercolor paper. That’s what I like most. After watching your video, I am thinking to buy some more Art Creation sketch books for different sizes. And I am also trying to paint every morning for some minutes. Thanks for your video
That is so awesome! I am so glad you are making the time to paint everyday! And I absolutely love the art creations sketchbook! I just bought a landscape orientation one to do daily visual journaling in! Thanks for taking the time to watch my video!
Thank you for inspiring me. I’ve been in an artist block for several years. It’s ridiculous how much the blank canvas or page can be debilitating. I have my timer, and I’m going in.
Thank you for this. I've been using colored/watercolor pencils lately and usually copy things for a while each evening, sometimes for longer than 40 minutes. My husband died last year so this is a relaxing time for me. I will keep it up even tho it's just for me.
I am so sorry for your loss. Losing someone close to us is one of the hardest things to go through. It is so important to take that time for yourself, and if art brings you some small amount of comfort, then I am so glad! Sending you good thoughts!
I’ve got a sketchbook on back porch, house, a bag for taking to chemo or plein air. Then there is my tiny sketchbook I keep in my purse. I must be obsessed. The purse one has saved me so many times from dying by being bored stuck someplace.
That’s a great idea for a chemo bag and i am so glad if your art is helping you! I love having a little sketchbook in my purse, too! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment!
What a thoughtful, we'll presented idea! Very timely, just met a woman going thru her personal he'll - she needs an outlet 😮! I am borderline depresses (after the election), and NOT an artist, but I still play with collage and doodling. Just seeing a glimpse of your work was FABULOUS🎉! Sorry about your shoulder, I had foot surgery, fell the next day & broke my wrist (surgery), and then had hip replacement. It's been challenging - I need EVERY outlet I can get😂❤.
I really think the sketchbook habit has saved me in multiple ways and I highly recommend it! And I hear you about feeling down. Take care of yourself and take time for the things you love! Sending you healing thoughts! And thank you so much for watching!
@winterwoodsstudio thk you SO much for your video & thoughtful, kind words. No need to respond, but I love TH-cam for the way it can bring people together! Hugs👨🌾
Thank you so much for doing this video. I want to start working on a book with illustrations and Im very excited about doing it. But its so overwhelming a project, I keep putting off starting on it. It will be a help to break it down into a short period of the day and just try to be consistant. Although I have no doubt I will sometimes lose myself in the art and go on for hours. Starting is always rhe hardest part. Have you done a video on what format and materials to use when writing a book for publication?
I haven't done a video on that yet, but I'm thinking about it! Or maybe over on my patroen or a class or something. I'll figure out something soon! I am so glad if my video was helpful in some way! Thank ypu for taking the time to watch!
I have a BA in fine art but have not practiced for years. I'm one who puts others first, which is not right. I am in the process of retraining my spouse not to expect me to be available 24/7. This looks like a good way to start. My mental health is not good and I know if I could get back to art, it'd be much better. I'm under so much stress from NOT painting that my hair is falling out rapidly. Thanks for this video, it was just what I needed today.
Do you have a video about layers? Bc that boat sketch is awesome but I don't know how to do that yet. I can use a reference and draw it but I just paint it simple. I just can't do the layers. I can't "see" them unless I have a reference and even with a reference i can't do layers. I end up making a dark paint lol 😅. The only thing so far I can do without a reference is a house between mountains or landscapes but I can't use the green in the right way yet. Thank you for your video. 👋👋😊😊🙏🙏
I'm a multi-medium artist, but I'm a painter and haven't focused on my drawing skills. I desperately want to be skilled at drawing, especially portraiture, which I know nothing about. I've got all of the classic drawing books and plenty of supplies, and now, with your advice, I'm ready to begin! Any advice for a newbie sketcher? Thanks, Amy! 💜
I work a soul sucking day job so to help my mental health, I bring a small sketchbook and a few Tombow brush pens and some fineliners and give myself 10 mins on my last coffee break to create something. I have been doing this for a couple months and it really has helped me feel like I get to have some creativity in my work day. Thanks Amy for your content!
Ohmygawd, soul sucking, my heart goes out to u. Art is a beautiful escape!
I love that you've built that into your day! You're doing amazing! That little mental health break is SO important! Good job!
Why? Why stay? There’s about a million other jobs out there…
Great job!
Taking a sketchbook along when I was my moms caregiver for years really helped me cope with the emotional drain that dealing with dementia is and also I believe it helped my own health during that time. I have sketchbooks stashed everywhere : in my car, my work bag, under the couch, in a kitchen drawer…. I find moments whenever I can.
I hope you are able to look for a job that won’t be so stressful to you. I’m glad you are taking that time during your break to do something you love. 💕
It sounds like you are doing a great job at showing up for yourself atm. I read lots of comments in this thread from people saying why stay in this job. I think there can be many reasons we stay in such a job and I’m pretty sure you have your well thought out reasons. So, I’m not going to tell you to find another job I’m just going to acknowledge your showing up for yourself! Well done!
Love what you said "show up for yourself." I am a 73 yr. old wantabe artist.
I hope ypu try it! And just a side note, if you create, you're an artist! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
@dianewillard4269 Dear Diane, Hi! I am Pamela, and I am 59 and a half years old. I have stopped calling myself “wannabe” and “baby” artist over a year ago, maybe two years ago now? I am an artist. I did not suddenly have a brake through, I did not get any better nor did I graduate or earn any degree or certificate. I just stopped the negative self talk. I started making it a point to always have a sketchpad, pencils and erasers in my purse, so when I can, I do something quick for myself. It might be an apple or a pair of boots, or maybe a vase or a list or a an idea for a garden bed or a loose overview of how to rearrange the furniture. And I follow a couple of talented and silly artists on Twitch that do Monster themed Draw-Along streams which I participate in when I happen to catch them. It pulls me out of my comfort zone and lets me be silly while also pushing myself to be more loose in my sketches. I have scraped out the free time over the last year to renovate a spare bedroom and it is “almost” my new art studio. All this to say, be kind to yourself. Give yourself the grace and courtesy to call yourself an artist and see what you are capable of with some love and encouragement from yourself. 🥰😍
No such thing as a wannabe artist. If you art, you are an artist. Period! ❤
New subscriber here.
I'm an art teacher grades 4-6 and you might think: wow- you get to create all day, how dreamy.
You would be wrong. 😢
I help young artists all day and never have the time or energy to create my own art anymore. I haven't in years, sadly.
I just found your channel and have been binge watching all day long. This video stopped me in my tracks and I've watched it 3 times now.
I have GOT to get back to making art for myself and finding my artist again. My soul is depleted. I love the kids, but teaching has become a battlefield most days the last few years.
This will certainly spark that creativity in me again and help me find my spark.
Thanks for your videos. I love watching you.
Having a messy sketchbook is such a relief, it gives me an excuse to let loose and get weird without having to worry about the outcome!
Mine are really for sketching and playing and whatnot. A lot of them I never show on here because it's important to have that place just for yourself! Thank ypu for watching!
"Not for social media" --- this is HUGE point and bravo to you for making it. I see SO MANY artists creating stuff FOR social media likes. It's one thing if it's your livelihood (I can see, likes build patronage, etc.), but if you are a hobby artist, make art for yourself and who cares if it's like anyone else's! ❤
My daily art practice is to copy art from other artists, via books and photos, mainly books. I try to reproduce my copy in a different way or a similar way using the same medium . Sometimes I used watercolours to copy oil paintings and acrylics to copy watercolours.
Master copies are a great way to learn! It sounds like you are doing a great job!
Nice reminder!! I have a little sketch-on-the-go kit I always keep in my purse. Tiny 4x4" sketchbook, a pencil, 2 sizes of Micron pens, a few watercolor pencils, an aquabrush and a rag. I don't pressure myself to produce anything, but the supplies are there when I need them. The kit serves as a friendly invitation to very simply record things I observe, and I can always further the sketched ideas at home. A consistent daily habit, no...but a reliable way to access my creativity wherever/whenever, yes. It's made a huge difference in my confidence.😊
I love the idea of a portable sketch kit! It sounds super convenient! Thank you for watching!
Thank you.
Georgia OKeefe ONLY made art for herself -- "I paint what I want to see." She said the first few years of her art journey she looked at all she had done. She could see with each one who she was doing it for. She hated all of it. From then on she refused to do that and never did again.
Unconscious and conscious people pleasing is inevitable in the human experience. Your video is a great reminder of that. People pleasing is learned behavior as a child because it is expected of children. So although the body matures, often the emotional, psychological, & spiritual body do not. This is NOT bad nor good. It simply is.
I am a writer and poet but actively beginning to explore other artistic expressions: sketching, painting, & sculpting. A significant revelation of this journey is that the way in which I am able to feel inspiration breathing & moving me is when I feel the inner sense of play. This spirit of playfulness becomes conscious when I am aware of the of happiness within. The dictionary of my emotional world defines happiness as synonymous to the sense of inner safety & security. This is a very new mental & spiritual muscle. Exploring new art expressions is such an ideal practice for it.
Again, thank you for this fantastic share & tutorial.
Love all of this! ❤
Retired me would go to my art desk and start reading emails and then start scrolling. Next thing I know wasted hours went by, then I got sparked by a video I saw, someone showing art books for water color and showed her sketchbooks and all the BASIC exercises in the beginning of the books. I always skipped those basics. I got a bunch of art books and now I start my morning with those basic exercises! Gets my juices flowing! I like a lot of your ideas as well. You are a very good artist .
I commit to doing something (drawing, painting) every day. Sometimes that’s a couple of hours, sometimes it’s a few minutes, but it is a commitment. It helps ,y mental health enormously.
Yep, me too! It's been rough here lately and I know it's my daily practice that's keeping me in a decent frame of mind! I am so glad you've found a daily practice!
I really appreciate this video. I have a good friend whom I met through a pottery class. He got shot in the shoulder area missing his heart but rendering his left arm completely useless. Within a year of the shooting he was back to throwing on the wheel and makes huge beautiful pieces. He’s learned to ask for help with certain things like getting the pot off the wheel but it’s been an amazing experience to know his story and know what a huge influence creating can have in our lives.
Something I have done to get out of the internal pressure to create a ‘perfect’ output is to force myself to focus on the process of painting. I selected a photo, and then everyday for a week painted that same photo. I painted for however long I felt for each day, but when the session was over the ‘painting’ was done. This process allowed me to explore different ways of representing the same thing. It made it okay if it wasn’t perfect because the product was limited to the single session - sometimes that session was 15 minutes, sometimes that session was an hour or more. Ultimately what this did was allow me just to remember to enjoy painting, and feeling the paint on surface, to explore different uses of color. Using the same reference removed any pressures regarding composition.
I didn’t use a sketchbook. I wanted to force myself to paint big so used 16x20 to 18X24 pieces of paper.
I like this approach, of painting the same reference photo several times. I feel like my big struggle is deciding WHAT to paint! This will require a lot fewer different reference ideas.
I started drawing in febuary 2024 during a difficult time. Just 5 minutes a day. It has evolved into 30 minutes of drawing and painting. But my aim is still 5 minutes everything added to this is a bonus.😊
This gives me hope!
You sound like you have it down! Good for you! You are doing a great job! Thank you for watching!
Healthwise, 2024 has been an endless struggle for both me and my wife - with some more medical 'treats' to come for both of us before the year is done. And it's definitely had an effect on production levels in my 'scribble' factory - which have shrunk to almost nothing. However, with 2025 now starting to come into view over the horizon, I'm wanting to break out of this slump and I really like your idea of easing back into things with a short daily run-out with a sketchbook (intended for my eyes only, to keep the pressure at bay). Your persuasive recommendation has encouraged me to try and make a start even before I can (gladly) wave goodbye to 2024. So thanks for that and hopefully I'll soon be wreaking various kinds of havoc on any number of blank pages in my chosen sketchbook! Kind regards, Brian.
It’s doesn’t sound like 2024 has been much fun for you and your wife, Brian. I hope a daily sketchbook scribble will help your mental health. My point of replying on your comment is simply to acknowledge how crappy 2024 has been, by the sounds of it. Sometimes someone just acknowledging our “pain” can help.
I would also like to wish you and your wife the very best of luck in whatever upcoming medical stuff is happening and to pray that 2025 finds you both in better health in all ways and that you are able to get back to the business of living life on your own terms, perhaps with more enjoyable scribbling and other hobbies happening. 😊
@@angelabay-jespersen6205 Thank you for those kind thoughts.
Canson XL multimedia notebooks are a great and inexpensive notebook to use for a sketchbook. You won’t be able to cross the gutter because they are spiral bound. They have a printed cardstock cover with the name of the product on it instead of a casebound cover. I find that format helps people feel a little less precious about ruining a sketchbook.
I LOVE canson XL mixed media sketchbook! I have like six going on my shelf right now! I used to pick them up at my walmart all the time, but they stopped selling them for some reason. I was there yesterday though, and they had some bound pads of Canson mixed media paper, so I picked up the smallest one to test out. Thanks for watching!
You say the Canson XL notebooks are inexpensive. Would you mind telling me how much they cost where you live please?
In canada they sell them at michaels craft stores@@winterwoodsstudio
I love that you have a sketchbook with pigment swatches. I do as well and wouldn't have it any other way!
What a delightful find! Having a swathe of time on a cool and rainy November not-quite-evening, I happened to see your video; upbeat, full of information on materials to get anyone started on their own great habit of daily art! An adventure sure to lead you to new discoveries and abilities within yourself, and all starting with that magical idea of, “I’m just going to spend 5 minutes here…” which often carries you much farther than that. Thank you for the refreshing approach to getting out of square one…and tho I am loathe to being a slave to any habit…some are the kind you can begin to look forward to every morning. Like this one! Cheers and Peace to You. ❤
Thank you for the kind words! I hope you enjoy building your new habit! And you are so right! It's not really a habit but more a little restful refreshing practice I look forward to each day! Thank you for taking the time to watch my video!
I decided to learn and watercolor every day in November to try and wake up the spark. Well, the spark is awoken! I’ve already progressed from wc to mixed media portraits and it feels so good to create, again! 🎉
I love hearing that! It's so rewarding to rediscover that spark, isn't it? Thank you for sharing your journey!
I needed this message today. I seldom sit down to make art for myself. Thank you for sharing your beautiful sketch books
You are always so kind and having fun , even though you are hurting you still make us feel loved Happy Thanks giving
Aw, thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked the video! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
I'm watching you for the first time, and this for the support to do what I have been thinking about doing instead of just paintings...Starting each day, first thing, with art in the sketch book., which I am new to, for freedom, loosening up, and practicing drawing skills. I recently got the micron pens and a book, ready to go! Thanks!
Welcome! It's great to have you here! And what a great idea for a practice! I hope you love it like I do! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
❤oh yes! Play and mess and discoveries in my sketchbooks daily! Keeps me sane and joyful
Its funny i never used to like working in sketchbooks untill subscribing to your channel a few months ago.
Now i find sketchbooks are my go to as im learning my art again after years. Im having fun and rpyal talens are my go to for this aswell as a couple cold pressed watercolour sketchbooks. So thank you.
That's awesome! It feels so freeing to work in a sketchbook. Like you know it's meant to be practice or playtime subconsciously,. I'm so glad you are enjoying it!
I appreciate that you mention some may think this process would be easy but I struggle creating repetition habits. I need all the help, tips and tricks I can get. 😂. Thank you ❣️
I know, it's not always easy, you are definitely not alone. I really feel like using the timer and telling myself on a hard day that I only need to go for five minutes really helps! I hope it helps you too!
I struggle with this too. So hard to get into a habit for me, but I am slowly doing it. Good luck to you.
I love the light in your studio. 🌟
Thanks, it really helps brighten up my day! 😊
You do inspire me, I've started a swatch book thanks to you and your advise for doing a sketch book is spot on - thank you! I will do it! I've become a patron of yours and look forward to everything you share! Pat
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the swatch book and are finding my advice helpful! And I can't thank you enough for becoming a patron! It means the world to me! Thank you for all of your support!
I find it really hard when i've finished a journal page (particularly one that i have really enjoyed) to come up with the idea for the next one. I'm a real novice jornaler for my own pleasure but i get angsty if i don't do even a few minutes art a day. Neurographic art is my go to in order to pick up a pen or brush and to break a blank page just with simple lines . It's renowned for being therapy and certainly lives up to that for me.
Brilliant idea! Thank you!
That sounds like a great thing to try! I will have to check it out! Thanks for sharing!
I’m new here you just showed up on my page and at the best time. I really have done any art in about 6 months or so I’ve been going through a lot and just pushed myself to make my best friend a birthday card because I always have in 55 years we’ve been together and I really did enjoy it at the end and your idea of 20 minutes a day is an awesome idea. I can’t start it now because I still have a lot going on here and the holidays coming up, but I’m going to start it next year if I’m able to get everything taken care of by then. Thanks for the idea and I’m going to subscribe now and probably bin watch you at nite before bed so I wake up and push myself to get what I need done to art again.
It’s so great to hear you’re going to get back to your art! You can always start with even just 5 minutes a day! And I am sure your friend loved the card! What a sweet thing! Thank you for watching!
I enjoyed this video and can relate. I do hope your shoulder is feeling better ❤ This past June I picked up my brushes and paints for the first time in about six years. I made a promise to myself that I would paint every day, that I could. As of today I’ve missed five days since the beginning of June. Yes I kept track, lol. You see I’m disabled and am mostly bed bound. I figured a way to paint while in bed with tv trays, clamp lights and all of my supplies. It works! My creativity and mood have improved tremendously. Thank you for sharing your story as well ❤
I love hearing your story. What a great way to stay creative! Art has been such a help to me! It's almost like my therapy! I am so glad your art has been helping you too! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment! I appreciate it!
I am glad I came across your channel..! I have always been distracted about.. kids, driving, decorating my home, guys etc, the art has become second - others are better than me....
Then I got carpal tunnel syndrome and got surgery in both hands - recovered and started to paint with watercolour, drawing etc. Then, suddenly, I broke my right hand - straight off. But this time it was more difficult to recover, AND I even had artros in my fingers. So I just use my hands for regular stuff - cleaning and so on.. But, my brain wants to paint and draw so I try and try. AND Now You are giving me a "tool" - THANKS 🌺🤗🌺
Starting today!! Thank you, Amy!! No more excuses!! ❤❤❤
This is such a great advice! I was doing something similar when I got burned out in college. I was studying art and design. Creating so much stuff, but nothing that I enjoyed. I think that technique was the only reason that I got back to creating art and enjoying it.
Edit to add this: Art Creation sketchbooks are the best! I use them for multiple years now for practice, sketching and journaling.
Love the ideas in this video! What you said about have too many choices rings true with me. I get overwhelmed by all the different mediums, paper, etc. sometimes just a pencil is your best friend.
I agree, sometimes it's best to keep it simple! I've been keeping a sketchbook, a 2b pencil and an eraser by my chair tin the living room and am finding I am drawing way more than I used too! Thanks for watching!
Did this last night!!! Was at it for 40 minutes during a major slump!! Huge thanks!!
Wow! That's great! Good job! I am so glad if my video helped in some small way! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
I love your points about letting go of perfectionism and setting realistic goals. Thank you for sharing : )
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video!
thank you for this! this is fantastic advice
This is a great video. You are so talented! You have such gorgeous hair and skin too.
Thanks Amy.
Will try this ❤
Thanks!
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for the super thanks!
Wowzers!!! This video is exactly what I need. Absolutely amazing, thank ou so much. No matter who you are or what you do, there never seems to be enough time to fit in time for ourselves to paint or sketch and you plan is so simple. Even if the day is jam packed with stuff, it's easy to develop a plan like yours, I think I'll start with 15 minutes and see how that goes. Thank you so much for this video.
You got this! I’m so glad you are going to try it! You'll have to let me know how it goes! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Amy, thanks for another great video! I scrolled through the comments and it looks like you’ve inspired quite a few folks! ❤ I love the idea of a timer and a reward! My therapist has me doing that for everyday tasks on my to do list, but I’m going to apply it to my sketchbook practice now! Thanks!!
Loved this video. I plan to do this! I have been working hard to sew up unfinished projects to be able to move my art into my sewing room but it’s taking me forever!!!! and I miss my watercolor time. Maybe the 20 minutes a days will help while I continue weeding through sewing projects! Thanks! I always look forward to your videos.
It is so much easier to just do a little bit everyday. I hope you can get that watercolor time back soon! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for all your videos. i struggle with art block alot i tend to jump from craft to craft to get past it. I've always wanted to do a sketch pad but hate when something comes out wrong, but im going to try and not rip out the pages lol Thanks again, i find watching your videos great for my art block ❤ oh and your hair looks lovely
If you have a page that really bothers you, just turn it into an art journal page and paste some pretty paper over it. that's what I do! Or paint right over it with acrylic! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@winterwoodsstudio that's a great idea thank you 😊
Very good advice! I try to sketch something everyday too, but I do it on my Samsung tablet.
Thank you for the great advice and inspiration!
You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful!
Wow! I just found you and subscribed. You are an awesome artist! This is good advice. You inspired me to try and do my art at least 20 minutes a day.Thanks!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy the channel! And thank you so very much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Great post…lots of information! I’m motivated! Thank you❤️
You're very welcome! I'm happy you found it motivating!
Thank you so much. I appreciate your teaching
I am so glad you are finding it helpful! Thank you for watch6!
Absolutely agree with losing the joy. Haven’t painted for two years. Life. I’m going to try this. Thanks! 🙏
It happens! I'm so glad you are going to try it! I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me! Thank you for watching!
Darn! Your work is fabulous!
Aww! Thanks for watching!
My friend gave me drawing on the right side of the brain. I’ll probably do that for 20 mins a day! Thanks for the ideas!😊
I hope you enjoy it! Let me know how it goes!
Great advice and healing going on. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing!❤❤❤
So glad you are feeling better! Keep creating! ❤❤❤❤❤
Me too! The sketchbook habit really saved me in a bunch of ways! I'm so greatful for it!
This is very helpful. I've been blocked for a long time. Thank you!
Fabulous advice!
I'm so glad you think so!
That was great! First time viewer. Artist as well. I like the incentive you have. But a little something for your art. So good thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I hope you find it helpful! Thanks for watching and welcome to my channel!
Really good idea!! 👍 Thank you for sharing your sketchbook choices with us!! 🤗😍
You're welcome! I'm glad you liked the sketchbook choices!
@winterwoodsstudio 🤗😍
I have several types of sketchbooks, but I have several that I got at Dollar Tree, so if anyone is needing a cheap sketchbook, I would recommend Dollar Tree. I mean, I love the expensive ones, but in the Dollar Tree ones, I feel free to just play with abandon without worrying about wasting my expensive sketchbooks.
That is such a great idea! I am always looking for new ways to be more free with my art!
Thanks for your inspiration!!❤
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
I have to try it! Thanks!
You're welcome! Let me know how it goes.
My creativity has really dropped lately, and I like your idea of committing to 20 minutes per day for "art for myself." Like you, I have many art supplies including a number of unused sketchbooks, art pads, etc. I'm retired and art is one of my hobbies, but I get very little satisfaction from copying; what I do get from copying is improving a skill. I have no excuse for not being able to commit to at least 20 minutes per day, and there are so many things to try. I like your idea of keeping things simple to begin - too many choices can be overwhelming and lead to nothing. And I also like your idea of rewarding myself (in a healthy way of course) for sticking with it for 10 days at a time. It might help to set out the sketchbook and supplies I plan to use the next day the night before.
This was inspiring! Thank you !
You’re welcome! So glad you liked it!
Thank you so much! I'm definitely going to try this. I believe this will help me a lot! ♥🌻🌻🌻
You’re welcome! I hope it works for you!
Thank you. This has helped me to stop procrastinating and just do something. Even if it's only a small time it will benifit greatly me greatly and to try to no longer get hung up on perfection any more. Thanks again for the little push i needed. 😊
You are welcome! I am glad if it helped even in a little way! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!
Sketchbooks really are the best! Though I’m so comfy in my sketchbooks now that I get scared to use loose paper 😂
The struggle is real! I was just trying to remember the last time I had actually made something on nice paper! lol! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great Idea, thanks!
You're welcome! I hope it works for you!
This was a fantastic video. I keep buying supplies wanting to create, but due to the arthritis in my dominant hand I put it off. I am going to use this method to get myself back into drawing. Thank you so much for posting💕💕
You got this! I know it can be tough with arthritis. Do what you can and remember to take acre of yourself! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Thank you
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Your are an amazing artist ❤❤❤❤❤bravissima
Thank you so much 😀
Thank you for soulful sharing.
Thank you! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch!
this is such an inspiring video! I do have to confess, your art is almost intimidating! you are such a great artist. I feel as if my sketchbook is never gonna be as good. but it makes me wanna try tho :P
Thank you for this video! I have struggled with a major creative block for about a year now. It SUX! But, thanks to your video, i am going to commit to the same thing you did, although i am going to start with 20 min instead of 5, because i am not currently working, I am a mom, but my kids are getting older, and dont need me as much, so i definitely feel like 20 min a day is do-able, I just have to "get my ass where my heart is" :)
You are going to love it! I am so glad it's helping! You can do it! You'll have to let me know how it goes!
That was very helpful 😊
Thank you so much!!! ❤
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Great advise 😀thank you for sharing it. I will put it into practice and let you know
You’re welcome! I am so excited to hear you’re going to put it into practice!
Thank you for sharing! I know when I get in a funk I HAVE to do art. I will try this daily timer method!
You've got this! I am so glad you are going to try it!
Unexpected health challenges are no joke. Work injury with perm damage here. Watercolor kept me from going to dark places. I just love it- makes me feel free. Now a few other challenges & haven't felt much like arting, so I'm grateful to see this post & hear the reminders. Thank you!❤
I’m so glad to hear that art is helping you to cope with the challenges you are facing! Thank ypu for sharing and thank you for taking the time to watch my video!
Thank you for your inspiring video..I too have been in such an ARTIST BLOCk… due to too many outside influences….I WILL start my 10..15..20 minutes !!!
You got this! I always find my way back when I get in a rut, and I hope you do, too.
Just found your channel and love your art style! Thanks for the inspo for getting back to drawing/painting daily in my sketchbook.
I’m so glad you enjoy my art style and thank you for watching! Welcome to my channel! I hope you love it here!
What a great story!
Thank you so much! And thank you for watching too!
Thank you so much. I've had artist block for several years now. Gonna try this
You got this! I am so glad you are going to try it!
I have only been doing watercolor for about a year, self teaching with videos like yours. I don't consider myself to be an artist..I am more of a hobbyist. I don't know how to draw. I am much better at abstract work and I fond it hard to come up with my one inspirations. Maybe this comes with time, I don't know. Thank you for your insight I watch your videos often.
That’s so great that you’ve taken up watercolor! I like to make a list of everything I like, so I would write "Fox, owl, candles, quilts," then I just pick one, and go to a copyright free photo website like unsplash or Pixabay, and search one of the words on my list and then sketch/paint that. After a time of that, you'll start to come up with your own ideas and maybe even be able to draw from imagination. Thank you for watching!
I really love to make Neurographic Art with watercolor pencils, ink pens, and watercolor paints. I'm just getting back into my art after being so busy making craft fair goods. The idea is to just get comfortable with the art supplies again, and not have any pressure in terms of the image quality. These are just warm-up doodles, but then I will find myself painting something a bit more complex.
It's so great you're taking the time to just get comfortable with art supplies again - it's so important to enjoy the process! I lost that for a bit myself, but have gradually realized that for me, enjoying the process is the most important thing! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
I really enjoyed your video & great idea how to challenge myself daily!
Awesome! Thank you! And thank you for taking the time to watch!
Thank you❤
Thanks for watching!
Hi Amy, I’m new here. Your video just showed up in my feed, I guess because I’ve been watching random art videos for a little while. I have liked and subscribed and will do as you suggested and watch all your other videos. Perhaps I won’t binge too much as then they’ll last longer 😅
I have loved art since I was a little girl but was never really given the opportunity to learn or create. I did a couple of pictures with small supply of art stuff I had for school back then.
During my marriage and as I raised my 4 children I didn’t have any of the necessary tools, including mental space, for it so I haven’t really had an art practice for many years for those and a bunch of other reasons. I have supported my 2 daughters with their’s though and when my youngest moved out she left a stack of supplies I’d bought her behind.
Life has been a bit of a struggle and so, to get myself into a more positive head space, I’ve decided I really want to start using those supplies and your idea of just showing to each day, even if it’s just for 5 minutes sounds like a manageable place to start. The scary bit for me is facing the blank page and feeling like my imagination has gone on vacation, lol. Anyway, I’m so glad you showed up in my feed today and really appreciate the inspiration 😊
There are several art subject randomizers. I found one that you can pick topics, colored pallets, times of day, even foods. Try one of those and skip the blank page fear! Let the computer pick what to work on 😉 I tried it and it sets me right off into sketching some interesting surrealism ideas to paint. They are magical.
Welcome to the channel! I'm so glad you found my video helpful. I understand about facing the blank page, but just starting is the biggest step! You got this! And good for you!
Muito obrigada 🌷🇧🇷
I just bought two Art Creation sketche books last week and I am in love with these books. The price is super great for that quality. It is thick enough for watercolor wash and its surface is not rough like real watercolor paper. That’s what I like most. After watching your video, I am thinking to buy some more Art Creation sketch books for different sizes. And I am also trying to paint every morning for some minutes. Thanks for your video
That is so awesome! I am so glad you are making the time to paint everyday! And I absolutely love the art creations sketchbook! I just bought a landscape orientation one to do daily visual journaling in! Thanks for taking the time to watch my video!
Thank you for inspiring me. I’ve been in an artist block for several years. It’s ridiculous how much the blank canvas or page can be debilitating.
I have my timer, and I’m going in.
Thank you for this. I've been using colored/watercolor pencils lately and usually copy things for a while each evening, sometimes for longer than 40 minutes. My husband died last year so this is a relaxing time for me. I will keep it up even tho it's just for me.
I am so sorry for your loss. Losing someone close to us is one of the hardest things to go through. It is so important to take that time for yourself, and if art brings you some small amount of comfort, then I am so glad! Sending you good thoughts!
I’ve got a sketchbook on back porch, house, a bag for taking to chemo or plein air. Then there is my tiny sketchbook I keep in my purse. I must be obsessed. The purse one has saved me so many times from dying by being bored stuck someplace.
That’s a great idea for a chemo bag and i am so glad if your art is helping you! I love having a little sketchbook in my purse, too! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment!
What a thoughtful, we'll presented idea! Very timely, just met a woman going thru her personal he'll - she needs an outlet 😮! I am borderline depresses (after the election), and NOT an artist, but I still play with collage and doodling. Just seeing a glimpse of your work was FABULOUS🎉! Sorry about your shoulder, I had foot surgery, fell the next day & broke my wrist (surgery), and then had hip replacement. It's been challenging - I need EVERY outlet I can get😂❤.
I really think the sketchbook habit has saved me in multiple ways and I highly recommend it! And I hear you about feeling down. Take care of yourself and take time for the things you love! Sending you healing thoughts! And thank you so much for watching!
@winterwoodsstudio thk you SO much for your video & thoughtful, kind words. No need to respond, but I love TH-cam for the way it can bring people together! Hugs👨🌾
Thank you so much for doing this video. I want to start working on a book with illustrations and Im very excited about doing it. But its so overwhelming a project, I keep putting off starting on it. It will be a help to break it down into a short period of the day and just try to be consistant. Although I have no doubt I will sometimes lose myself in the art and go on for hours. Starting is always rhe hardest part. Have you done a video on what format and materials to use when writing a book for publication?
I haven't done a video on that yet, but I'm thinking about it! Or maybe over on my patroen or a class or something. I'll figure out something soon! I am so glad if my video was helpful in some way! Thank ypu for taking the time to watch!
I have a BA in fine art but have not practiced for years. I'm one who puts others first, which is not right. I am in the process of retraining my spouse not to expect me to be available 24/7. This looks like a good way to start. My mental health is not good and I know if I could get back to art, it'd be much better. I'm under so much stress from NOT painting that my hair is falling out rapidly. Thanks for this video, it was just what I needed today.
You’ve got this! I’m so glad my video resonated with you! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Do you have a video about layers? Bc that boat sketch is awesome but I don't know how to do that yet. I can use a reference and draw it but I just paint it simple. I just can't do the layers. I can't "see" them unless I have a reference and even with a reference i can't do layers. I end up making a dark paint lol 😅. The only thing so far I can do without a reference is a house between mountains or landscapes but I can't use the green in the right way yet. Thank you for your video. 👋👋😊😊🙏🙏
Thanks for the great tips! Do you have a favorite online site to reference drawings/sketches as I’m not able to print them out? Many thanks!
Did you have to repost from this morning? ( dont5 have to really answer) but will play again and comment to help out.😊
I agree! 👍
Yep. I'm having a bad day. At least it's up and working now... thanks for helping!
💜💜💜
I enjoyed your video
I'm so glad you liked it!
I'm a multi-medium artist, but I'm a painter and haven't focused on my drawing skills. I desperately want to be skilled at drawing, especially portraiture, which I know nothing about. I've got all of the classic drawing books and plenty of supplies, and now, with your advice, I'm ready to begin! Any advice for a newbie sketcher? Thanks, Amy! 💜
❤like what your saying
I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!