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!
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.
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.😊
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.
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!
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.
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 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!
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! 🎉
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. 😊
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 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.
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!
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 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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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. 😊
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!
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 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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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! 💜
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 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.
Always been interested in visual art, and always been able to 'doodle'. That's always been my relief, so as I think about retiring from the career that I used to support my family, and life, and its pension will support the future (hopefully!) I'm thinking about returning to develop a career in art (Grandma Moses, perhaps), and this has been a helpful primer to reorient myself beyond the 'doodling'.
I love your energy. It is so easy to tell how passionate you are about your art and just being creative in general. Question: you mentioned you had children. How did you do with your art practice when they were tiny, newborn or toddler era? I have a young toddler and soon to have a newborn (any day now) and am wondering how to balance being a Mom with my need to be creative.
I mostly wirked in pen and ink or water color and at our dining room table. I worked on something that I could put down at a moment's notice and not worry about, instead of having something like say acrylics and having to put it down and then coming back to find the paint had dried in the brush and ruined it. And I mostly worked during naptime Or before they got up in the morning or after they went to bed. sometimes I would set them up with an art or craft project at the table with me. Of course, I always only used supplies that were non-toxic around them.! It's a tough time, but it goes faster than you think. The days are long, but the years are short. Hope that helps! And thanks for watching!
I usually do art in the non-gardening times but 20 mins a day…that I could definitely make room for! Thanks for the inspiration. Just randomly my SIL just recovered from the same scenario of ligaments torn after receiving cortisone shots. She still can’t lift her arm past mid-chest. So sad. I wonder how common it is?!
It is a shame about your SIL. Hope she is doing okay! it's awesome that you're finding time to make art! 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. 👋👋😊😊🙏🙏
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!
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!
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 RUclips for the way it can bring people together! Hugs👨🌾
Question: I am trying to learn watercolor. I struggle with the thought of 20 (or any other set time) per day because 1) the time to set up my stuff and time to clean up after, and 2) I my not finish inside of the timeframe - do you continue the next day(s) and just leave it all out? Or just start something new each day. I’m ADHD and this sounds daunting. When I do paint, I tend to hyperfocus for days then abandon it for weeks. It’s not conducive to building my skills.
I leave it out on my little art table and just pick up where I left off if it's watercolor. If I'm just sketching with a pencil and a sketchbook, which is what I do on days that feel hard to me, mo clean up or set up needed. I have simila6issues as you and have found that to be the easiest way for me to have a daily habit. Hope that helps.
I look forward to these tips! Im in a Major Depressive episode and im also unemployed. Ive had a mental breakdown. Its been a year since i created anything. I wanna make it out. Ive been watching videos trying to get the spark again. I do good to get out of bed. My therapist wants to start adding things to do a day as a new routine and eventually go back to work and social stuff. But im not working so i feel guilty even sketching cause im not earning for my family. I have CPTSD too so im dealing with it right now. I feel like i faked it till i was 35 and now i just dont have the strength most days. Any help or advice would be lovely and welcome.
It’s amazing you’re taking these steps to care for yourself, I'm sure that's a hard thing to do! I hope these tips help and I'm sending you lots of strength and love!
Yes I have a few of the inktense blocks and I mean like four, that I use for underpainting with soft pastels. Someday soon I'll try a bigger set! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video. I think im going to get out ye olde jounals and do some daily warm ups with them. I got waaay burnt out on pet portraits and perfectionism with colored pencil. Did that for most of my art life. So i got the exact opposite and bought alcohol inks to force myself to allow messy fluid art that i cant micromanage. They are ok so far but kind of boring. Then i wanted to feed my brush addiction and dipped back into paints. Bought a bad oil painting from a thrift shop for the canvas and realized how really really off all the perspective was, how it had a confusion of multiple light sources, various color conflicts, inaccurate and confused shading all over this poor painting. I thought about it for a few minutes and said, "The only thing that can fix this is fire. 🤔 You know who's good at fire?! Godzilla. Then giggling (for the first time in a very long time with art stuff) printed off a few Godzilla stills and now hes having a grand time setting fire to the village. I discovered that the artest who painted it was really good here and there. Hes great at trees, just not great with lighting. Hes good at some detail elements but likely didnt draw enough buildings to understand perspective. His hand is steady. Then the center and focal point he was just really confused about how to tie in the angles together in a way that made sense. Its been really fun to sit with this painting and sort out how to fix and change it to make it work. So, thank you Nester for your good try at a little country town house. I solved the issues and you gave me back joy. Godzilla is having a good time too. 😉 i thought it was going to feel bad going over someone else's effort, but it was dirty, abandoned for $5, and would have ended up in a much worse place. So give an old abandoned painting a go at a new life and remembered to make art fun again.
That’s so awesome, I love your approach to learning about art! It's a fun and creative way to learn! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch my video and leave a comment!
Yes if you see a lot of famous modern artists such as Milton Avery you see their looseness and freedom. Yet some super realistic artists don't get noticed. So art is peculiar and I guess it all changed with photography.
NO PENCIL…Working only in waterproof pen with option to watercolor- allowed me to loosen up and stop correcting. I also like to add some text which makes it a visual journal that is fun to look back at.
I just found my sketch books from back in the 80s. With no tech to distract us back then. I used to sketch everything and everyone. At home. On the train. My friends etc It really gave me back my confidence as I realised. I’m actually very good at sketching fast and accurately All these years later I had grown older and lost that confidence I also looked back at the sketches and all the memories of home there recorded for life. It’s definitely something I want to pick up and do again.
I love the idea of sketchbooks being a visual journal of our lives! I just started a "visual journal" so that I can have it to look back on later. I hope you pick it back up again! Thank you for watching!
@@winterwoodsstudio visual journal that’s exactly it! Like finding an old photo album Our old huge box tv I had drawn too. Which I showed my son as they actually can’t believe how big they were 😂
I guess the first thing I would do would be to make a list of the things that I like to draw or paint. and if you already have some art supplies, I'd take that list and I would go and look at my art supplies until I felt like maybe there was one I was interested in using. And then I would pick that art supply and sit down, pick something from the list and set a timer for 5 minutes. Keep it simple and see what happens. Let me know if that helps!
Hraphatont actually have graphite mixed in and are like watercolors. Inktense is basically bright bold inks that are dried. When you activate them with water and then let them dry, they become permanent and canot be lifted from paper. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!
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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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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 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.
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'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!
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 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!
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!
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!
I love the light in your studio. 🌟
Thanks, it really helps brighten up my day! 😊
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!
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!
❤oh yes! Play and mess and discoveries in my sketchbooks daily! Keeps me sane and joyful
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!
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!
Very good advice! I try to sketch something everyday too, but I do it on my Samsung tablet.
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.
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!
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!
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!
Thank you for the great advice and inspiration!
You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful!
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!
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!
Great advice and healing going on. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing!❤❤❤
Great post…lots of information! I’m motivated! Thank you❤️
You're very welcome! I'm happy you found it motivating!
Starting today!! Thank you, Amy!! No more excuses!! ❤❤❤
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!
Thanks Amy.
Will try this ❤
Fabulous advice!
I'm so glad you think so!
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!
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!
Really good idea!! 👍 Thank you for sharing your sketchbook choices with us!! 🤗😍
You're welcome! I'm glad you liked the sketchbook choices!
@winterwoodsstudio 🤗😍
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 😊
I have to try it! Thanks!
You're welcome! Let me know how it goes.
Thank you
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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!
Thanks!
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for the super thanks!
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!
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.
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!
Thank you for soulful sharing.
Thank you! And thank you so much for taking the time to watch!
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!
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!
Thanks for your inspiration!!❤
I am so glad you enjoyed 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!
Your are an amazing artist ❤❤❤❤❤bravissima
Thank you so much 😀
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.
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!
This is a great video. You are so talented! You have such gorgeous hair and skin too.
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!
What a great story!
Thank you so much! And thank you for watching too!
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!
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 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 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!
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!
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 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!
That was very helpful 😊
Thank you so much!!! ❤
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Thank you❤
Thanks for watching!
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!
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!
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!
Always been interested in visual art, and always been able to 'doodle'. That's always been my relief, so as I think about retiring from the career that I used to support my family, and life, and its pension will support the future (hopefully!) I'm thinking about returning to develop a career in art (Grandma Moses, perhaps), and this has been a helpful primer to reorient myself beyond the 'doodling'.
I am so glad this video is helpful for you as you begin this new journey! You've got this!
I love your energy. It is so easy to tell how passionate you are about your art and just being creative in general. Question: you mentioned you had children. How did you do with your art practice when they were tiny, newborn or toddler era? I have a young toddler and soon to have a newborn (any day now) and am wondering how to balance being a Mom with my need to be creative.
I mostly wirked in pen and ink or water color and at our dining room table. I worked on something that I could put down at a moment's notice and not worry about, instead of having something like say acrylics and having to put it down and then coming back to find the paint had dried in the brush and ruined it. And I mostly worked during naptime Or before they got up in the morning or after they went to bed. sometimes I would set them up with an art or craft project at the table with me. Of course, I always only used supplies that were non-toxic around them.! It's a tough time, but it goes faster than you think. The days are long, but the years are short. Hope that helps! And thanks for watching!
I usually do art in the non-gardening times but 20 mins a day…that I could definitely make room for! Thanks for the inspiration. Just randomly my SIL just recovered from the same scenario of ligaments torn after receiving cortisone shots. She still can’t lift her arm past mid-chest. So sad. I wonder how common it is?!
It is a shame about your SIL. Hope she is doing okay! it's awesome that you're finding time to make art! 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. 👋👋😊😊🙏🙏
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!
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!
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 RUclips for the way it can bring people together! Hugs👨🌾
I enjoyed your video
I'm so glad you liked it!
❤like what your saying
I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!
Question: I am trying to learn watercolor. I struggle with the thought of 20 (or any other set time) per day because 1) the time to set up my stuff and time to clean up after, and 2) I my not finish inside of the timeframe - do you continue the next day(s) and just leave it all out? Or just start something new each day. I’m ADHD and this sounds daunting. When I do paint, I tend to hyperfocus for days then abandon it for weeks. It’s not conducive to building my skills.
I leave it out on my little art table and just pick up where I left off if it's watercolor. If I'm just sketching with a pencil and a sketchbook, which is what I do on days that feel hard to me, mo clean up or set up needed. I have simila6issues as you and have found that to be the easiest way for me to have a daily habit. Hope that helps.
💜💜💜
I look forward to these tips! Im in a Major Depressive episode and im also unemployed. Ive had a mental breakdown. Its been a year since i created anything. I wanna make it out. Ive been watching videos trying to get the spark again. I do good to get out of bed. My therapist wants to start adding things to do a day as a new routine and eventually go back to work and social stuff. But im not working so i feel guilty even sketching cause im not earning for my family. I have CPTSD too so im dealing with it right now. I feel like i faked it till i was 35 and now i just dont have the strength most days. Any help or advice would be lovely and welcome.
It’s amazing you’re taking these steps to care for yourself, I'm sure that's a hard thing to do! I hope these tips help and I'm sending you lots of strength and love!
@winterwoodsstudio thank you so much for those kind words. I appreciate your videos!
thanks for shaeing this tip. Have you every tried the derwent inktense range?
Yes I have a few of the inktense blocks and I mean like four, that I use for underpainting with soft pastels. Someday soon I'll try a bigger set! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video. I think im going to get out ye olde jounals and do some daily warm ups with them.
I got waaay burnt out on pet portraits and perfectionism with colored pencil. Did that for most of my art life. So i got the exact opposite and bought alcohol inks to force myself to allow messy fluid art that i cant micromanage. They are ok so far but kind of boring. Then i wanted to feed my brush addiction and dipped back into paints. Bought a bad oil painting from a thrift shop for the canvas and realized how really really off all the perspective was, how it had a confusion of multiple light sources, various color conflicts, inaccurate and confused shading all over this poor painting. I thought about it for a few minutes and said, "The only thing that can fix this is fire. 🤔 You know who's good at fire?! Godzilla. Then giggling (for the first time in a very long time with art stuff) printed off a few Godzilla stills and now hes having a grand time setting fire to the village. I discovered that the artest who painted it was really good here and there. Hes great at trees, just not great with lighting. Hes good at some detail elements but likely didnt draw enough buildings to understand perspective. His hand is steady. Then the center and focal point he was just really confused about how to tie in the angles together in a way that made sense. Its been really fun to sit with this painting and sort out how to fix and change it to make it work. So, thank you Nester for your good try at a little country town house. I solved the issues and you gave me back joy. Godzilla is having a good time too. 😉 i thought it was going to feel bad going over someone else's effort, but it was dirty, abandoned for $5, and would have ended up in a much worse place. So give an old abandoned painting a go at a new life and remembered to make art fun again.
That’s so awesome, I love your approach to learning about art! It's a fun and creative way to learn! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch my video and leave a comment!
I try to sketch on procreate regularly
I love sketching on Procreate too! It makes everything so easy and painless!
Yes if you see a lot of famous modern artists such as Milton Avery you see their looseness and freedom. Yet some super realistic artists don't get noticed. So art is peculiar and I guess it all changed with photography.
NO PENCIL…Working only in waterproof pen with option to watercolor- allowed me to loosen up and stop correcting. I also like to add some text which makes it a visual journal that is fun to look back at.
I've been doing a visual journal lately too amd loving it so much! Thanks for watching!
I just found my sketch books from back in the 80s. With no tech to distract us back then. I used to sketch everything and everyone. At home. On the train. My friends etc
It really gave me back my confidence as I realised. I’m actually very good at sketching fast and accurately
All these years later I had grown older and lost that confidence
I also looked back at the sketches and all the memories of home there recorded for life.
It’s definitely something I want to pick up and do again.
I love the idea of sketchbooks being a visual journal of our lives! I just started a "visual journal" so that I can have it to look back on later. I hope you pick it back up again! Thank you for watching!
Go for it
@@winterwoodsstudio visual journal that’s exactly it! Like finding an old photo album
Our old huge box tv I had drawn too. Which I showed my son as they actually can’t believe how big they were 😂
@@susanvandermerwe-bc9qo 🥰 better than scrolling on social media x
I am totally stagnated. Donno from where and how to start.
I guess the first thing I would do would be to make a list of the things that I like to draw or paint. and if you already have some art supplies, I'd take that list and I would go and look at my art supplies until I felt like maybe there was one I was interested in using. And then I would pick that art supply and sit down, pick something from the list and set a timer for 5 minutes. Keep it simple and see what happens. Let me know if that helps!
What’s the difference between grafitint and inktense? A very helpful video, thanks so much! X
Grafitints are more earthy and desaturated whereas Inktense are bright and bold!
Hraphatont actually have graphite mixed in and are like watercolors. Inktense is basically bright bold inks that are dried. When you activate them with water and then let them dry, they become permanent and canot be lifted from paper. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!
@ thank you, it sounds like the grafitint might be more to my liking. Xx
@ thanks Sam x
Graphite is colored graphite lead. Inktense is water activated ink in pencil form.