Over the last several months, I’ve been inspired and motivated by online opportunities to learn and practice making art—drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, printmaking, etc. Even though I have a minor in Art as part of my bachelor’s degree, I only skimmed the surface of working with traditional art techniques back in the day. Time to circle back.
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| Sketching and painting in the Junk Journal. |
Junk Journals: a non-precious place to start
An easy, “non-precious” place to practice art techniques is in a Junk Journal. Making a few of these junk journals for participation in Junk Journal January and Junk Journal July, I have unused pages in these journals that can still be filled. The junk journals are easy to grab for a slow drawing session or a quick sketch.
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| My collection of Junk Journals from 2023 and 2024. |
Since Junk Journals are made from… well… “junk” (discarded papers, discontinued sales boards, things from the recycle bin), they are unintimidating. You can give anything a go and not be concerned about messing up.
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| Water color painting inspired by nature. |
Sometimes the work is new (above). Sometimes the drawing or painting gets added to an existing composition (below).
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| Slow drawings added to a Junk Journal page. |
Here is the inspiration from nature…
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| Inspiration from nature. |
and here is the drawing/painting in the Junk Journal.
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| Drawing and painting from nature. |
Sketchbooks
Several of my 100 Day Projects required a sketchbook. I am curating a healthy stack of them! When I need a new sketchbook, I buy three! The extras are used for my general art practice.
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| Drawing in the sketchbook. |
The sketchbooks I buy are:
- 9” x 12”
- 110 lb. (160 gsm) mixed media paper, so they accommodate multiple techniques—watercolor, ink, paint pens, and other mediums.
- spiral bound (but they have a perf line if I choose to tear out a page for another purpose).
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| Nature journaling in a sketchbook. |
Taking online classes—especially if you follow along in “real time”—doesn’t provide any time for hesitation. Gather your art supplies, grab a sketchbook, login, and draw/paint/sketch along with the instructor.
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| Watercolor exercise on watercolor paper. |
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| Watercolor exercise on watercolor paper. |
Filling in the gaps
I have used design principles and concepts from my undergrad art studies throughout my graphic arts and printing and publishing career—and of course in my quiltmaking—but now I’m enjoying filling in the gaps of those traditional art techniques that weren’t developed.
Online resources I’ve tapped for developing my practice have been:
- Slow Drawing with Amy Maricle at Mindful Art Studio
- Sketchbook Revival with Karen Abend
- Willa Workshops with Wendy Solganik
- Classes with Carla Sonheim and others
- Drawing sessions with Ruby Elliot [rubyetc]
- Workshops with Jennifer Wilken Penick
I’m enjoying the learning and the processes.
