They don’t always turn out pretty…

Hi Friends! It is a snowy Sketchbook Sunday here in Maine! I just got back from walking the beast (aka Penny puppy) and I have to say that one of the benefits to having a very high energy dog is that you must get outside everyday whether you want to or not LOL! Winters are hard on me. I am someone who tends to feel cold a lot of the time and the short days can do a number on anyone’s state of mind. Also the lack of sun gives most of us in this neck of the woods a vitamin D deficiency. I tend to fall into the “Everything I create is garbage” spiral this time of year. Last year was really bad and I am trying my best to redirect and stay out of the dark and icy grip of winter artist block. In today’s video you will see the first attempt (the bad pancake art I like to call it) and how I redirected to create a better painting. I might go back and try to save the bad pancake but I know when I am in a certain frame of mind I need to change tack completely and start something new or I will just end up sad and frustrated. How do you cope with creative block? Do you find it harder to create during certain seasons?

Probably many of you are thinking “why don’t you take a break and come back when you feel inspired?” That’s probably very good advice for some people. I did take a week off from filming from Christmas Day to New Years Eve and 2 out of the 3 things I filmed on New Years Day were absolute junk. So many bad pancakes haha! I think, with me, art is like excersize. You don’t go from working out every day to being a couch potato and expect to hit the ground running a week later. Even when I take a proper vacation I sketch and watercolor for my enjoyment. During this week off at home I cleaned, read and organized (organizing is probably my biggest hobby after crafty stuff) but any time I sat down to paint for fun I felt like the well was empty and instead of pushing through or just drawing anything I decided to procrasticlean…boy, you’d think my house would be gleaming wouldn’t you? LOL! I don’t know if my tale of woe will be a help to anyone reading this but if it does then I’m glad. I don’t know of any creative person who doesn’t suffer from an unmotivated apathy from time to time. You just need to figure out the best way for you to deal with it. For me, the only way out is through as you will see in today’s video.

This video is sponsored by Smart Art! Smart Art is a monthly subscription box that delivers a unique surprise assortment of full-size art supplies to your door each month so you can learn and try new media! If surprise art supplies aren’t your thing you can also purchase past boxes while supplies last or beginner bundles of supplies. Each box comes with a project booklet too. Smart art ships to many countries. Learn more today!

Supplies:

• Watercolors (Art Creations by Royal Talens) *Let me know if you would like a review on these!
• Accordion sketchbook (Hahnemuehle)
• Brushes & Carry Case (Royal & Langnickle) Watercolor Pencils (Bruynzeel)
• White wax crayon added from stash
• Rose Palette (a Christmas gift from hubby)
• Reference photos: Rainbow Cabanas (failed painting) and Stream

Want more?

Want to learn how to paint better landscapes? Try my course Watercolor Landscape workshop! This class contains 7 hours of exclusive training to teach you how to paint landscapes with ease and confidence! You will find lots of lessons to build your skills in landscape painting plus 4 real-time step-by-step scenes to paint including a tropical beach which will be a nice break from winter. You can upload your work for feedback and ask me questions right in the class. You get to learn and it’s fun! I’d love to see you in class!

Thanks for spending a bit of your weekend with me and til next time happy painting!