You Are Your Own Best Source Of Inspiration
Summer Creativity
For me, July was the creative summer month at home I was hoping for. I've been drawing on location a lot, with friends and by myself. And I plan to do more of it this month.
I also spent time at the desk. My online program, inspired by my book, is still in the works. I have many notes and lots of to dos, but all video material is now finalized and done!
Celebration
5 years on Patreon! To celebrate, I made a free instruction video on one of many ways to capture greens, foliage, leaves and trees. Watch it here.
Sketching Trips
Quick update on workshop trips coming up this fall: I'll be teaching in Paris and Italy. Both are filled up. And there's already a waiting list for my workshop trip to Nice in May next year.
Luckily, there are more trips coming up in 2027.
For my art retreat in Orvieto in 2027, we'll stay in a wonderfully quiet former convent. Walk out the door and you're right in picturesque Orvieto. I taught there last May and it's a very special, beautiful place.
We have dedicated studio space in the convent, but of course we'll also draw on location. So many beautiful spots in town! Plus great Italian food, fun activities, and time to yourself.
I'm excited to go back in fall with another group of artists. Will you be one of them?
Tips for your sketchbook
1. Choosing your materials
Whether it's a big trip or a tiny adventure at home to break up the day, here's a valuable tip for choosing what to bring:
2. Sketching people without them noticing (or not)
I often get asked how I deal with people noticing I'm sketching them. That happened while I was sketching on the train, filming the process for Draw Tip Tuesday:
3. Everyday things
Cups, glasses and saucers seem mundane and boring, but wait till you draw them! That coffee moment you're already taking for yourself, use it for drawing too. Experiment with color, texture, and materials.
4. Switch up your technique
Start with watercolor shapes first, then line after. Here I used red for the chairs and awning, then added line with a black watercolor pencil. A bit of water to dilute the black pencil here and there, and a few extra dabs of red.
I love this technique because the initial colors often don't line up exactly, which gives it that playful, loose and expressive effect.
5. Inspire yourself
Growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. Try this: flip through an old sketchbook. You'll probably rediscover a tool or approach you'd forgotten about, and revisiting it can feel like it's completely new.
I do this myself when I need inspiration for my monthly Patreon pro-tip posts. I take old sketchbooks off the shelf and flip through them, and it always sparks ideas.
So next time you're stuck, look back at your own sketchbooks. You are your own best source of inspiration.
