Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What's For Breakfast? Some tips to make journaling more of a daily event.

Hi GF's, I was sitting down for breakfast this morning and started to think about my sketchbook. Finding the time to sketch and journal takes some planning and a determined effort. It isn't going to happen unless you make it happen and I find that some days the process will get pushed completely out of my schedule, does that happen to you too? Here are a few things that might help you to set that special time aside.

1. Actually schedule yourself a block of time to journal, paint or just create. If your goal is to try and paint and journal daily make a date with yourself by scheduling a small block of time, like a 1/2 hour to start.

2. Make a special place or make it a special event so that you can escape and be alone to really concentrate on your journal without interruptions. I like to grab a cup of coffee and go outside to my hideaway and just sit and enjoy the morning. Sometimes I just have breakfast with my sketchbook soaking up the early morning sun, like this morning.


3. Don't take too much time, if you are busy then sketching might feel like a chore and we want it to be something you look forward too each day or every other day. If you don't have time for a sketch just do some abstract washes on your page to return to at a different time.

4. Bite off small pieces to start. Don't try and sketch a whole landscape scene if you have only a 1/2 hour to sketch, save those big sketches for a day when you have more time. Pick something small. If you are painting from life, which I encourage, crop your view. You can crop your view by cutting a square or rectangle in a piece of card stock, like 3"x4" or 2"x3", now hold up your rectangle and move it around your area you are now looking through that hole to crop the view or subject you will paint and sketch. Your phone or camera are also another great way to capture a cropped scene or subject to paint. Sometimes just being outside looking around makes it too hard to pick something out to sketch, crop your view.

5. Don't worry about perfection, its so much better when it isn't perfect. Use a pencil first, make your sketch, correct anything you feel is grossly wrong and then you can outline with your permanent pen and erase the pencil lines. You might even try erasing your lines leaving only a soft outline to paint by and no outline. When you get some confidence try just sketching with your pen, no pencil first. Experiment and decide what you like best.

6. Remember its your sketchbook, yours to do with what you like. Take notes, make observations, jot down your thoughts, record how your life is opening up as you really learn to see your surroundings.



6 comments:

Christa said...

First I want to say your bowl of cereal looks great! I love fresh blueberries too and so does my granddaughter. Journaling is one of the hardest things for me. Not sure what to say or write down. I will take some of your tips and give it a try!!!

Desiree's Designs said...

Thanks Christa! The blueberries right now are perfect and fun to paint, the silverware goes with our project we did in sketch class this month too! You just started to journal when you told me that you love blueberries just like your granddaughter. Just add to that thought, any memories when she has blueberries with you. Have you made blueberry muffins together? Just let your thought expound and write like your sending me an email about you and your granddaughters love for blueberries or breAkfast together. Have fun

Lisa Chin said...

Great advice Desiree! I need to make an appointment with myself and KEEP it!

Jane LaFazio said...

great advice! This would be a great post for The Sketchbook Challenge too!

Desiree's Designs said...

Lisa, maybe you should call it a date and so you look forward to it!

Desiree's Designs said...

Hi Jane, thanks for visiting, yes I will incorporate these last few posts as they go with our sketchbook challenge theme this month! Thanks for you comment!

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