So beautiful Helen, I’ve just returned to painting watercolour after about 30yrs, and today you’ve inspired me to make my journaling more visual, thank you 💚🪴
I love this window into your process and your pages, Helen. I'm in a phase of a rush of creativity, reconnecting with it, at the moment.
I bought my first sketchbook in years and years and years at the weekend. Eeek! And yet also, what a relief to own one now!
So far, I made a little collage in there (Monday) and then did a hand-written exploration of what was in that collage, centreing on the words 'studio' and 'snug' (today). These hand-written pages look more like a handwritten zine. (Zines! How did I forget about zines!).
I'd love to explore different mediums... the pages of my sketchbook are made of very fancy paper and I'm sure would take watercolour. How long it is since I've held a watercolour brush.
I can't quite commit to a daily practice even though I'm calling it my 'daily sketchbook', but I'd like to spend as much time there as possible this year. I like the idea of a weekly window. So many some short little forays in the sketchbook daily, and something a bit longer (like getting the watercolours out!) once a week.
It's lovely seeing the snowdrops popping up everywhere. And your drawings have inspired me to draw something over again a few times - I tend to feel like I've only got one chance at getting it right. Don't know why!
YES!!! This may be the perfectionism we all experience (we want it to be perfect the first time round) or that pressure that we want something to be perfect because we don't have time to waste. For me it's a bit of both and they are linked but I've tried to overcome those feelings as they're just not helpful. It's important to play and have fun!! Experiment and enjoy the process.
Exactly right! A mixture of the two plus laziness for me. 😳 I love to experiment and play, but then I just want to move on to the next thing. Going to remind myself that doing something over again is good exercise, not a waste of time and effort. 😅
So lovely, Helen! I've been a long time follower and first time commenter. I've been making my own visual journals for years. But you really inspire me. I love capturing what's right in front of you which for me (living in Maryland, USA at the moment), is lots of snow! The best part of this hobby/habit is being a 'noticer' and looking for all the little things that make life so rich and magical. THANKS for sharing!
This week has been very cold here in Virginia, it's the coldest winter we've had in years, and I'm actually glad about it (mostly because I'm hoping it keeps the insect count down come summer 😂). It means that the red flame of our heater, ochre colour of the grass, and bright blue sky have been the prevalent colours of my week.
Meanwhile, I've been plotting and planning on getting my hands on some Neocolor II crayons, I just can't decide whether to buy them individually or get a tin 🤔😂 - I just know I love the vivid colours they show in your journals, and in other works I've seen online!
I’d always suggest buying Neocolor II individually, maybe 3-5 colours you see in your own landscape to begin with (the colours you mention) and go from there. 🥰
So beautiful Helen, I’ve just returned to painting watercolour after about 30yrs, and today you’ve inspired me to make my journaling more visual, thank you 💚🪴
Amazing, this makes me so glad!! Please do share your work at some point if you feel happy doing that xx
I love this window into your process and your pages, Helen. I'm in a phase of a rush of creativity, reconnecting with it, at the moment.
I bought my first sketchbook in years and years and years at the weekend. Eeek! And yet also, what a relief to own one now!
So far, I made a little collage in there (Monday) and then did a hand-written exploration of what was in that collage, centreing on the words 'studio' and 'snug' (today). These hand-written pages look more like a handwritten zine. (Zines! How did I forget about zines!).
I'd love to explore different mediums... the pages of my sketchbook are made of very fancy paper and I'm sure would take watercolour. How long it is since I've held a watercolour brush.
I can't quite commit to a daily practice even though I'm calling it my 'daily sketchbook', but I'd like to spend as much time there as possible this year. I like the idea of a weekly window. So many some short little forays in the sketchbook daily, and something a bit longer (like getting the watercolours out!) once a week.
Hmmmm food for thought!
A lot of food for thought.
It's lovely seeing the snowdrops popping up everywhere. And your drawings have inspired me to draw something over again a few times - I tend to feel like I've only got one chance at getting it right. Don't know why!
YES!!! This may be the perfectionism we all experience (we want it to be perfect the first time round) or that pressure that we want something to be perfect because we don't have time to waste. For me it's a bit of both and they are linked but I've tried to overcome those feelings as they're just not helpful. It's important to play and have fun!! Experiment and enjoy the process.
Exactly right! A mixture of the two plus laziness for me. 😳 I love to experiment and play, but then I just want to move on to the next thing. Going to remind myself that doing something over again is good exercise, not a waste of time and effort. 😅
Exactly! Playing is never a waste of time. 😆
😄
So lovely, Helen! I've been a long time follower and first time commenter. I've been making my own visual journals for years. But you really inspire me. I love capturing what's right in front of you which for me (living in Maryland, USA at the moment), is lots of snow! The best part of this hobby/habit is being a 'noticer' and looking for all the little things that make life so rich and magical. THANKS for sharing!
Brilliantly said! ✨👌🏻
This week has been very cold here in Virginia, it's the coldest winter we've had in years, and I'm actually glad about it (mostly because I'm hoping it keeps the insect count down come summer 😂). It means that the red flame of our heater, ochre colour of the grass, and bright blue sky have been the prevalent colours of my week.
Meanwhile, I've been plotting and planning on getting my hands on some Neocolor II crayons, I just can't decide whether to buy them individually or get a tin 🤔😂 - I just know I love the vivid colours they show in your journals, and in other works I've seen online!
Btw, those colours are a dream!!
I’d always suggest buying Neocolor II individually, maybe 3-5 colours you see in your own landscape to begin with (the colours you mention) and go from there. 🥰
So beautiful, insipiring.🌿
I’m so glad you’re enjoying seeing my process. ✨