The Other Side of My Easel: Sketchbook Whimsy!

Hello, my creative friends!

Let me ask you a serious question. 

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ARTIST???

Think about the question for a minute. You may be wondering where this is going, but let me ask you a few more questions:

• Do you tend to lose track of time when you are in the creative process? (I call that being “in the zone”.)
• Do you find yourself wishing for, craving, even needing time spent in some creative activity?
• Do you feel better (more balanced or centered) after you have gotten to spend time in your creative process?
• Do you feel unfulfilled, anxious, or restless when you don’t get enough time or opportunity to create? 
• Do you miss the time you could have spent creating when other priorities in life arise?

I think that if you answered “yes” to any of the above, you, my friend, are an artist. 🙂

But what does any of this have to do with this blog?

Well, let me tell those of you who don’t personally know me that I absolutely adore and am committed to the pastel medium. For me, its immediacy, vibrancy, and tactile nature make it my number one choice when I want to get seriously creative.

But one can’t be (or shouldn’t be, I believe) serious ALL the time. As I grow in my ability to express myself with my art, I can more clearly see the need to incorporate some serious PLAY-TIME (sorry, I couldn’t resist…) into my artistic life! 

So today, I am throwing caution to the wind and opening up my sketchbook to share with you some of my latest play-time creations. 

First up: A Nesting Composition of Colorful Butterflies

Nested Butterflies — watercolor and graphite

I LOVE doing nested compositions. It’s an easy way to practice and experiment with shapes, colors, and layout using a single subject. No two are ever the same! Pop the finished piece onto a colorful piece of scrapbook paper and attach it in your sketchbook, or adorn the top of a blank greeting card and send it off to a lucky person!
They can read it and then frame it!

Next up: A Nesting Composition of Mason Jars

Nested Mason Jars — watercolor and graphite

I plan to do more nesting compositions….balloons, teapots, and toadstools are on my play list! 

Here’s one more pic showing my shortcut to drawing mason jars….

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I plan to share more of my sketchbook creations in the near future, so stay tuned!

Before I go, I would like to mention the book The Art of Creative Watercolor—Inspiration & Techniques for Imaginative Drawing and Painting by Danielle Donaldson. This book is AWESOME!! It’s where I got the idea for nesting compositions. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is looking to foster a more playful creative process. Check it out!

Till next time,

Stay Creative!!

~Rhonda