How I Am Improving My Art Practice

I am in between collections and felt it was the perfect time to press pause and review my process. I took sometime this week to do that and realized there was one BIG thing I felt I could improve upon to help myself become a better artist.

Anyone else have a giant stack of sketchbooks laying around? Raises hand. Anyone else like to look back through their sketchbooks? Sure do. Anyone else notice, whilst looking through said sketchbooks, that not a single one is completely filled? Yup. Anyone else realize that they don’t ever really use a sketchbook? Because, that’s me! I know there are a lot of artists that live by their sketchbook. It’s where they place their ideas, inspiration, thoughts and dreams. It’s where I leave a blank page…this is just not a practice I ever developed, even with being an art major.

Have you guessed the big improvement I want to make yet? You got it, use my sketchbook more! I have decided that I want to be more intentional in my art making. Normally everything is just floating around up in my head and I let it play out directly on the canvas. Being an abstract intuitive painter, I find the fun is in the experimentation—of letting things go where they want to go freely, not by force. But that doesn’t mean I can’t bring intention into the mix.

Let’s take a look through my sketchbook to see how I’m going to do this!

Sourcing color

Creating a library of color and color palettes from inspirational images.

Different Mediums

Using different materials for quick sketches to test mark-making and composition.

Figurative Sketches + Collection Ideas

Mapping out figurative sketches to be used in future paintings. Recording ideas for new collections.

Patterns + Mark-Making

Creating a catalog of marks, patterns, and lines to be used for painting details—big and small.

Putting It All Together

Acrylic paint sketches to test color palette with figurative elements and mark-making.

I believe adding in this sketchbook practice, at the beginning of a new collection, will help me to be more intentional and less ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ in my art making process. Now, having this fully equipped toolbox (I mean, sketchbook)—to refer back to in times of doubt, creative blocks, or low motivation—will make me a more confident artist!

P.S. Did you catch what I am thinking my newest collection is going to be titled? Leave a comment if you think you know! And make sure you become a Lover of Color to hear first about the newest collection, coming soon.