How to Make Art

The Endless Sketchbook, Volume Two

2026-08-18T17:31:38.566-04:00

I'm going to be really honest here.

I used to teach art in person and make tutorials online, but I actually ended up really not enjoying it. There are so many other people out there who are amazing at teaching and showing others how to make art step by step, and I realized that teaching art that way just wasn’t where my own curiosity lived. And I'm ok with that.

Making art tutorials just wasn't exciting to me anymore. I'd rather teach people how to notice things, how to dream, how to document their lives, and how to live life as if it were a work of art.

So here I am with Volume 2 of The Endless Sketchbook!

What are you noticing this week?

Here is what I've been endlessly curious about lately:

*My Inanimate Object Photo Album

An album full of person-less photos. Yes, this would be the last album to grab if the house caught on fire, but it’s amazing how pictures of knick-knacks and empty spaces can evoke such strong memories from the past.

Sometimes the things we think are insignificant can provide huge anchors for our memories.

*A “Closed Tabs” List In My Journal

This one is surprisingly wonderful!

I have sooooo many tabs open on my phone’s browser, so I made a short list of a few I wanted to remember, as silly as that sounds.

It’s basically like a little time capsule of what I was thinking about recently, and I think it will be interesting to look back on.

Also, I get to cut down on digital clutter while creating a little memory list. So it gives me the freedom to close the tab without guilt, thus ending the loop.

*Lazy Scrapbooking / Junk Journaling

I don’t know what to call this thing.

It’s basically clear page protector sheets that I stuff full of memories and mementos. It’s junk journaling without the sticky mess of a glue stick because everything is held together with washi tape.

Receipts, tiny scraps of paper, pieces of packaging, doodles, photos, or anything else worth saving goes in this album.

It has been bringing me so much joy - I can’t explain it! When I sit down to work on this book, I get really excited.

Maybe that’s reason enough to keep doing something.

The Endless Sketchbook, Volume One: A place to notice, collect, and create beautiful things.

2026-08-03T18:07:31.316-04:00

Welcome to…

I've wanted to make a place like this for a long time.

A place where sketches, photographs, thrift store finds, late-night writing, and little observations can exist together without needing to fit into neat little categories.

There are no rules here.

This Endless Sketchbook isn’t meant to be read from beginning to end. I want this to be a cozy corner of the internet: a place for surprise, reflection, and inspiration. I hope you’ll visit, wander, and return often. There is no right or wrong way to experience this place. Stay for a few moments or lose yourself for an hour. Follow whatever catches your eye, and don’t worry about reading everything.

By sharing ordinary things that might otherwise go unnoticed, I am trying to pay attention to the beauty in the world around me. I don’t believe that art is only found in museums and on gallery walls. It can also be found in a faded pink handwritten receipt tucked inside a thrifted book, in the way the light dances across the breakfast table as you drink your morning coffee, or in the scuffs on the threshold of your favorite restaurant from years of happy customers traveling in and out.

This sketchbook will be full of imperfect marks and badly lit photographs shared in an attempt to notice the beauty in the mundane. Sometimes you’ll find a a single photograph or a sentence. Other times, there might be a collage, a poem, a sketchbook spread, or some scribbled writing pulled from my pocket notebook while the ink is still drying. I never quite know what the next page will hold, and I hope that sense of discovery is exciting for you too.

I have always been a very curious person and am forever trying to learn how to live my life as if it were a work of art through creation and documentation. I want to share these notes and ideas with you. This is my attempt to collect the daily ordinary fragments that, when woven together, make up a life. These days, the world moves so quickly, and this is my attempt to slow down long enough to really notice it.

If you enjoy keeping a sketchbook, writing in a journal, carrying a camera, or if you just have a curious mind, I hope this place reminds you that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect. A creative life doesn’t have to be built from masterpieces alone; it can be built from simply paying attention. My hope is that maybe you will even become inspired to create something too: a sketch, a poem, a knitted beanie with colorful flowers attached, a slightly blurry video documenting your dog playing fetch badly, or anything else that captures your imagination.

Let curiosity be your guide and your muse.

I’ll leave the studio light on here for you when you return.

Jotted down a quick note for my “Gentle Memories” list:

Lana Del Rey is one of my favorite artists. A few months ago, I was excited to hear her new single for the upcoming James Bond film after I previewed a few clips online, but I fell asleep before the midnight release and forgot all about it the next morning. I ended up going to GameStop, and they were blasting it through the store speakers. It was so nice hearing it in full for the first time in a small crowd of people who seemed to be really enjoying it together.

I keep a list on my phone called “Gentle Memories,” and it’s simply a collection of little moments that spark happy, uncomplicated memories.

Here are a few:

*Driving the car for the first time with Maggie. She was a tiny 3 month old puppy, and my husband had to keep reminding me to keep my eyes on the road since I couldn’t stop looking at the new puppy.

*Using JCPenney coupons with mom - getting there early to get the coupon lottery. It was called a “sweet sale,” and they passed out chocolate bars with coupons on their wrappers.

*Lunch at The Mill with Dad. I had burgers and pickle fries.

*Dancing in the kitchen with Roo and my husband.

*French toast made with Pepperidge Farms french toast flavored bread (french toast french toast).

*Leaves falling while driving home in the neighborhood I grew up in - yellow dancers gliding down onto the street.

*Seeing a deer stop perfectly at a crosswalk to wait for traffic.

*Mom and Dad, who were initially against the idea of a dog, excitedly talking to Maggie on FaceTime.

*Eating a meal alone at a fancy restaurant in New York City with a drink and a sketchbook.

*Humming “The Girl From Ipanema” while we all played Cranium.

*Taking close up pictures of rust and decay with my little red digital camera at the junk lady’s place.

I love writing these little notes to my future self because I can re-read them whenever I am feeling down or lost, and they remind me of the little but important moments that have quietly shaped my life. Some of them only make sense to me, and that’s ok. There is so much beauty in everyday life; sometimes it can really amaze me.

Changed my watch band today, so naturally I had to change the watch face too. It feels so different. Whole new watch! Whole new me!

Some things that are inspiring me lately:

I love reading about the creative processes of other artists, and lately, I keep thinking about David Bowie’s cut up poetry and Jack Kerouac’s scroll. Two totally different ideas but both so experimental and unique. Do you know about those?

I will let David Bowie explain the cut up technique himself:

Cut up techinque- David Bowie

Here is an explanation of Jack Kerouac’s scroll:

Jack Kerouac’s On the Road manuscript is set to go under the hammer

Jack Kerouac’s On The Road scroll (along with his Dharma Bums scroll and a group of personal letters) sold to singer songwriter Zach Bryan in March 2026 at auction. Zach Bryan plans to open up the future Jack Kerouac Center in Lowell, MA, Kerouac’s hometown. One of my favorite Kerouac passages is this one:

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’”

“Burn, Burn, Burn” is one of my favorite Zach Bryan songs. Another standout is “Greatest Day Of My Life.”

Zach Bryan - Burn, Burn, Burn

Zach Bryan - The Greatest Day of My Life

Speaking of music, this song is my latest obsession:

Charli xcx - Card Declined (Official Audio)

It gives me Sonic Youth/Kim Gordon vibes, and that is a very good thing. I love to listen to music while I draw, and sometimes I will scribble the name of the song I’m listening to on the same page as my drawing.

Today is a rainy day where I live, so I’ll be staying inside doing a lot of sketching and reading. What do you like to do when it rains? Do you have any good book recommendations for me? I’d seriously love to hear them!

Preservation vs. Decay, Part Two: The Subtle Art of Recapturing Your Childhood

2025-04-12T22:03:00.003-04:00

I can't stop myself from browsing eBay to try to find the bath time puppy toy with the fluffy plush ears that I used to play with every day when I was a kid. I stupidly sold him at a garage sale when I was older so that I could earn some makeup money. I needed white eyeliner more than I needed him at the time because white eyeliner was more aligned with the goals of a teenager.

I keep trying to find the puppy on eBay, but it's been so difficult to find because I don't know what he was originally called, and I only have that vague picture of him in my mind…

I search eBay for “plush plastic puppy vintage bath toy,” but nothing looks right. I click on some of the listings anyway.

As I scroll through the photographs of damage, paint rubs, and stray marks in each listing, I wonder if I even really want some filthy old puppy toy full of other kid’s bath time grime? I would be more comfortable with my own childhood grime, of course, but the likelihood of finding my actual puppy toy online is slim to none. Even if I was able to find the exact one I grew up with, I wouldn't know the difference anyway. I also can't ignore the fact that repurchasing a bath time puppy toy doesn't really align with my goals as an adult.

Whether or not I plan to purchase something similar, in the end, my old plush plastic puppy vintage bath toy will probably end up outliving both me and its new owner(s) because plastic is more permanent than flesh. I passed through my plush plastic puppy toy’s life just for a brief moment in the scheme of his existence. And he doesn't even have the capacity to remember me. Oh, what a beautifully strange world that we exist in together…

This is the puppy. I found the puppy. I do not need the puppy. I will not be purchasing the puppy. Pinkie promise!

Preservation vs. Decay, Part One: The Subtle Art of Discarding Things

2025-04-01T22:05:00.000-04:00

I want back everything I ever touched. I want to preserve it all, encase it in glass, stick it into resin… I want every silly little memento, every scrap, every tiny bit of string.

I can't stop myself from attaching that disgusting sentimental ooze onto everything I encounter as I sort through boxes of my childhood stuff to try to thin it down and declutter my possessions a little bit. Old diary, old letter, dead tamagotchi.

I keep rooting through these relics of my past, but it's hard to let go of things because I am, at my core, a sentimentalist. At the same time, though, I want to watch these mementos crumble apart in my hands. I want to let them all float away forever, leaving me feeling lighter and less burdened.

Actual excerpt from my childhood diary: “After lunch, we looked at some really cool art galleries. I want to be an artist when I grow up, but I also want to be something else that makes more money.” Yes, I am keeping my diary. With gems like this, how could I part with it?

Should I cherish and cling onto each sweet object or just let it go? Some things aren’t worth donating or passing on, so some bits would probably end up in the landfill. But maybe there is beauty in discarding something that has seen so much love that it can’t go on any longer…

Saving things, letting go of things, hoarding and donating endlessly, and the most important question: “does it spark joy?” Any item can spark joy for me if I try hard enough, Marie Kondo.

I can't stop myself from heading in to take a quick peek around the thrift store right after dropping off my ten bags full of previously loved goods in the donation area out back. I find a new old stock set of daisy covered towels from the 1960s and purchase it for $3.99, a steal! I call it a fair trade off since I donated so much today. When I get home, I immediately rip open the ancient packaging (so many sharp pins!) so that I can wash the towels and put them on the towel bar. And yes, they spark joy every time I use them.

Why bother trying to resist these gorgeous textile patterns from the sixties? Flashy towels are a weakness, oops.

For No One and Everyone to See All at Once: Late Stage Social Media and the Art of Cringing at Our Past Selves Online

2024-11-03T13:55:00.001-05:00

I'm starting to get a little bored with the over-curated side of social media. I want to see your messes, your unfinished projects, your scribbles, and your half completed thoughts. I don't want to arrange my open sketchbook on a white background and place my pens and markers casually angled inward to draw your eyes to the focal point. I don't want to look up the appropriate hashtags to add to the end of my captions, and I don't have an intro, a hook, or a course to sell. I just wanna post the raw sketches as they happen, late at night with my puppy's sleepy butt in the upper right corner of the photo.

I’ve been attempting to loosen up the way I show up online lately, posting imperfect bits of life and raw little sketches here and there, no pressure. Changing the way I share my life online has made me start thinking a lot about my old blog.

I was a blogger, not a very popular one, back in the Golden Age of blogs, circa 2006. I started it to basically make a little newsletter for my college friends as they moved away so that I could share my art and things that I was doing and thinking with them. Back then there were no pins on Pinterest with captions that read “I made $300K during my first 8 months of blogging! Download my ebook to find out how!” Actually, I don’t think Pinterest even existed at that point, and if there were ways to monetize a blog at that time, no one told me.

So last night, I decided to go down my little blog rabbit hole, and I started out by reading my very first post. That one was ok, I guess… But as I kept going and reading post after post, I started to cringe. I actually found myself physically making the cringe face and everything, so horrified at the things I had felt the need to write down and post for all the world to see. So horrified that it was all still there, just hanging out for no one and everyone to see all at once. Some of it was so petty and narcissistic, and I wish I had just kept certain feelings to myself. It's amazing how embarrassed we can feel when we encounter our past selves and revisit our old posts on the Internet. (Does it feel like a weird slap in the face when a Facebook memory pops up for you too?) I ended up archiving a bunch of my worst posts since I was so embarrassed of my past self.

Isn't the act of posting online at all kinda cringe in and of itself? Isn't posting one's own creative work (whether it be a painting, a poem, a song, or a video) in fact, the most cringe-worthy thing that a person can do? What drives humans to post anyway, ignoring potential consequences like embarrassment or ridicule?

Is it the need to be seen, to feel less alone? Or maybe we post in the hopes that someone else will connect with something we post and feel less alone in the world themselves. It’s definitely a mix of both.

I stumbled across something really interesting on my FYP on TikTok a few months ago. The post was about late-stage social media and how the Internet feels a bit flat lately and so driven by influencers and consumerism, which makes it a lot less compelling than it used to be. It feels like most of the apps are adapting the characteristics of the apps they are competing against, and brands, even huge brands like McDonald's, feel the need to be chronically online, on trend, and funny. did u see grimace’s text about yr free med fries?

For most people, the Internet used to fulfill the concept of a third place: a location to “inhabit” that was not home and was not work yet still provided us with a sense of connection and belonging. The Internet of yesterday was more about keeping tabs on friends, sharing news with family, and following your favorite artist's favorite artist to find out about potential new tour dates. Today, everything feels so different, and the resistance to posting new things online has grown, at least for me. I have a harder time bringing myself to push "post" or "publish" these days, no matter what platform I decide to use.

I think that posting online does inherently require a certain amount of bravery mixed with a splash of healthy creative delusion. This combo can sometimes feel a lot like risk… So it’s important to remember that every creative pursuit (and YES, posting online is very creative and is in and of itself an act of ART) does involve a bit of risk, but it’s in those moments of vulnerability that the most meaningful connections and experiences can happen. Plus, embracing the cringe that can often occur when posting online can be a fun and liberating way to remind yourself that it’s okay to be imperfect and messy.

Back in 2006, I was posting to keep my friends up to date with my life and my projects, but at the same time, I ended up making real connections and even some new friends, a few of whom I was lucky enough to be able to actually meet IRL! When I decided to look back on my blog, my first instinct was to burn it all down due to all of the sloppy cringe that was hanging out everywhere, but in the end, I decided to let a version of it survive.

I still have compassion for the 2006 version of myself, and I am trying to love the person that I was despite also feeling pretty removed from that person at the same time. She still deserves to have a little grace and a little bloggy facelift in the form of a removal of some of her most extreme, unflattering bits. The choice between deleting the whole thing or just keeping it “as is” was slightly daunting, so when I decided to take the middle ground approach of archiving only the worst parts for now, and that felt like a good fit for the person I am today.

Right now, I am cringing about my past self less and less and trying to cultivate more compassion for that version of myself who had so many things to say to strangers on the Internet. And when something weird pops up on my Facebook memories from ages ago, I try my very best not to make the cringe face. I am starting to view my past self as part of the foundation that helped build me into who I was becoming. Despite her bad choices and her online oversharing, she is me and I am her, for better or for worse.

Ok, gonna push “publish” on my first blog post in 5 years now…

HP Sprocket 2-in-1 Unboxing and Review, Plus Comparison to Polaroid POGO Printer

2019-04-22T19:35:00.002-04:00

This is a quick unboxing of the HP Sprocket 2-in-1 and a comparison to the old Polaroid POGO Printer. I love using these little prints in my journals and scrapbooks!

Here is a link to the HP Sprocket 2-in-1 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UM8HjO #commissionsearned #sponsored #ad

The link above is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Thanks for watching!

Imposter Syndrome & Artist Self Doubt / Art Insecurities #impostersyndrome #artistselfdoubt

2019-04-15T15:29:00.001-04:00

Here is an article about imposter syndrome & artist self doubt. Imposter Syndrome Art / Imposter Syndrome / Artist Self Doubt (( #impostersyndromeart #impostersyndromeaffirmations #artistselfdoubt #artinsecurities ))

Acrylics, watercolors, pens, and paint pen...⁣

This was a drawing of a girl that I wasn't too happy with initially, so I painted over it a bit with dark brown acrylic paint.

I've been thinking a bit about imposter syndrome and how it relates to art... All those feelings of artistic self doubt and not feeling confident about putting my work out there sometimes... ⁣

I get "shy" - even on the Internet, lol.

Sometimes I feel like my art should be "better" and more technically accurate rather than just stylized and cute. I had traditional training in art school, but my current art doesn't really reflect that...

Then I realize I am overthinking it and should just make the art that makes me happy then maybe other people will enjoy it too!

Do you feel this way too sometimes? ⁣ ⁣

What are some of the things you do to combat these feelings of self doubt?

Hope your Monday is going well so far!!⁣

Art Motivation & Creative Inspiration // What Drives You To Make Art? #artideas #artmotivation #creativity #creativeinspiration

2019-03-11T14:45:00.001-04:00

Here are some thoughts about art motivation and creative inspiration... What drives you to make art? // #creativepeptalk #artinspiration #creativemotivation #artistlife

I’m curious… What drives you to make art?

For me, I make art because it truly brings me so much joy. Once I get past the initial stages of insecurity (“What if I make a bad drawing?” “What if I disappoint myself and become discouraged?”), I am always amazed at how calm and meditative each drawing session can be, and that makes me so happy!

I also feel called to make art. It’s this inner nag that is always telling me to make stuff, like a craving or an itch that needs to be scratched…

I feel like the world needs more art, more beautiful things, more self-expression… Especially when times are tough and things are scary. Art, in any of its forms, can be so comforting because it helps us relate to each other and the world around us in new and distinctive ways.

I love to make art and share it online because I always hope that it will inspire others to make art of their own and express themselves creatively in any way they can. We are all so unique yet so similar, and what we make always reflects this… I love to see all the different perspectives and ways of seeing that are out there in the world. I love that we can come together online and share our unique points of view with each other.

Confessions of a Drawing Addict // Drawing Ideas // Art Motivation #howtomakeart #drawingideas #artinspiration

2019-03-05T14:39:00.001-05:00

This is a post about artistic self doubt and creative motivation centered on my ideas about drawing and self expression. // Drawing Ideas // How To Make Art #creativepeptalks #artmotivation #meettheartist

Do you ever feel that tangible need to make something? It twists up your insides and makes you crave creativity just like you would crave chocolate chip cookies. You feel like you might rip all of your hair out if you aren't able to make something at some point today, even just for ten minutes. Even if it's just a crayon sketch that turns out kinda crappy…

I get that feeling a lot.

Sometimes I go for a while without having the time to draw. The longer I stay away from drawing, the harder it is to get back into it, but that need for creativity never goes away.

I build up walls of anxiety around drawing. I procrastinate. I make excuses up in my head. I worry that after such a long absence from drawing, I will be terrible at it and it will be unfulfilling. It could turn out to be a waste of paper and ink, so why spend the time doing it? Why even bother?

Then one day I pick up my favorite pencil or pen, and it's like I can't stop drawing again. I become addicted.

I have been soooo addicted to drawing lately!! What is your latest creative obsession?

I Need Your Suggestions...

2019-03-04T11:22:00.002-05:00

I need your advice on what apps I should download to my new phone, lol! My previous phone was basically an antique, and I only had space for about 5 apps at any given time. If I wanted a new app, I had to delete an old app. So I really don't know what is our there at all, haha.

I'm interested in ALL THE THINGS - productivity apps, art apps, cute games, etc. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!!

In case you were curious, my new phone is a Google Pixel 3 XL. I got an awesome deal on it, and since I've used iPhones since forever, I was worried about the transition. So far, I love this phone and wish I had switched so much sooner!!

I posted this same question on my Instagram account and got some great responses! I am still in the process of checking out all of the suggestions, but so far my favorite new app that was suggested is Habitica. It's a productivity app that tracks your daily tasks and awards you with health and experience points when you complete the things on your list, sorta like a video game does! Super fun and motivating. I'm already on Level 3!

I also got a new custom PopSocket for my phone... It's got this sweet picture of Ruby Roo on it dressed as a cactus, of course!

I hope this picture made you smile! It always makes me so happy, haha.

A Mini SKETCHBOOK Tour, Yay! // Art // Sketchbook Inspiration // Art Journaling #howtomakeart #drawingideas #artinspiration

2019-02-27T11:18:00.001-05:00

This is a post that shares a few recent drawings from my sketchbook, and I talk about my favorite place to draw and make art. Where is your favorite place to make stuff?

Here are a few recent pages from my sketchbook...

We finally got a coffee table, and I love drawing on it, of course! It is always so much fun to relax and wind down at the end of the day, surrounded by my favorite art supplies.

Where do you feel most comfortable when making art? Are you comfortable with drawing in public, like in a coffee shop? Or are you more of a homebody when it comes to creating? I am definitely most comfortable at home. Right now the coffee table is my favorite creative space!

W.B. Yeats Quote // Sketchbook Magic // Art Journaling #howtomakeart #artideas

2019-02-18T12:24:00.003-05:00

Here is a peek from my sketchbook where I share a quote I love by W.B. Yeats. What are some of your favorite inspirational quotes?

Happy Monday! I love this quote so much. It's definitely important to remember to always notice all of the magic that surrounds you each and every day...

What are some of your favorite quotes that inspire positivity?

The drawing above was made with a pencil sketch to start, then a black brush pen followed up by some cheap thin markers that were on sale at Target, haha. I think they were Up & Up brand, and I was surprised by their quality - they are super bright and long lasting! I used a sketchbook full of really cheap paper, because cheap paper is my jam lately...

I hope your day is going great so far and that you will have some spare time to be creative today! Soak up the magic!!

A Brush Pen & Watercolors // Girl Portrait // Sketchbook Inspiration #howtomakeart #artjournal

2019-02-13T14:19:00.001-05:00

This is a sketch came together super fast using a just a simple brush pen and watercolors. It was so much fun to create this portrait!

I drew this girl when it was still kind of chilly out here in Florida a few weeks ago. I love cold weather, which is weird since I've always lived in this warm state...

What part of the world do you live in? I'm always curious to find out where my online friends are located!

I hope you are having a creative day today!! :)

Favorite Art Making Ritual // Sketchbook Art Inspiration // Girl Portrait #howtomakeart #artjournaltherapy #art

2019-02-11T16:48:00.001-05:00

The words above are by Lana Del Rey - I'm forever obsessed with her music!

What are some of your rituals when it comes to making art? Do you have to find the perfect song, the brightest patch of sunlight, or your favorite pencil?

For me, music is a huge part of making visual art. I love to listen to my favorite songs on repeat while I am drawing or painting. I love it so much that I often feel like I HAVE TO have music playing or else I can't make art, haha. Making a playlist is definitely an essential part of my art making ritual.

Current favorite songs:

*"Lucky Strike" by Troye Sivan

*"Glitter and Gloss (acoustic)" by Skott

*"Saturday Nights" by Khalid

*"Into You" by Julia Michaels

A Walk Down Memory Lane // Sketchbook Inspiration Aesthetic // Sketchbook Pages #howtomakeart #drawing #art

2019-02-07T14:12:00.001-05:00

I have been scanning pages from my sketchbooks today so that I can clean them up a bit digitally. (A lot of them had stray marks, fingerprints, etc.) I had almost forgotten about this girl from a few months ago. She has a music-festival-attendee vibe about her, I think...

I love flipping through the filled pages of my sketchbooks so much. I really love how revisiting these drawings makes me remember what I was listening to or watching when I drew each piece, where I was when I drew them, and what was on my mind at the time. They are like little time capsules.

Do you feel the same way when you flip through your old sketchbooks? I love little journeys down memory lane. That's probably why I also enjoy scrapbooking so much...

My Favorite Time of the Day to Create // Creativity Ideas // Art Inspiration #sketchbook #morningroutine

2019-02-06T21:11:00.003-05:00

Here is an article about my favorite time of day to create. Creativity Ideas / Rituals / Art Inspiration (( #sketchbook #creativityideas #morningroutine #artrituals ))

There is something so wonderful about having morning coffee while sketching... I love the sense of calm and focus that drawing gives me, and that is a really nice sensation to enjoy while waking up with a hot cup of coffee. It's also nice to feel like I have accomplished something creative at the very start of my day. On days when I don't have time to draw until later in the day, I find myself getting a bit antsy because I haven't scratched the I-need-to-draw itch yet, haha.

Nighttime is another time I really love to draw, usually right before going to bed. It's a really nice way to end the day, and that nice calm feeling is pretty great before sleeping.

How about you? What is your favorite time of the day to create?

Which Color Scheme? // Color Palette // Colorful Art // Digital Art Girl #digitalillustration #digitalpainting

2019-02-05T14:05:00.001-05:00

Here is a post about creating art with two different color schemes and what I've been up to lately. Digital Art Girl / Color Palette / Digital Illustration (( #digitalpainting #colorfulart #girldrawing #girlportrait ))

Which one do you like better? The bright red girl or the one with the darker color scheme? I am still undecided... I like how just tweaking the colors slightly can change the whole vibe of a piece.

What have you been up to lately? Here's what is new with me...

My husband convinced me that we needed a 3D printer, so I found a great deal on one, and now I'm obsessed! The eventual goal is to make the girls I draw become three dimensional...

I am really into clearance shopping and couponing, so I love the after-the-holidays 90% off sales at Target, Walgreens, etc. My favorite finds this year were .39 cent lip smackers, Nightmare Before Christmas stuff, and .30 Christmas themed wooden plaques that I will paint over. In the past, Target has had $100 furniture (that wasn't holiday themed) for $10 each, but they are getting smart about that and not discounting it with the holiday items anymore, sigh.

"Saturday Nights" by Khalid and "Into You" by Julia Michaels are on repeat play. And I will never not listen to "Rent" (original Broadway cast though, haha) and "Mr. Brightside," of course. I'm forever looking for new music, so comment below with your current repeat plays, please!!

You know when you kinda neglect something and you feel real sad about it, but it's hard to get back into a good routine with it? That's me with social media and blogging lately. I've been really missing interacting with everyone online, so I plan to get back in the habit of posting regularly again. Life just gets overwhelming sometimes; you know how it is. Let me know what you've been up to lately - I really want to catch up with my blogging friends. I'm happy to be back in this space again!! I missed it. Thanks for sticking with me.

MIXED MEDIA GIRL TUTORIAL / How To Make Art / Painted Portrait Step By Step #howtomakeart

2018-11-13T13:17:00.001-05:00

Here is a mixed media tutorial of how to paint a portrait of a girl. Art Girl / Painted Portrait / Girl Portrait (( #portraitpainting #howto #tutorial #stepbystep #girlpainting #girlportrait ))

Today I am sharing a mixed media tutorial with you! I hope you enjoy watching the video. Here are links to some of the supplies I used: Cheap acrylic paint in a light portrait shade: https://amzn.to/2DANtPY Higgins drawing ink in brown: https://amzn.to/2JZhxFl Handmade modern paints: https://www.target.com/p/hand-made-mo... Jane Davenport Neutrals Watercolors: https://amzn.to/2DhQ6VL Jane Davenport Brights Watercolors: https://amzn.to/2DhQNhP Sketchbook: https://amzn.to/2DiydpR Simply Simmons Brushes: https://amzn.to/2FjWJJS Yasutomo Niji Waterbrush: https://amzn.to/2DAxykx Col-Erase Pencils: https://amzn.to/2DBGoyy

Art Chat: Drawing Backgrounds and “Art Stress,” with Time Lapse Drawing on the iPad with Procreate App

2018-08-08T14:27:00.000-04:00

Today I’ll talk about adding backgrounds to my list of art challenges and goals, and I’ll talk about what I call “art stress” – that weird anxious feeling I get when trying to attempt something new with my art. Do you feel that way too sometimes? It’s silly to stress about making art (it’s literally just putting marks down on paper or on an iPad screen), but sometimes I find I can’t help myself! Leave a comment down below if you can relate!

Thanks for watching, and I hope you are having a creative day!

Sketch Night: New Drawing Challenges, Time Lapse Digital Drawings Using The Procreate App for iPad

2018-08-02T13:38:00.001-04:00

Today I am putting myself out there and sharing three drawings that I don't really love... I am sharing them because they are part of my learning process, and I'm challenging myself to draw some things that I find difficult to draw (like bodies, clothes, profiles, and side angles).

It's important to share my journey with you because it will hold me accountable and help me to keep trying to push my creative work in new directions, and hopefully it will inspire you to challenge yourself with your creative work too!

Leave a comment down below and let me know what new things you hope to learn during your art making journey this month...

VIDEO: My Drawing Process On The Procreate App: Favorite Brushes & Layering Style

2018-07-29T15:18:00.000-04:00

Hi there!

Today I am sharing a quick drawing process video using the Procreate drawing app on the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil. I'll talk about starting with your non-dominant hand (great for loosening up when you begin a drawing session!), some of my current favorite Procreate brushes, and how much I love working in layers.

I also discuss using a matte screen protector, which will mimic the texture of paper a bit and make the iPad surface less slippery to draw on. I really love working in Procreate, and I hope you will enjoy this little time lapse. Please let me know if you have any questions about my process, and let me know what types of videos you would like to see in the future.

Thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you are having a creative weekend!! :)

An Art School Story & My Figure Drawing Journey (with Time-Lapse Drawings on iPad)

2018-07-25T15:13:00.002-04:00

In my new video, I talk about some art school memories (both good and bad) as well as my figure drawing journey. The time-lapse footage was made with the Procreate app on the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil. Hope you enjoy it! :)

Introducing The Party Cat Journal, Now Available On Amazon!

2018-06-12T13:49:00.000-04:00

It's a rainy summer afternoon here in Florida, and I am sitting in the middle of a pile of full sketchbooks and journals that I've completed over the years... I am working on a special project that will use a lot of images from my sketchbooks! I have so many of these completed books, and I love looking back through them and remembering just where I came from. Do you enjoy taking the trip down memory lane and going through your own sketchbooks and journals too? I can't be the only one who loved doing this...

I am so excited to announce that I will now be offering blank books and journals for YOU to fill with your dreams, goals, lists, and anything else you can think up!

Much like the books I used to sell a few years back in my Etsy shop, I will be featuring books with wide and college ruled lines, blank books, dot grid, grid, and planner systems.

I only have one book that has completed the proofing process for now (it's right here!) but have many more on deck. You can bookmark my Author Page to keep track of what I have listed on Amazon! The first book (cover pictured above) is a Party Cat Letter Sized (8.5" x 11") College Ruled (narrow lined) Composition Book with a matte cover.

I have one on hand right now that I am using for list making, and it is so cute and fun!

From the back blurb:

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“I want to make blank books and planners that will matter to people. These are books that can hold our dreams and goals, sketches and symphonies, grocery and to do lists, the poetry and pain of life, and anything else our pens and pencils can trap into their pages. I want these books to be carried everywhere, filled to the brim with plans and ideas, and kept in drawers and in boxes to show the next generation. Heirlooms. Time capsules. Love lettered pages. Books to hold both masterpieces and lazy scribbles.”

I hope your summer is going well so far, and that you are able to make time for creativity every day, if possible! Leave a comment below and tell me what you have been making - I would love to know where your creativity has been taking you lately.

A Little Video: Speed Painting on the iPad Using the Procreate App

2018-06-03T13:55:00.000-04:00

Here's a video I made back in March. I am going to work on more YouTube videos this week and hope to push myself out of my comfort zone with both editing and content. I want to learn more about making videos and sharing them online! Please comment below and let me know what types of videos you are interested in seeing in the future. Making videos is so much fun, and I'd love to know what you enjoy watching when it comes to art videos. Thank you!!

I hope you are having a creative weekend and that you are carving out some time for art... Today I will work in my sketchbook so that I can put in some time practicing my drawing skills and trying to improve. Didn't Malcolm Gladwell say that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert in your field? I have been slacking lately, so I need to get back to it!

I think that I tend to overthink my drawing practice sometimes, and when I make a drawing I hate, I get discouraged. It works both ways, though - when I made a drawing I love, I think, "I can't top that - I'd better quit for the day!" And then there is the whole issue with feeling like my materials (sketchbook paper, ink, paint) are too precious, so I don't want to waste them. I need to be more carefree in my artmaking. Do you feel the same way sometimes?

GIVEAWAY: Enter To Win Free Original Art OR A Bob Ross Chase Pop!

2018-01-28T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm doing a GIVEAWAY to thank you all for 1,000 follows on Instagram! I've been working on some new ideas for YouTube this year, so I would love to gain some subs on there to inspire me to post more videos! Here are all the details:

-There are TWO winners! One will win an ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA SCREENPRINT that I made, and the other winner will get a BOB ROSS CHASE FUNKO POP.

-Open to the USA only. (Sorry, international friends, but I can't afford overseas shipping! Thanks for understanding!!)

RULES... To enter, you must do all three of these things:

1. Follow me on IG, @howtomakeart

2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (link here, or just search my channel, "HowToMakeArt"). I'll be adding lots of new videos soon about art and Funko Pops! Please check to make sure your subs are public so that I can verify your subscription if you win.

3. Comment below with which prize you'd like to win: ART or BOB ROSS! If your YouTube username is different from your IG, let me know what it is in the comments section too.

BONUS ENTRY: Tag a friend in the comments section!

Giveaway closes Feb. 20th. Winners will be announced on Feb. 21st! Good luck to everyone who decides to enter! 💕