A Regular Art Practice … Why is it Important?

Since I started The Painted Pen, I’ve noticed a few things about having a regular art practice. Creating art regularly does the obvious things, of course. Your art will always improve with practice. The more you make, the better it gets. The lines get more confident, and the colors you mix are truer to what you had in mind. You remember movements and they’re easier the next time. You repeat the styles you like and let go of the styles you get bored with. Your art naturally changes and grows. 

If the only good reason to practice art regularly was that you see a visible improvement in your work, that would be enough of a reason to keep creating. 

But there are other good reasons to create art regularly. It’s fun. But did you ever stop to think about why it’s fun? 

Your brain does something when your creativity and hands work together. It shifts away from the area that can put things into words and starts thinking in a different way. That means, a regular art practice can also be a way to reduce stress, gain focus, stay present, find gratitude, and process emotions. 

Try it. Take a few minutes to think about your day … what made you smile today? Using whatever is closest, sketch a piece of that memory. When you’re finished, ask yourself how you’re feeling compared to when you started. Do you feel lighter? A little more calm? A little happier? Not only did you relive that happy moment, but you also have something that will remind you of it every time you look at it. 

When is it regular enough? 

I, like you, don’t always have a few extra minutes to practice one more thing every day. I’m busy. And tired. How much time and how often are regular enough to be beneficial? 

It needs to be regular enough to create momentum. When I was younger, I took piano lessons. My mom made me practice everyday. And by the end of the week I learned the songs that my teacher assigned to me. But as I got older, I didn’t practice as much, so when I decided to start playing again, my fingers had forgotten a lot of what I’d learned. 

There is a point when we’re not practicing enough, but I also think we can miss a few days without causing harm. So … look at your schedule and decide how much time you can give to it. Ten minutes every day? Thirty minutes every other day or only on the weekends? Whatever you have … be intentional about setting the time aside and stay consistent enough that you’re making progress but not so consistent that you’re stressed out by the schedule. 

What if I don’t have any art ideas? 

What if you make the time, set out your supplies, and show up only to face that page and say, “What on earth do I draw?” That question can end a fun art time in a minute. 

Let’s prevent the dilemma. Here’s something you can have ready as a backup plan if that blank page stares you in the face. 

Use your first art time to …

Create an Art Ideas Jar

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A handful of popsicle sticks
• A pen or marker
• A cup or small jar

Write one prompt on each side of the popsicle stick. Store them in the cup or jar, idea side up or down depending on how much you want it to be a surprise. 

Then, when you need an idea (or you just want to change things up a bit), grab one or several popsicle sticks and use the prompts to get started on something new. 

Feel free to keep adding sticks as you come up with new prompts. 

Need some ideas to get you started with those idea sticks?

• Name a tool to use … pencil, crayon, paper, wood, clay, stick, finger
• Name a feeling to create from … happy, sad, hopeful, playful, cozy
• Name a color to use … blue, green, pink, yellow, or even bright
• Name a style to use … contour, collage, realistic, abstract
• Name a thing … something that flies, tree, sunset, flower, cookie
• Name a shape … geometric, circle, square, hexagon
• Name a season … summer, fall, holiday, spring, winter

Want more watercolor & drawing ideas? 

If you’d like a little more structure to get yourself started, I have a few things that might help. 

1. Several times a month, I send out an email to give inspiration for your day and art practice. You’ll find things that I think about, colors I notice, idea prompts to draw, and updates on my products, classes, and in-person workshops. If you’re interested, you can sign up for One Thing Emails.
2. If you dig around on my blog, you’ll find a few free art tutorials. Here are a few you might like: How to Draw Lavender with Watercolor techniques, How to Draw Doodles on an Elephant Drawing, or 5 Heart Drawings to Mix and Match.
3. If you want a hand getting started with watercolor specifically, you might like my Beginning in Watercolor Online Class. It will give you a good start to understanding the world of watercolor and a few projects to try as you learn. 
4. And if you’re ready for more practice, you’ll find several DIY Watercolor Kits complete with paper, paint dots (optional), and printable idea worksheets. 

Remember. No pressure. Stay consistent. Have fun.