The Art of Daily Sketchbook Practice

Painting Light Background Colors to Diminish Intimidation

It took me a long time to become consistent in my daily sketchbook practice. One of the main reasons for this was the intimidation of a blank page. I call it perfection paralysis. After all this is a page in a book, not something I can easily crumble up and toss if I am not happy with it. Not knowing where to start kept me from doing the work. Recently I have implemented one simple technique that has made opening the sketch book so much more enjoyable. By adding a wash of color to the page, I can instantly transform it from a blank page into a welcoming space for creativity to flourish. Simple, right?! Light background colors serve as a foundation, setting the tone for my artwork and providing a sense of depth and dimension. I like to paint several pages at a time, using a variety of light colors with quick strokes. This simple practice has shifted my focus from achieving perfection to enjoying the process.

Heidi