drawing

Keeping an Art Sketchbook for nurturing yourself

Keeping an art sketchbook is one of the most rewarding habits for nurturing your inner artist. Whether you’re a professional, a hobbyist, or just starting out, the benefits of maintaining a sketchbook go far beyond improving your technical skills. It’s like having a trusted companion that grows with you, reflecting your creativity, documenting your progress, and sparking ideas. Let’s talk about why every artist should keep a sketchbook close at hand.art sketchbook

First, an art sketchbook is a safe space to experiment. It’s your private playground where you can try out new techniques, styles, and ideas without fear of judgment. Messy pages, smudged lines, or half-finished doodles are part of the charm. They’re the raw ingredients of your creative process and often lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

It’s also a fantastic way to document your artistic growth. Flipping through older sketchbooks is like a visual time machine, showing how your style, skill, and confidence have evolved. It’s a reminder of how far you’ve come and can motivate you to keep pushing forward when you feel stuck.art jourals

A sketchbook is an idea factory. Some days, inspiration flows like a river, and on others, it’s a trickle. Your sketchbook captures those fleeting sparks of creativity before they fade. It’s a treasure trove of concepts you can revisit and refine later. That half-finished sketch or random scribble might be the foundation of your next masterpiece.

It’s not just about art—it’s about mindfulness, too. The act of sketching is meditative and calming. It lets you focus on the present moment, quiet your mind, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making marks on paper. This can be especially valuable in a world that’s always busy and full of distractions.

Your sketchbook is also your visual diary. It tells the story of your days, your thoughts, and your moods. Looking back, you’ll see more than drawings—you’ll see memories and emotions captured in a way that words often can’t express.art journaling

On a practical level, it’s a portable studio. Wherever you go, your sketchbook is there, ready for you to capture the world around you. Whether you’re waiting in line, traveling, or sitting in a park, you can pull it out and sketch. These small, spontaneous moments can be surprisingly impactful.

And finally, keeping a sketchbook builds discipline. Consistency is key for any artist, and even a quick sketch every day adds up. It’s not about perfection; it’s about showing up and creating, no matter how small the effort. That habit strengthens your creativity and keeps the artist in you alive and thriving.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up a sketchbook and start drawing. It doesn’t matter if you’re filling the pages with detailed drawings, abstract patterns, or simple doodles. Every mark is a step in your artistic journey and a celebration of the creativity inside you.

We have previously talked about all the therapeutic benefits of art here. We also visited the power of experimentation here. So, you can see that keeping an art journal or an art sketchbook is a powerful tool to build your creativity and your confidence. But if that doesn’t convince you, here is a video by Danny Gregory that might.

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Beginner-Friendly Tutorials for Drawing and Painting

Beginner-Friendly Tutorials

Are you ready to pick up a pencil or paintbrush and dive into the world of art? Here are some beginner-friendly tutorials for drawing and painting to give you ideas and get you started. Sometimes, all it takes is a little guidance to unlock your creativity. I’ve rounded up some these simple, beginner-friendly tutorials to help you get started. Whether you’re drawing a charming doodle or painting your first masterpiece, these resources are here to inspire and guide you.

  1. Basic Pencil Sketching Techniques
    Learn the fundamentals of pencil sketching, from shading to creating texture. This video tutorial walks you through simple exercises to build confidence.
  2. How to Draw a Realistic Eye
    If you’ve ever wanted to draw an eye that looks like it’s staring back at you, this step-by-step guide breaks it down into easy steps.
  3. Simple Watercolor Landscapes
    Grab your paints and try creating a beautiful watercolor sunset or a misty forest. Check out this video for tips on blending colors and creating depth.
  4. Cartoon Drawing Made Easy
    Drawing cute characters is easier than you think! This fun blog will teach you how to sketch adorable animals and people.
  5. Introduction to Acrylic Painting
    Start your painting journey with acrylics. This video playlist shows you how to paint a vibrant floral design perfect for beginners.
  6. Learn to Draw with Shapes
    Many artists start by mastering shapes. This video  explains how to use circles, squares, and triangles to draw everyday objects.
  7. Abstract Painting for Beginners
    Let your creativity flow with this beginner-friendly abstract painting tutorial. No rules—just fun with colors and textures!
  8. Drawing Faces: A Simple Approach
    Portraits can feel intimidating, but this step-by-step video makes drawing faces easy with tips on proportions and details.
  9. Mixing Paint Colors: A Beginner’s Guide
    Struggling to mix the perfect shade? This blog tutorial explains the basics of color theory in a way anyone can follow.
  10. Doodle Your Way to Relaxation
    Doodling isn’t just fun—it’s also relaxing! This video offers ideas for easy patterns and designs to get you started.

These beginner-friendly tutorials are perfect for getting your hands moving and your creativity flowing. Whether you’re just beginning or brushing off an old hobby, remember: art is about enjoying the process, not perfection. So grab your supplies and give these a try!

For even more help as a beginner, you can look at our last blog post for more tips and tricks!If you like these, please subscribe to this blog for more just like this soon. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Please check me out and follow me there for even more. Thanks for being here today.

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Art Tools for Every Enthusiast: A Must-Have Guide

Art enthusiasts, whether budding or seasoned, understand the importance of having the right tools at their fingertips. These essential instruments not only enhance creativity but also streamline the artistic process. Here’s a curated list of the top 10 must-have tools for every art lover.

High-Quality Art Sketchbooks: A Canvas for Your Ideassketchbooks

The foundation of every great piece of art is often a sketch. High-quality sketchbooks offer a durable and versatile surface for all your drawing needs. Whether you’re jotting down quick ideas or working on detailed studies, a good sketchbook is your faithful companion. There is a sketchbook available for any use or medium. Artists everywhere will use many different types of sketchbooks in their lifetime.

Versatile Art Drawing Pencils: Bring Your Vision to Lifedrawing pencils

No artist’s toolkit is complete without a set of drawing pencils. These versatile tools, ranging in hardness from 9H to 9B, allow for a wide range of expression. From sharp, fine lines to soft, broad strokes, pencils are essential for sketching out ideas and adding detail. Drawing pencils are not the same as the pencils you used to use in school.  They are designed specifically to give you a wide array of uses, from lines to shading.

Reliable Erasers: Perfecting Your Artart erasers

Erasers are not just for correcting mistakes; they’re an artist’s tool for refining work. A kneaded eraser, for example, can gently lift graphite or charcoal without damaging the paper, allowing for subtle adjustments and precise control over your medium.

Dynamic Paint Brushes: Unleash Your Colorsartist's paint brushes

Whether you’re a fan of watercolor, acrylic, or oil painting, having the right brushes is key. Look for a set that includes a variety of shapes and sizes to experiment with different techniques and textures. Here is where you don’t want to skimp on cost.  It is better to have one or two excellent brushes than to have 100 mediocre ones.  A great brush will allow control and smooth application of colors. Brushes are made specifically for certain mediums, so be sure what you need with yours.

Quality Paints: The Essence of ColorArtist's paints

Invest in high-quality paints to bring vibrancy and depth to your art. Whether you prefer the rich pigmentation of oils, the versatility of acrylics, the ease of gouache, or the delicate translucency of watercolors, good paints make a noticeable difference. When learning, you may be tempted to use student-grade paints.  There is nothing wrong with these paints; they simply do not give you the vibrancy of color that artist-grade paints can.  Once you feel you have learned your skills, be sure to get the best artist paints you can afford, or you will become frustrated with your results.

Durable Canvas: The Foundation of Masterpiecescanvases

For painters, a durable canvas is essential. It serves as the stage on which your creativity unfolds. Whether stretched over a frame or bound on a pad, choose a canvas that suits your preferred medium and technique.

Adjustable Art Easels: Comfort and Flexibility

An adjustable easel can significantly enhance your painting experience. It provides the flexibility to work at any angle, promoting comfort and allowing for a better perspective on your work.

Protective Artist’s Tape: Clean Lines and Edgesartist tape

Artist’s tape is indispensable for securing paper or canvas, creating sharp edges, and protecting areas from paint. It’s gentle on surfaces and removes cleanly without leaving residue.

Comprehensive Art Tool Kit: Organization and Accessibility

A well-organized art tool kit keeps all your essentials in one place, ensuring they’re readily accessible whenever inspiration strikes. Look for one that’s portable and tailored to your specific needs.

Inspiration and Creativity: The Intangible Art Tools

Last but certainly not least, the most critical tools for any artist are inspiration and creativity. These fuel your artistic journey, pushing you to explore, experiment, and express yourself in unique ways.

Artistic expression knows no bounds with these essential tools at your disposal. They not only facilitate the creative process but also inspire artists to push their boundaries and explore new horizons. Equip yourself with these must-haves and embark on a fulfilling artistic adventure.

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Drawing and Painting: Differences & Choosing Your Path

Drawing and Painting: Exploring the Differences and Choosing Your Artistic Path

Do you understand the differences between drawing and painting? Do you know when to use one form over the other? Keep reading here to learn more about drawing vs. painting.drawing

When you first start to create art, it may be that you start out with a blank piece of paper and a pencil or crayon.  You usually make art by making lines and/or coloring in between the lines.  We have all made these pictures.  Our mothers hung them on the refrigerator or on the wall when we brought them home from school.  This is our first foray into art.

Unfortunately, we do not get much opportunity to move past this stage in school until it is too late for most people.  We are all born creative, but for some reason, school seems to focus on other things and leaves art and creative processes out of the program.  When this happens, we may infer that art and creativity are not important or preferred and so we stuff our creativity so far down inside of ourselves that we may never find it again.

Why Drawing and Painting Help Us

The truth of the matter is that the world of art is a beautiful and fascinating place, full of countless mediums and techniques for self-expression, and creativity is the source for invention, science, math, beautification, prose, music, and more.  Without creativity we are doomed to live a boring life; doing the same thing over and over again every day. Whether the loss of creativity is purposeful or accidental, we all lose.

Let’s go back to the child in school example. If that child not only learns to make lines but to make other types of things, maybe that child will continue to explore his/her creativity later in life. The child who does not get exposed to art and art processes learns to ignore that part of themselves.

Types of visual artpainting

Two of the most popular and well-known forms of visual art are drawing and painting. While these two mediums may seem very similar at first glance, they actually have many differences that set them apart from one another. Drawing involves creating images using pencils, charcoal, ink, or other materials. This medium is often used to capture the essence of a subject through detailed lines and shading. On the other hand, painting involves applying pigment onto a surface using various brushes or tools. Painting allows artists to use color and texture to bring their ideas to life in vibrant and dynamic ways.

The Differences Between Drawing and Painting

While drawing and painting may share some similarities in terms of creativity and expression, understanding their differences can help artists make more informed decisions about which medium to use for different projects. For example, someone who wants to create a quick sketch or capture a moment in time might opt for drawing as it can be done quickly with minimal setup required. However, if an artist wants to create a more vibrant scene with multiple colors or textures, they might choose painting instead. 

By knowing which materials are best suited for each medium – such as different types of paper or canvases – new artists can feel more confident in experimenting with both drawing and painting without feeling overwhelmed by the choices available. Ultimately, whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting out on your creative journey, understanding the differences between drawing and painting can be an incredibly useful tool in helping you achieve your artistic goals.

Drawing

Drawing is the art of creating pictures, designs or diagrams using various tools such as pencils, charcoal, ink, or crayons on paper. It has been around for centuries and is one of the fundamental forms of visual art. The basic principle of drawing is to create an illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface.drawing supplies

Drawing materials can range from simple graphite pencils to charcoal sticks or even pens and inks. Each material has its own unique characteristics that contribute to the final result of a drawing. Pencils are widely used because they come in different hardness levels which allows an artist to achieve various degrees of shading and line thickness. Charcoal provides a rich black tone and allows for quick shading while ink creates sharp lines that cannot be erased.

Benefits of drawing as a form of expression

more drawing supplies

Drawing can be a powerful form of expression allowing artists to convey their ideas or emotions through their creations. It can also serve as a stress-reliever by providing an outlet for creativity while promoting focus and relaxation. In addition, it improves hand-eye coordination which can help with other tasks such as handwriting or typing. Overall, drawing offers benefits both creatively and mentally making it an enjoyable hobby or profession for many people around the world.

Painting

Painting is a visual art form that involves applying paint and pigments to a surface, such as canvas or paper, using various tools and techniques. Unlike drawing, which uses dry materials like pencils or charcoal, painting allows for the application of wet media. This allows for an incredible range of creative expression through the use of color and texture.oil supplies

When it comes to painting, the choice of materials can have a big impact on the final result. Some popular options include acrylics, oils and watercolors. Acrylic paints are a great option for beginners because they are easy to work with and clean up easily with water. Oils, on the other hand, require longer drying times but offer greater flexibility when it comes to blending colors and achieving depth in your work. Watercolors offer a unique transparency that can be used to achieve delicate washes or bold strokes.painting supplies

One of the most exciting things about painting is the ability to blend colors together in endless combinations to achieve just the right hue or tone. Techniques like layering glazes or mixing paint directly on your palette can create rich textures that capture light and shadow in unique ways. Other techniques like dry brushing or impasto (using thick layers of paint) can add dimensionality to your work.

Benefits of Painting as a Form of Expression

Painting is a powerful way to express emotions, tell stories or explore concepts in ways that words cannot always capture. It allows us to tap into our imagination and create something truly unique from our own perspective. This process can also be meditative and calming – allowing us to disconnect from everyday worries and focus solely on creating something new.

How Each Medium Affects the Final Outcome

The medium used can greatly impact the final outcome of a piece. Drawings tend to have a more precise look with cleaner lines while paintings often have a softer feel due to blending techniques used with wet media. Drawings may also appear flatter due to lack of depth created by layering colors. Paintings can give off an illusion of three-dimensionality through careful color choices during layering. So you see, drawing and painting serve very different purposes and should be considered when you make art.comparison

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Medium

One advantage of drawing is that it tends to be less messy than painting since it doesn’t involve any wet media that could potentially ruin surfaces or clothing. It’s also easier to correct mistakes in drawing since erasers can be used. Mistakes on paintings often require completely repainting over areas.

Painting allows for greater creativity due to the availability of more colors and techniques. They can also add a greater sense of depth and texture to a piece, making it more visually interesting. However, painting can require more time and effort than drawing since it involves layering and mixing colors.

Drawing and painting both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately the choice of which to use comes down to personal preference, desired outcome, and time constraints.

Choosing Between Drawing and Painting

Now that we’ve discussed the differences between drawing and painting, it’s important to consider which medium to use in different situations. One of the most important factors to consider is time constraints. If you only have a short amount of time, drawing may be the better option as it requires fewer materials and doesn’t require as much preparation. On the other hand, if you have more time available, painting can allow for greater depth and dimension in your art. Another factor to consider when choosing between drawing and painting is your desired outcome.

If you’re looking for a more precise and detailed result, drawing may be the better choice as it allows for more control over lines and shading. However, if you’re looking for a more abstract or expressive result, painting can provide a wider range of color choices and techniques.

Personal preference should also play a role in deciding which medium to use. Try experimenting with both drawing and painting techniques to see which one feels most comfortable or enjoyable for you.

Tips for Beginners

If you’re just getting started with either drawing or painting, it can seem overwhelming at first. Here are some tips to help get you started:

For drawing: – Start with basic shapes like circles and squares before moving on to more complex images

– Experiment with different pencils (HB vs 2B vs 4B) for different shades – Practice shading techniques such as cross-hatching or stippling

For painting: – Invest in quality brushes and paints

– Start with a limited color palette before branching out – Experiment with different textures such as using sponges or palette knives

Remember that practice makes perfect! Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts don’t turn out how you’d like them too – keep practicing and experimenting until you find what works best for you.

Both drawing and painting offer a wide variety of benefits ranging from relaxation to problem-solving skills enhancement. However, exploring various art forms can lead to even more benefits such as self-discovery and creative exploration. Art is subjective; therefore every individual should try different forms until they find what brings them joy.

Some may prefer drawing because it allows them to control their work precisely while others may like painting because it’s more fluid and expressive. The most important thing is for budding artists not to be afraid but rather embrace new opportunities when presented so they can discover their hidden talents. Ultimately all art has value not only for its aesthetic value but also its ability to evoke powerful emotions within us. You should be drawing or painting for yourself and your own satisfaction, not for other’s acceptance.

Here are a couple of good articles that may help:

We discuss ways to loosen up your art style here. That may also be of interest to you.

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Drawing cats escapes me

I have been drawing since I was very little.  I love to draw and usually can draw anything I really see (I mean really, really look at).  However, over time I have come to realize that I cannot draw cats.  I have tried and tried to do so, but with only a modicum of success.  My cats look like cats in general, but not like the cat I am trying to capture.

I think that cat’s faces are so expressive that I am unable to capture that.  I just know that I cannot draw cats and make them look like what I am seeing.  Do you have the same problem drawing cats or can you draw them correctly?

Here are some examples I have pulled from my camera over time.  You will quickly see what I mean.  Here are the guidelines I use to draw cats.

drawing cats
My cat drawings

Drawing Cats:

  1. Start with a circle for the head and an oval for the body. They should overlap slightly.
  2. Start with the circle for the head and add a smaller circle for the snout that also should overlap slightly.
  3. Draw a vertical line and a horizontal line across the center of the head circle. These lines will help you place the cat’s facial features correctly.
  4. For the eyes, draw two almond-shaped ovals along the horizontal line. Leave enough space between the eyes for the cat’s nose.
  5. Below the eyes, draw a small triangle for the nose. Add two small circles inside the triangle for the nostrils.
  6. Add the cat’s whiskers by drawing three to four long, curved lines on each side of the face.
  7. For the ears, draw two triangular shapes on top of the head. Add smaller triangular shapes inside the ears to show the inner ear.
  8. Finally, add some details to the eyes by drawing a smaller oval inside each eye. Shade in the pupils and add some lines around the eyes to show the fur.
  9. Remember to adjust the size and placement of each feature to make your cat’s face look unique. You can also experiment with different shapes and expressions to bring your cat to life.
  10. Connect the head and body with a curved line for the cat’s neck.
  11. Add the legs and paws, using small circles for the joints and rectangles for the paws.
  12. Draw the tail, which can be curved or straight depending on the cat’s pose.
  13. Refine the details, such as the fur texture and patterns, and erase any unnecessary lines.

This is a very basic instruction for drawing cats, but if I use it, I do get an animal that looks quite like a cat.  However, it is in the refinement that I seem to lose my cat. These below examples show some improvement, but I am still missing something. Here is a video showing you how to do it:

More cat drawings
Getting better

Any Suggestions?More cat drawings

Cat’s faces express what they are thinking about.  I know, many people feel cats are inscrutable, but if you take the time to watch one, you will quickly see them talking with their faces.  I think this may be my problem, but I really don’t know how to fix it.  Do you have an suggestions?  I would love to hear them if you do because I really would like to be able to draw cats!

Here is another tutorial about drawing cats for you.  I hope it helps you.

https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-a-realistic-cat/

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