New. Revisit. Messy. What do these words mean to you? How did it make you feel when you read them? What colors and shapes do you see? How would you describe them with visuals, words, and materials? Which art techniques and style do you associate with them?
Here's what I ended up with: using a new tool, revisiting an idea I had, and giving myself permission to get messy!
Those were just a few prompts I've shared in the past few years. What I love about using and sharing them is that it can mean so many different things to all of us--a single word becomes the catalyst for so much creativity!
I love that when interpreting a prompt, there’s no right answer, there’s no one way to express it, and there are no restrictions as to what you can do with it. You can take a literal or abstract approach or even go in the opposite direction of what’s expected. It’s for you to explore, to find out how it connects with your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
I’m very excited to invite you to join me in exploring 5 different prompts during the second annual Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump this July!
This is a free series where we'll be tapping into our creativity and taking a deep dive into these prompts to see what they inspire and stir up within us.
The Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump is about the process, not perfection—from your initial brainstorm to the messy middle to the moment you decide you’re finished with a page. It’s problem solving and looking at things from different and new perspectives.
It’s about taking time to explore and be curious and see where things lead you, not about being the best artist (is there even such a thing!?) with the most perfect pages.
There’s no need for comparison to others bc there’s no comparing your unique thoughts, views and expressions to someone else’s unique thoughts, views, and expressions (apples to oranges!)
All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary.
If you haven’t exercised your creativity through visual arts or don’t feel you are creative in this way, I would love for you to try it and see what you think! And if you decide it’s not for you, that’s ok!
I won't be telling you how to create (I think that's for you to decide!) but I will do my best to gently guide and encourage you and provide inspiration and ideas along the way. You'll have lots of freedom and plenty of room to roam and grow within the structure of this series.
Throughout the 5 weeks you'll receive:
- Prompt emails every Friday
- Check-in emails every Tuesday
- Inspiration, ideas, and tips
- A community of creatives to share with and be inspired by
Week 0 emails (to go over supplies, help you prep) will go out July 2nd and Week 1 of the Un-Slump officially begins on July 14th!
Once you sign up you'll have access to all previous emails and prompts. You'll also have access to last year's emails and prompts and can try them out in the meantime if you'd like!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
When I opened up my first sketchbook 2 summers ago, I had no idea the journey it’d take me on, how many pages I'd fill, and how it would change my life. That sounds dramatic, but it really did! :)
It has influenced my creative practice, my business, my growth as an artist and a person. It’s taken me on a path I never imagined for myself! (I had never used a sketchbooks at all before this!)
It has brought me here and made me realize how happy and excited it makes me to share this practice with you! I hope to see you this summer in your inboxes as we take time to cultivate our creativity and sketchbook practices but most importantly, have fun and get inspired!
