Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how much I’m loving this new project! With a new sketchbook format (landscape!) and a whole new process, I’m just so in flow—all the time!

I changed up one big thing in my process. I now begin my days with my sketchbook and art supplies instead of my ipad. This is a HUGE change because literally all my life I read when I wake up. Newspapers, blogs, whatever. I’m a slow waker and I loved time with just me and the printed word.

But you know, quiet morning time is precious! It finally occurred to me that maybe I should spend that time just with me.

I tried it and it took like 2 days to make art journaling my new wake up habit. I love it!

I might have 15 minutes or the luxury of an hour before the day calls, but now I simply pour a cup of coffee, pick up my art journal and art kit* on the bookshelf and climb back in bed.

Because I’m half asleep and I don’t want any points of friction, I purposely set the simplest of task: “add something somewhere”. Glue down some paper. Draw something. Doodle…Whatever—and wherever. Add to a page in progress OR add to a fresh page.

I work very intuitively without any attempt to plan compositions—or finish pages. Fully resolving and finishing pages is different kind of creative work I complete during my regular art practice.

I’m seeing so many benefits to this new routine. First, even on busy days with no other time the rest of the day, I can do something creative.

Second, I’ve solved for fear of the blank page. By just adding random bits to blank pages as part of the practice, I get to respond to that imagery instead of “think up” something. Makes all the difference for me. Without even trying, the incomplete pages are accumulating, which is really makes it super simple to come back in and add “something” more.

A little at a time and slowly pages become themselves—so I can relax and just work on any page that calls—or start a new one.

And third, I STILL READ as much as I used (but in the afternoons or at night), and I still spend other time throughout the week in my art studio. And finally, most important of all, this practice is a form of meditation and it really feels. Well. Good!

Anyway, here are two spreads I’ve completed recently. I actually got out my phone and recorded different phases of the pages as I was creating them. Go me!

*art kit: I’ve put together a small kit of simple supplies that I keep in a tote bag on a shelf. Portable and always ready to go with me if I’m not in my art studio. I’ll document that kit here on the (b) Log soon.