Lately, I’ve been seeing artists on social media talking about doing sketchbook challenges.

What are they? Within a set amount of time, like a month, the goal is to fill a page of your sketchbook daily–common mediums used are watercolor and colored pencils. The thinking is that the challenge will provide the framework to push past all those reasons you aren’t creating art, and that all that drawing or painting you’ll be doing will help to create a habit, and best of all, all that practice will help you to get better at your art.  I’ve seen beautiful sketchbook & journal pages that have left me awed & inspired.

Up to now, I haven’t participated in any of the challenges I’ve seen online. I was intimidated by the length of the commitment and full of all those self doubts and “I’m too busy” reasons that keep many of us away from our art supplies.

But this week I’m away from home, house and cat sitting. I brought with me a small collection of my art supplies, just in case I was bored or brave enough to actually use them.

As of yesterday, I became both (bored and brave), so I pulled out my art bag.

My first attempt was based on a photo I took in the yard here, of a butterfly on a butterfly bush. I haven’t created anything in a while, so I didn’t want to dive right in and use my nice new watercolor 100% cotton paper journal, or the Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor set I just bought. Instead, I went where I felt less likely to “waste” good art supplies and used colored pencils on a page of an inexpensive small sketchpad.

Here’s the photo:

And here’s the drawing (obviously I used a little creative license):

I think it’s okay–there are things I like and don’t like about it, but I’m glad I gave it a go.

Today, I drove to a nearby spot that has views of farmland. I only took my watercolor supplies with me–I decided to force myself out of my comfort zone. While I was there it drizzled off and on, but I was able to sketch the part of the scene I’d decided to paint. I ended up taking a photo so I could refer to it later–I’d decided that trying to paint there would be too challenging. I went back to the house and painted what I drew.

Here’s the photo:

And here’s my little sketchbook watercolor painting:

Again, there are things that clearly could be better, but I loved how the cotton paper and watercolors worked together. It once again confirmed what I’ve heard over and over–good art supplies make a big difference.

Today is Monday and I leave early on Saturday, so that leaves me four days to complete my sketchbook challenge. I know it’s not much time, but maybe I’ll be just a tiny bit better by the end of the week. I sure hope so.

See you tomorrow with my next sketchbook effort.