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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 10

Congratulations! You’ve made it to Day 10. I hope you are getting into a sketching groove and enjoying scribbling away on the pages. 

So, for today’s prompt, the word is essential.

Who or what do you find essential in your life? Is it a fresh cup of coffee right when you get up in the morning? Or an evening cup of tea in your favorite mug?

Is it a good book and time to read before bed? Or maybe there is someone in your life whom you find essential to your safety, growth, and happiness.

However, objects or habits can also serve to support your growth, happiness, and safety. There are no wrong answers here. In fact, what you find essential may change from day to day based on what is happening in the world around you. 

I know for me, having time to create is essential to managing my anxiety. I need that quiet reflection to recharge and ground myself. When I don’t have that quiet, contemplative time to create, I find myself on edge and not my best self. 

So, what is something that is essential for you? Is it a thing, a person, a ritual?

Don’t feel embarrassed about how little or frivolous it might seem to someone else. This isn’t about them. It’s about celebrating you and acknowledging what you need to feel grounded and better.

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 7

Scroll through your photographs from your phone or device of your choice. Keep scrolling until you find one that sparks you. Use that photo as inspiration for today’s page. 

Try not to feel overwhelmed by the entire photograph. If it helps, pick one object or aspect from the photo to focus on in your sketch. 

It might help to pick something with high contrast – something with clearly defined highlights, mid-tones and shadows. But it’s not a deal breaker. 

If you don’t see anything you like, scroll Instagram or Facebook and borrow an inspiration image from someone else!

Happy Sketching!

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 5

Today’s prompt is a word — SURPRISE!

Think about something that has surprised you, or you find surprising. It can be from last year. It can be positive or negative. It can be small or large, about the world or about you. Maybe committing to this challenge has surprised you, and you will sketch a cartoon of you drawing.

For me, I want to dwell on the small surprises that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

You know, the little things. 

The little things like the single blue stripe on the feathers of a bird that I had not perceived before. Or, how easily a squirrel hangs upside down, so that it can rob the feeder of seed I intended for the little finches. And the surprise of a white lily frozen at the very moment before it opens just when we had our first frost. 

Keep it simple or make your drawing complex — whatever you have time for.

Some helpful tips: Start with the general outline of the object or thing and then add more details. What are the basic shapes it is composed of? Start there!

Remember, don’t judge your drawing based on what you think it should look like. Find an aspect to it that you like, or celebrate the motivation behind it. You know, the surprise of it all!

One day at a time,

Autumn 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 4

The Mug of your Wildest Dreams!

Draw your favorite mug again, but this time add a little something more! What I mean by this is for you to add brilliant and fantastical features to your mug that would make it that much more special. 

  • Would you add wings so that it could fly to wherever you are? 
  • Maybe it would have arms and could take notes or write your novel as you sip in luxury.
  • Maybe you would change the size or design.
  • Or, just maybe it’s actually the mug you wanted for a present but didn’t get! Draw it!
  • Better yet, maybe the mug wouldn’t change but where you sip from it would!

Add any features from your imagination that would improve upon your favorite mug! Have fun. Be creative. And make it fantastic! Maybe think: What would a kid want to be added to a mug? (They don’t limit themselves as we adults do!)

Please share if you feel brave. I can’t wait to see what features or powers your mug has gained overnight.

In creative adventures,

Autumn

 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 2

Hope you alleviated some possible jitters by doodling a word in your sketchbook and no longer is it a book with blank pages. After Day 1, you have declared you are serious and you are going to make some marks! Those trees will not go to waste. 

Here we go for Day 2: Draw your art supplies!

Draw what you are using in your sketchbook to mark the page. These supplies can be the “right-now” supplies or ones you intend to use later on. Or, Heck! You can draw ones that you are too afraid to use, the ones that you find intimidating. Add some horns and pointy teeth to those ones. 

Draw them once, twice, or multiple times until you you fill the page. Sometimes, by repeating one thing, you can make a pretty cool pattern on the page that you may want to improve upon for a finished art piece later on. 

You never know what ideas and finished art pieces can come from simply keeping a sketchbook. 

Remember, please feel free to comment on this post or in the Facebook group your work, questions, or A-HA! moments.

Happy drawing!

Autumn