Draw Your Way Out Of a Rut
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Feeling stuck in a creative rut?
In today's video, I’ll show you how I use my sketchbook as a creative escape by working on a simple, personal project.
My project is called "Dos and Don’ts in Italy".
I started this project because I am teaching a workshop in Orvieto, in Italy, in May.
To prepare and to get into the mood, to get excited, I am adding drawings to this project regularly.
When I got this idea, I began by researching online and jotting down anything that caught my eye. Turns out a lot of Italian 'rules' for visitors have to do with coffee and food, which happen to be two things I love!
My list is a mix of practical advice and quirky cultural factoids, and it’s still growing. I’ll show you the list, share some pages from the ongoing project, and walk you through the process of creating a new page.
Materials used in this video:
Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook
Sailor deMannen fude fountain pen calligraphy, 55 degree angle nib
Daniel Smith Watercolors
Pentel Aquash waterbrushpen
Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils
January can feel grey and uninspiring, but your sketchbook can be a place to spark creativity, even when you’re not feeling motivated. Whether it’s drawing from collected ideas, sketching with consistent tools, or adding personal notes and fun facts, a simple project can get you out of that rut and back into the creative flow.
This week’s assignment:
Pick a simple, personal theme.
Make a list of ideas, choose one, and start drawing.
Stick with tools that feel comfortable and bring you joy. Use your favorite tools to create one or two sketchbook pages to start with - you can always add more.
This isn’t about perfection; it’s about staying creative, finding a challenge elsewhere, and having fun with your art tools.
If you feel inspired by this, then check out my upcoming art retreat in Orvieto, Italy, this May. Join me for a week of daily sketching, delicious food, and soaking up Italian culture in a gorgeous setting.
