Adding some color doodles with Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils to a black and white doodle I did several days ago. I’m not crazy about it, but that doesn’t matter, because whether I like it or not is not the point!

The purpose is not to make great art, or win awards, or impress anyone else.

The purpose is JOY.

The purpose is because when I give myself Creative Sandbox time to play and explore and follow my curiosity, IT FEEDS ME.

It fills my well, restores my energy, and recharges my batteries so I can face the rest of my day.

THAT is the point.

And sometimes I even make something I do really like, or that other people really like, too. Which is always really cool. But that’s frosting.
Joy is the real gold we’re mining in the Creative Sandbox, and you don’t need to impress anybody for that.

As always, for a deeper dive, check out my book, The Creative Sandbox Way, http://bit.ly/2dnWyeJ

#creativesandboxway #originalart #abstractart #doodleart #doodles #doodlesofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #derwent #inktense #watercolorpencils #pigmamicron #dailydoodle #dailydoodle2017 #dailycreative #dailyart #joy

Things got really wacky in this morning’s doodle! But that’s EXACTLY what Creative Sandbox time is for.

If you can’t let yourself get wacky in your doodle time, what’s the point?

Because remember, in the Creative Sandbox the purpose is NOT to impress other people.

Or to win awards.

Or to make money.

Or even to impress yourself.

In the Creative Sandbox the purpose is JOY.

The purpose is to follow your curiosity and PLAY.

And remember Guidepost #1: There is no wrong.
And Guidepost #2: Think process, not product.

If you can allow yourself to play, knowing there is no wrong, letting wacky things emerge, instead of those wacky things being “yuck! crap!”, they become fascinating and fun!

Try it and see. Then let me know how it goes. (Need some more support? Check out my book, The Creative Sandbox Way: http://bit.ly/2dnWyeJ)

#doodle #doodleart #originalart #doodlesofinstagram #abstractart #artistsofinstagram #artistsofinstagram #wackyart #wackydoodle #derwent #inktense #watercolorpencils #pigmamicron #dailydoodle #dailydoodle2017 #dailycreative

Detail shot of this morning’s reverse doodle. First, Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils. Then lots of water and *blowing* to move it around. (Because randomness rocks!) Next, Pigma Micron outlines, which make the whole thing pop.

I don’t know about you, but the world feels like it’s crashing down around me right now. I’m scared and traumatized by what’s going on, afraid to get online to read the latest news. I’m calling my Senators and Congresswoman daily (http://bit.ly/2jzlgKQ is a good site–you can sign up to get a daily text with a daily action and number to call each day, though I went ahead and programmed all of my reps’ numbers into my speed dial.) All this is to say, my morning art is MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER!
Art heals. Art saves. Your creative play restores energy to your brain, gives you more patience and willpower, and will literally help you through times of stress.

So if you’ve been feeling freaked out, too, please, make time for your creative thing! It will help, I swear.

Go get creating!

#doodleart #creativesandboxway #originalart #doodlesofinstagram #abstractart #artheals #artsaves #inktense #derwent #watercolorpencils #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #dailydoodle #dailydoodle2017 #dailycreative #pigmamicron

To shake it up today, instead of starting with black-on-white doodles and then adding color, I thought I’d try starting with color and then add the line work afterwards.

It’s a totally different look and feel, and I can tell there’s much to explore by simply swapping the order of how I do things.

Now I just want to make art all day long (when do I *not* just want to make art all day long?), because so many ideas are flying around inside my head!

But I have to pull myself away. Deadlines are calling. Bills must be paid.

What can you tweak in your creative process today?

#creativesandboxway #originalart #abstractart #visualjournal #sketchbook #experimentation #derwent #inktense #watercolorpencils #doodleart #doodlesofinstagram #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram

Ghostly colors add some contrast to stark black and white doodles.
#derwent #inktense #watercolorpencils #visualjournal #doodleart #originalart #creativesandboxway #artheals #art as a tool of the #resistance — it is how we keep ourselves fueled to keep going #jedipussy