My Sketch Journal

For those of you who are friends of FB, you have seen some of my sketches.  What most people don't know is that they are actually part of a journal.  I've never been very good at journaling. I had a diary when I was in Jr. High I think, and I mainly kept track of what I wore to school so I didn't wear the same outfit again before the required length of time had passed - I don't remember what that time frame was, but I do know it seemed really important.  Now I don't care so much and I realized that other people don't either. I asked a friend a few weeks ago if I had worn a certain blouse the week before and her response was, "I don't know, I don't even remember what I wore 3 days ago." She is the one we all call the Fashion Police so that put some things in perspective for me.

But I am off the subject... oh yes, my journal.  About 2 years ago I decided that I wanted to start doing more of the artwork that I used to do before kids and life got in the way.  I did some pencil drawing but was pulled back to watercolors which I had loved doing when I was in college. Last Christmas my Mom gave me back a watercolor that I had done for her when I was at MT State and I realized how much I enjoyed that medium. I had also found a blog on line which I liked to read - for the artwork. The artist/journal blog is written by Jenny Frith and you can see it here Jenny's Sketchbook

I went to Michaels and found this nifty sketchbook that you can do watercolors in. It even comes with a paintbrush strapped inside - very handy!

 

Bill had given me a box of watercolors for my birthday, and I had a ton of brushes left from other projects over the years, and some I inherited from Bill's great aunt. I love this set.

 

 

I also found some watercolor pencils that are fun for doing small projects.

Now I try to journal every day. It can be anything, but I'm trying to keep track of important things like when I order something online, what flowers/plants I planted and when, if I'm sick, took a day off, went to the doctor, got my haircut, etc. With our hectic lives it is hard to keep track of everything if I don't write it down.

 

Yes, I have days where all I write is that I'm sad... and when I see this I know that I still have work to do on me and my relationships.

 

 I keep track of where I've gone and what I've done - like our trip to NYC in March.

 

And my grandson's birthday party in April - and what my garden is doing.

I try to keep track of gratitudes too - I'm not as good at that as I should be. I should write down at least 3 a day, but I do forget how blessed I am - don't we all?

And sometimes I just doodle - I found an art book and a calendar that had the top pictures in it - I'm pretty good at copying other's work.  Now I'm trying to branch out more and do my own work - like the picture at the top of this blog.  I'm hoping to get better at all this, both the art and the journaling - check back in a year and see how I'm doing :0)  I just bought a new journal for 2014.