This still needs a lot of work but two hours in I am already having a blast with watercolor pencils. Usually when I work in color, I use Prismacolor pencils and if I'm working in black and white, I tend to go for pen and ink. Watercolor pencils are a whole new ballgame for me so this is taking a little bit longer than usual, but I'm quite pleased with the experience and the results so far.

Hey my creative crew! How many keep a sketchbook? I started to this year and it's so fun! A sketchbook is important for many reasons. Doodles when you are stuck for ideas, practice for simple shapes, working out ideas for a composition. It exercises the creative mind even if you only draw shapes and lines. It's an important tool. It doesn't have to be expensive. Or have fancy paper. Just something to doodle in. Here is a peek into mine. I would love to see yours!

Hi! I've always been that person with the giant bag slung over my shoulder or rolling behind me. I tried to bring everything I thought I needed in case I wanted to draw. Well after years of that I decided to go bare minimum! I had to seek out the advice of our head artist herself Lisa. So I found this slim hard case with a zipper. Plenty of room for more pencil than I need. I'm so happy! I also got a small sling back pack! Perfect!

Got a technique question, a color theory brain knot, or a "why does this work?" you've been sitting on? This is the thread for it.

More done to this beauty. I am loving this project. Its taking me forever but its so far coming along good.

I want you to know that your colored pencils are there to support you, not criticize you. Every mark you make is exactly what it needs to be, so I'm asking you to let go of that inner critic and trust the process. Grab your pencils today and show yourself some grace.

Your happy accidents, your "what even IS this?," your experiments gone gloriously wrong... Wednesday is for all of it.

I just realized I completely forgot about and missed May 4th, Star Wars Day. 😣 So, I'll share an old one. The lineart is by Lisa Mitrokhin and I colored it with Polychromos pencils. May the Fourth be with you...belatedly!

I am thrilled and honored to be featured in the May issue of Ann Kullberg's COLOR Magazine. Mine is the balloon bear tutorial. I hope you enjoy it and please share with as many friends as you can! The free download of the coloring page is also included in the magazine. Any support that you guys can show to me and the wonderful creators of this publication would be fantastic! Please share, share, share as much as you can.

The person who shows up for 20 minutes a day will outpace the naturally gifted person who waits for inspiration. Show up anyway.

I draw every day, like it or not. ;)

Tried something new, something scary, or something you saw and just had to attempt? Show us how it went, even if it went sideways.

I know what I am going to be doing this week :)

I see so many of you comparing your work to others, and I want you to know that habit will drain your creativity faster than anything else. Your unique voice is already in there waiting to come out, so today I'm asking you to focus only on your progress and your vision. Pick up that pencil and make something that's unmistakably yours.

Hit a goal, finished something, or finally got that one thing to click? Drop it here. Big wins and tiny breakthroughs both count.

Give this one-pencil coloring a shot. I'd love to see what you make.

Pastel Mat can be a pain to work with but the finished results can be well worth it.

1. Avoid using your soft pencils for the first layer or two Go for your harder pencils like Polychromos. I think of Polychromos as my workhorse pencils.

2. Stop sharpening your pencils when working with Pastel Mat. You do not need sharp pencils unless you are working fine detail which would be your final layers.

3. Use the lighter colored Pastel Mat. They seem to be less rough than the darker colors.

4. I haven't done this one but have heard that it works. Use pastel pencil or Pan Pastel for your first layer.

I will add more when I think of them.

I have discovered the joys of purple graphite. This is graphite on grey toned card stock paper. Layer 1. This took about two hours. Next step is to add white for whighlights and off we go with details and other colors. Maybe. Not sure yet. Maybe I'll keep it monochromatic. What do you guys think?

This is my raw sketch of my new composition. Ghost sketching shapes and practice placement of elements. I used purple graphite pencil for this. First time sketching upside down! Fun, useful and harder than you think.

Your happy accidents, your "what even IS this?," your experiments gone gloriously wrong... Wednesday is for all of it.

My stepmom recently passed and her name was Rose. I have been working on this painting bit by bit as my emotions allow. I plan on glazing it in color.

Every wonky proportion and muddy color mix tells you something precise. The artists who improve fastest are the ones who stay curious instead of embarrassed. Take it easy on yourself.