Sketching nature (even when we can’t go outdoors) for creative self-care

Are you in need of some creative inspiration? Look no further than your local library. As much as I love sketching nature directly in the great outdoors, it’s not always practical or possible. That’s when I rely on photos I’ve taken, searches on the internet, or, like in this week’s video, the pages of books I discover.

Finding Inspiration in Books

One fantastic source for tapping into creativity is your library. I recently borrowed a gorgeous book that’s expanding my mental collection of organic shapes. For my regular outside-my-art-journal art and my doodling.

In January, we’ll explore the significance of doodling and how it can evolve into a vital part of our creative self-care routine. This week’s focus is on its more specific counterpart—sketching organic shapes.

Have a look around your home for books with interesting shapes of seeds or plants. Consider searching online for reference photos, or browse your local library.

Emphasizing Process Over Product

One of my key principles in our Better With Art journaling is prioritizing the process over the finished product. But it’s not wrong to work on technique. But even as we intend to grow our skill, it’s crucial not to let the desire for a specific result overshadow the joy of creating. Sketching plants is great for training our brains to really look at objects and our hands to follow what we see.

I remember a junior high art project where I struggled to let go of preconceived ideas about the shape of a maple leaf. My teacher kept telling me to draw what was there, not what I “knew” was there.

Today’s project helps us overcome that. Especially when we work from simple images separate from a detailed background.

Sketching for Relaxation and Skill Improvement

The sketches I show in the video before drawing in real time were done on scrap paper during a relaxing evening. No video, no pressure—just me enjoying the lines and shapes.

If you’re interested in the book I used for inspiration, it’s titled Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the World of Seed Heads, Pods, and Fruit. With gorgeous photography by Robert Llewellyn and writing by Terry Dunn Chace. Find it on Amazon by clicking here.

Getting Started with Plant Sketching

For today’s small art, try using a pen, even if it feels uncomfortable—particularly if it feels uncomfortable. Sketching isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about expressing quickly what’s in front of us or in our minds. Focus on capturing impressions rather than exact representations. With a gel pen like I was using, it’s almost impossible to vary the line much. This frees us from getting lost in details and helps us appreciate the overall shape. And essence.

In this session, I focused on the broader shapes and just enough details to capture the type of plant. While the jagged edges of my leaf didn’t perfectly match the reference, that’s okay. It’s part of the learning process.

And our art journals are a safe place to experiment and express ourselves without fear of what others will think. Yours is as private as you want it to be. I share my imperfect art-journal art to encourage you to embrace your perfect imperfection and practice creative self-care with art-making.

Building a Habit of Creative Self-Care

With the new year ahead, let’s embrace the value of practicing creative self-care through art-making and make it more of a priority.

What small step can you take to prioritize art making in the coming weeks?

Even short sessions can significantly impact your mental health.

Maybe you could get up 15 minutes earlier a morning or two each week to make art.

If you only have five minutes this week, choose something simpler than my stem with leaves and blossoms, like a single leaf or flower. If you’re not feeling planty, choose something else with simple details.

Focus on shape. And essential detail.

If you need more motivation consider rewarding meeting goals with a small art supply—reclaiming your creativity doesn’t need to cost a lot of money.

If you’re looking for an art journal to get started, scroll down below the video for my recommendation.

Continuing the Creative Journey

I’ll continue sharing weekly creative self-care inspiration through art and journaling prompts on my YouTube channel. Whether you’ve been with me since the 52-Week Art Journal Journey of 2023 or found me through #My100CollagePapers project, I’m excited to continue this BETTER WITH ART journey with you into 2025.

Feel free to comment on your creative self-care practices and your plans for the future. Click here to share your journey in my BETTER WITH ART online community private Facebook group and invite me into your inbox no more than once a week.

And here to be kept up-to-date on upcoming online workshops and/or local workshops and shows where you can make art with me.

Taking time to make art is not a waste of time.

Thank you for letting me encourage you to practice of creative self-care through art.

Make art! Because we’re BETTER WITH ART.

More inspiration below video.

Recommended supplies

If you’d like an art journal that’s ideal for my simple form of art journaling that uses various mediums, the paper is important. It needs to be heavy-weight and preferably hot-press because although I love the texture of cold-press it’s really hard on markers and pens. The mixed-media one I use in my videos and the art journaling groups at the library where I work is 140lb/300gsm. It stands up to all my dry, wet, and layered applications. Sold in a three-pack on Amazon, it also remains the best regular-price value that I’ve found. Click here to check it out.

If you use any of my Amazon product links and make a qualifying purchase, I will, as an Amazon Associate and at no cost to you, earn a commission, a convenient way you can support my channel with your purchase. So thanks if you do!

You can check out more of my favorite art supplies available on Amazon by visiting my slowly growing storefront by clicking here.