Make it Yours
Something happens inside of me when I decide to step out and own something. At that point, I know I’m committed to the idea or project. I decide what that something means to me, how it will impact or change my life and what will become of it.
This can happen with art too. As I cultivate curiosity and see things through my perspective of the world. I intentionally see things around me. I invest in seeing.
Then, when I put what I see to paper, I move thought to action. I invest in ability, I invest in style and I even invest in you as you see what I made.
Now, I understand that sometimes we need to learn how to do something. At that point, it’s helpful to have some examples and try those examples … even replicate them exactly (in the form of practice. For clarity, this is not copying them and calling them yours. I am not condoning the use of someone else’s design or art without their permission).
Eventually, for your own development, you need to move beyond imitation. It will take some effort, but once you get your ideas flowing, you’ll surprise yourself.
So, from time to time, you will hear me say, Make it Yours. When I say this, I want you to take the project a step beyond what I have given you. Explore your style with the given techniques and ideas.
Feel free to use some of my ideas to practice the techniques, but I encourage you to seek out your own style. We all have one … or two or three or fifty. They are made up of the things that we see, feel, think about and how we use those things to create. Some of us love the itsy-bitsy details. Some color inside the lines. Others ink outside the lines. Some like real, others abstract and still others like to mix them. They all produce amazing.
So … let’s have a little fun.
Think Before you Ink
What have you noticed about your piece of the world this month as you’ve taken a step out of the day-to-day to stir your curiosity?
Here are a few things I’m learning …
- Sometimes people don’t try because they feel like they can’t (but many times just don’t know how). In school. In art. In work. In relationships.
- Beauty is everywhere, even if we don’t see it. We don’t have to see it for it to exist.
- Sometimes beauty hides until the right time. Then it blooms and grows.
- Being creative activates a part of your brain that cannot be verbalized. So … it’s satisfying in a way that I can’t describe with words. You’ll have to try it for yourself.
How did your newfound curiosity affect your designs? How did your work with monochromatic colors last week affect you?
Take it One Step Further
This week, I want you to put those designs to work again. Feel free to use anything we’ve learned so far … and beyond. Use the designs you’ve practiced or make some new ones. Designs are everywhere.
- Pick a word.
I considered using spring, curious and my name, but settled on April and thank you (then, if I liked the result, I could use it as a card. Creative and useful).
- Draw the outlines of the letters, leaving wide, open areas of white inside them.
- Use your designs to fill in the letters.
As you can see, I worked with some different styles. Some letters are monochromatic. Some have designs. Some use color as design. I give you permission to play with your watercolors.
If you don’t want to draw the letters, below is a printable template for the letters I designed. I printed it out on Canson #140 watercolor paper and taped it down until it dried to keep it flat. (This paper works fine for practice, but it will still warp when wet.)
Now … Make it Yours.
Happy Creating!
Joanne Groff
I call myself a forever student enrolled in life. I love to learn ... about people, about watercolors, about ink and letters, and about expression using all that I know.
