As an artist it is important to create new art, to experiment and grow.

Unfortunately, life often gets in the way of studio time.  It is not always possible to create a masterpiece everyday.  That is why sketching is so important in the routine of an artist.

The amount of time you can spend sketching everyday is not as important as the act itself.  Sketch for an hour or two if you get lost in the moment, but even five minutes of drawing will have a huge impact on your art, your career and your day to day life.

Maybe you can't take the time in the morning or the evening to sit down and just sketch, that's ok.  Keep a little sketchbook or notebook in your car or purse and you can sketch on the go!  (I don't recommend sketching while driving but if you have one in your car it will be available to you during your downtime.)  If you take public transportation to work you can sketch on the way, during your lunch break, while the kids are napping, sitting in the waiting room at the doctor, etc,.

Some of my best doodles can be found in the margins of my Algebra 101 notebook.

​Inspiration is everywhere after all.

• The Light Switch

Sketching everyday is like flipping the creativity light switch from off to on.

It's visual brainstorming.  Exploring your feelings and thoughts through color, line and form can open up avenues of thought that may have felt blocked.

Just the other day my sister was telling me that her and her co-workers had been having a hard time coming up with ideas for a project they had been working on all week.  Then at the end of the week during her break she doodled to get her mind off of it and something fantastic happened!  When she went back to the project she just seemed to have one idea after another and her newfound creativity inspired her co-workers as well.  By the end of the day they had the project wrapped up.

Sometimes the best ideas start with a doodle.

I like to make sketching one of the first things I do every morning.  When I begin my day with a creative task it seems like that creative momentum follows me and pushes me throughout the rest of my day.

The habit of sketching not only improves my mindset it helps me to be a better artist.  Which in itself makes my personal world a more positive place.  Sketching everyday allows me to practice and hone my skills as an artist.  Committing to this challenge everyday pushes me to evolve artistically and to grow as a person.

Activating your creativity is one of the most important things you can do.  Working on your art and creating beneficial habits is always a good thing.  Sketching is a tool that you can use to live a more creative life.  

Look for Part Two of my 'Importance of Sketching' series coming in the beginning of May 2019!

​Sitting in a drawing class one day it just sorta hit me.  What's the one subject that would allow me to incorporate every other subject all at once?  ART!

It was a full on head slapper moment.  Duh, Courtney!  I wanted to learn a bit about everything and art was the perfect solution.  Literature, History, Psychology, Science and yes, even a little Math. 

I was able to take the concepts and ideas I learned in all of those other subjects and incorporate them into my art.

The more I learned the stronger and more fulfilling my art became.  (Which is still true, by the way).

Fast forward to my senior year at UM-Flint.  The year of electives!  I took an Intro to Theatre class and absolutely fell in love.

It was a side of art that I hadn't experienced since I was a kid.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

The professor was very encouraging, she even walked me right up to the call board and signed me up to audition and work backstage.

​​Needless to say, by the end of the semester I was dual majoring in Fine Arts and Theatre.

Theatre gave me a whole new perspective.  It taught me about collaboration.  Showed me a new side of human psychology.  A different way to experience empathy.  It taught me to live in the moment, be fearless and to embrace improvisation. 

Everything I learned gave me more confidence and helped me find my voice as an artist.

After graduation I struggled to find a 9 to 5 that was fulfilling.  I started to realize that working corporate/retail type jobs was draining my creativity and enthusiasm.