Me, Myself & Art: Activate Your Creativity

The Importance of Sketching Everyday

by Courtney Hatcher

Inspiration is Everywhere

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.

Even if you are not an artist, taking a few minutes out of your day to doodle can activate the creative parts of your brain.  Being able to think outside the box is a skill that has value in any job or life situation.  I believe that drawing everyday can improve those skills.

In this four part blog series I will explain why I believe a little bit of sketching, or art journaling of some kind, a day can keep your art fresh and alive.  Taking the time to sketch daily activates your creativity, enhances your problem solving abilities, alleviates artists' block and allows you to spend time enjoying your passion.

Every artist works at a different pace, has different obligations and responsibilities that take time away from the creation process.  Sketching allows you to create something everyday, even when you don't have time for a big project.

​The best part about sketching is you can do it anywhere.

Figure Study by Courtney Hatcher, Artist. Colored Pencil on Paper.

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.

Part One:
Activate Your Creativity

Figure Study by Courtney Hatcher, Artist. Colored Pencil on Paper.

• 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 a Creative Mindset

Sketching everyday creates a habit that can effect your mindset in a positive way.

The activities we choose to give our time to become our habits.  What we train our minds and bodies to do impacts every aspect of our lives, positively or negatively.

Everyone wants to live a fulfilling, happy, life.  The most effective way to do that, in my experience, is by changing your mindset.  Creating habits that affect my life positively is the simplest way I've found to change my mindset for the better.

For me, sketching has become one of those happy habits.

I've found that when I take the time to enjoy my creativity and do this one little thing that's just for me I'm a happier version of myself.  As an artist, it's one small action I can take to move forward in a more positive, creative fashion.

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.

• ​Meditation and Release

I sometimes use sketching as a form of meditation.  I sit in a quiet space and let myself focus solely on the paper in front of me. 

Taking the time to quietly sketch allows my mind and body to let go of all the things that are stressing me out.  I can put my responsibilities, anxieties and dramas on the back burner and just relax into my sketchbook.

In this busy world where a million different things are competing for our attention 24/7 it's important to step back and give some of that attention to ourselves.  Sketching is a good way to check in with yourself, it can be a form of self-care.

If I've had a particularly stressful day I find that sketching in the evening helps me clear my mind and calm down before I go to sleep.  Nothing is worse than tossing and turning all night because I'm worrying and unable to let go of the day.  For me, sketching alleviates those feelings and helps me get better rest.

Organic Shape Study by Courtney Hatcher, Artist. Ink on Paper.

To Sum It Up...

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!

My Challenge to You:

I challenge you to make sketching a part of your daily routine.  Try it for a week and see how it can change your day!  Let me know how it works for you.  Remember, you don't have to complete a sketch or a drawing everyday.  You can, but it's not necessary to benefit from the exercise.  You may end up working on the same one all week, ten minutes one day, thirty minutes the next.  The important thing is to do a little bit everyday!

See more of my drawings and sketches: Drawings

©Courtney Hatcher All Rights Reserved.  The use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission from the artist is obtained.
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