So I got a Traveler's Notebook...

Last year I got me a leather Traveler's Notebook.  A fun leather cover with calendars and notebooks to tuck inside a fun binding system.

Along with my calendar, I had a handy sketchbook nearby at all times.  I made myself a small, tool wrap and kept it all nearby so I could sketch when the desire arose.

Quick sketches added with just a touch of watercolor.

Value sketches with simple pencil hatching. These country prairie scenes are some of my favorites.

Found objects from the garden and yard, a little fun lettering.  A new orange Lamy pen.

Blue ink sketch with non-waterproof ink.  Just add water to the outlines for instant shading.

Pen and ink sketch from a Pinterest photo.

Another fun way to add daily art to my life.  Remember, practice is art.

Today I'm setting up a still life of my first oil painting.  It's a new journey for me and I'm excited and intimidated at the same time.  And just like that I have my One Little Word for the year.....journey.

You can sketch anywhere and everywhere...and should.

Looking back on my 2015 art journey, one of my best discoveries is that you can sketch and make art anywhere and everywhere....and the more you do it the better.  

My brand new Moleskine watercolor journal, my shiny new Lamy Safari fountain pen and a few other art supplies. 

So anxious to try them out, I used a cardboard box to practice. 

It's art.  It was fun.  The more you just let go, the better your art becomes.  

 Take your sketchbook with you everywhere.  Fix up a little travel pouch, even if it's just to transport your art supplies from the kitchen table to the couch.  It's all good.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I use the hashtag #practiceisart.  Practice is art.  Every little mark you make and every paint stroke is art.  Maybe good, maybe bad but who cares.  Just start.  That's what I did.