CREATIVITY & WELL BEING///
I don't always sketch before I paint, but I do find it helpful for setting the intention and mood for a painting.
This sketch was completed in my remarkable 2 digital notebook which is great for a quick and easy, mess free way to do rough sketches:
And it turned into this painting:
Intention setting before leaping into a creative project is great for grounding yourself before you start.
Meditation, music, journaling and casual sketching are some of my favourite ways to give intention setting ample space to support my creativity.
Here are some ways using sketching as part of your intention setting process before commencing a painting or artwork may help:
1. Reduces overwhelm
Starting with a blank canvas can feel overwhelming and daunting. If you have spent time considering what you want to create before you put the canvas in front of you, mental blanks and panic are much less likely to set in. Being the humans that we are purposeful intention setting reduces overwhelm around where to start and some of the what, why, how mental chatter.
2. Helps you loosen up
As you play with ideas that may or may not turn into a full-blown project, you remove some of the pressure around delivering on a completed artwork. Playing with ideas through loose sketching gives you a chance to explore concepts before committing to them.
3. Gives you an anchor and starting point for your project
Make things easier for yourself by creating a framework to start your painting this will free you up and help you get into creative flow and focus with more ease, as you remove some of the unknown and guesswork from your project.
4. Gives you a clear vision and direction
Of course it is likely that you will adapt and tweak your initial plan along the way, but a blueprint through sketching will give you more confidence and purpose as you start your painting. This will allow you to follow your creative curiosity as your painting develops.
5. Sparks stronger emotional connection
Sketching will give you some creative sparks that will help you reflect on the emotions you aim to evoke in your painting. This gives you a headstart to creating a piece that is an authentic expression of you.
6. Encourages a more holistic connection to the process
Intention setting with sketching prompts you to consider your process, not just the final painting. It will get you thinking about the possibilities of how you can approach the piece to best express the subject, style and vibe of your art.
So hopefully you can see how sketching as part of your intention setting process is a great grounding tool to support you in your creative projects.
Do you sketch as part of your creative process? Please let me know in the comments or email hello@samhortonstudio.com, I would love to hear from you.
Take care
Sam x
Sam Horton is a professional artist, passionate about the links between art, creativity and well-being.
Learn more about Holistic art practices for well-being
Sam's Art Studio and Studio Shop are based in Australia on the Sunshine Coast.
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