I held the idea close for a long time and did my best to nurture it until I had the time and mental clarity to begin work. My vision was to create an artist's book where you can experiment, play, get messy, and be curious without focusing on the outcome—a rich archive of color, collages, florals, landscapes, marks, textures, and words to hold all your big beautiful ideas!

I'm curious about the creative process, how to step into the flow more often, and move through those uncomfortable, disappointing, or frustrating moments of art-making. Over the years, I've built a repertoire of "go-to" techniques that are beautiful and fun. I love using them in my work and have shared the growing list of favorites with my students through art classes. But, lately, I've felt there might be more to discover.

The Storyteller Card Series | Free New Art Series

A few years ago, I was cleaning up my studio and sorting through bits and pieces of paper, old art, and other little treasures when the idea of creating "short story collages" came to mind—a place where I could start small art pieces with meaning that would lead to something more. A place where I could capture an idea or memory before it floated away, never to return. Not only are they fun to create but I have also found so many hidden gems in each one that would be the spark I needed to move forward with my creative ideas.

The Complete Summer Sketchbook Series Videos

In session four of the Summer Sketchbook Series, I looked to the High Renaissance artist Raphael, primarily his sketches, to learn more about the beginning of his creative process. It is fascinating to study the line work and how he searched for his subjects' shape, form, and movements in his drawings.

While in the produce section I went through a big crate of beautiful pears - the perfect subject for my next sketchbook