MY JUST SHOW UP WATERCOLOR JOURNALING & SKETCHING CHALLENGE 2025: DAY 5

 ⎨My "Just Show Up" Watercolor Journaling & Sketching Challenge 2025: day 5⎬

On April, 10th, because I was a bit under the weather, I intentionally decided to "choose JOY" anyway, and use my sketchbook to soothe myself. Since I had tried to make that little painting on a loose piece of paper, that morning I decided to eventually start a new, small sketchbook that I had made years ago, but never started for the fear of ruining it (I know, so silly, but it's a tune going on in the head of many Artists, isn't it?!).

So, without overthinking, I grabbed the sketchbook, watercolors and my new love- the fountain pen!- and off I went for my Morning Walk.

I sat on a quiet bench where I could sketch undisturbed (even if later on some people passed by), and I wasn't sure what to sketch from that position. Sometimes it can be frustrating to compose a page, so I decided to do what was right in front of me- my coffee mug, a tree branch with buds ready to open up, and little flowers in the lawn. I didn't want to make a perfect spread- I just wanted to sketch freely!

I wrote:

"It is nice to sketch beautiful scenes from pictures, but also these little and more ordinary things that tell the story of my day... the Beauty that is here- right here, right now- and feel gratitude for this special moment in time. I noticed all these little things while having my coffee break with a delicious croissant from the bakery, in the company of all the birds and my peaceful thoughts."

"I arrived home and was SO inspired by the time spent on that bench in Nature (previous spread), that I just wanted to keep sketching! I grabbed the sketchbook and went outside in the garden to document a few of our plants and flowers... Now I'm here in the studio to watercolor and add a few words to the page. I have the window open, it's sunny and warm and beautiful, outside... and I feel so abundant and joyful and peaceful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!".

Monica xoxo