There are MANY types of art, but today I’m focusing on three areas of drawing and comparing what they do for me….and I’d be interested to hear what they do for you!

I’ll be using a Fluid Writer – it’s a “pen” that has a well on top and thin nib below. My old one is hidden somewhere with my Pysanky supplies – but I also remember trying it with ink after using it for the eggs, and it didn’t work so well after being heated. So….I treated myself to a new one – and found a PAIR of them – a fine AND extrafine nib! It doesn’t seem that you can order JUST the extrafine, you need to get it along with the fine, but they aren’t expensive.

You might wonder why you’d want one – should you even get one!? No one “needs” one. But what I find it helpful for is to use a little bit of an ink on a project when I don’t really want to clean out a pen to change inks; that process uses a lot of ink between washing out the old and putting enough in the pen that you can use it, then flushing that again. You can also use a glass pen but I do find those a bit scratchy – the fluid writer doesn’t have that problem.

What’s the difference? Doodling vs Sketching vs Art Journaling

In this video, I’ll show you some snippets of the three projects that follow, as I talk about my own experience with these three drawing styles. Yours may differ and I’d love to hear how they affect you!

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Doodling

The benefits of doodling are vast, in my opinion!

• Relaxation. I can just turn off my brain and make lines!
• Explore style variation. When it’s just lines, it’s easy to play with lines – shape, width, interaction, crossover…..so many options. My style of drawing has begun to develop more as I’ve been doodling longer.
• No subject matter. While I might be inspired by something (a map, a flower, a line style), it’s not supposed to look like anything.
• Although…Some folks DO doodle by drawing a subject – and that’s ok too!

Sketching

Making a sketch has a different set of benefits in my mind – and sometimes the borders of doodling bleed over into sketching as well.

• Practice subject matter. Practice drawing a specific item – a landscape, trees, people.
• Practice foundations. Perspective, value, color, line – anything you put on paper is excellent practice!
• Use your brain. Sketching engages the brain and hand-eye coordination as you look at a subject and replicate it.

Art Journaling and Bible Journaling

Sometimes doodling or sketching crossover into journaling turf! I do find some people think art journaling is only 1) trying techniques and 2) using up all the junk around your studio that you haven’t found another use for.

That’s limited thinking, in my humble opinion! Art journaling can do so much more if you change your perspective….and let your mind travel while you create.

• What’s going on in your life? What challenges need a creative solution? Often getting your mind busy on other creative ventures results in another solution popping up.
• What are you grateful for? What are the things that make your life happy or successful? Pondering those things can lead to a heart that’s got a better outlook than it had before you started creating.
• What is your spiritual journey like? What have you been learning? Capturing that as a Bible journaler can be a celebration of your faith in a creative way.

Last year I taught in but also participated in the November Gratitude Junk Journal class. And I’ve been invited back this year….and jumped at the chance. Last year was soooo good for my heart and attitude!

If you’d like to join in, class starts November 1 – and you can get 20% off by using my oupon code JOY when you click HERE.

How do these types of art help you?

I’d love to know how you are changed by doodling, sketching, or journaling – how do you feel after spending time creating? What’s life like when you don’t spend time in your studio?

Supplies

• King Art Fluid Writer – 2 sizes
• Small sketchbook: Stillman & Birn Zeta
• Large sketchbook: Alvaro Castagnet – only available from him personally
• Art journal: handmade from Yasutomo Mineral Paper
• Pilot Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink, Kon-Peki