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Hi John!

I had a phone call with an old friend yesterday.

When the weather is nice I usually make calls from my backyard, but I suggested we walk and talk so we could get some steps in.

By end of our call, I felt elevated by her company per usual, and also ended up walking six miles!

Bonus!

I think this may be my new phone call routine.

It got me thinking about one of my art journaling habits, which is trying something new.

When I get down to creating, there are a few tropes I like to rely on like:

• a favorite color palette
• collaging old book pages
• using fluid acrylic paint
• making patterns

If I keep doing the same thing, tried and true, without anything new added in, my work might be pleasing to the eye.

Hooray, that's lovely!

But that would also limit me, and start to feel stale over time.

I'd stop challenging myself to make new discoveries.

Like the bonus 6-mile walk.

Recreating my best work would be too safe and wouldn't push me to grow.

And frankly, there's no fun in that.

Subtle changes are welcome. They may be small iterations and tests that move things forward and offer clues to what works and what doesn't.

Here's an assignment for you or your kids:

1. Make four frames in your art journal or on a piece of paper.
2. Choose something consistent to do in each of the frames. For example: use the same color palette across all four, or make a pattern in each frame.
3. Then, do something different in each frame. For example: Add a different shape to each one or write a unique word in each frame
4. Keep going until you decide each frame is done.

Reflection:

1. How did this feel?
2. Where did you get stuck?
3. Where did you feel elevated?
4. Which panel do you like best? Why?

If you give it a try, send me thoughts from your reflection.

Iterating and experimenting,

Rachelle

PS. In case you missed it, here's The Morning Art Routine with all the details

PPS. What aspect of art journaling appeals most to you? Click the link below and share your thoughts with me ⤵