Creative Calm: Meditative Painting in a Pocket Notebook

1. Introduction: Step into a world of creativity and mindfulness with this class that blends art and meditation into a portable, peaceful practice. Creative calm is designed for anyone looking to slow down, find inspiration in their surroundings and create meaningful artwork on the go. We'll start by grounding ourselves through a simple outdoor meditation, helping you connect with your environment, and spark your creativity. Then using a pocket sized notebook and gouache paints, you'll learn how to translate your observations and emotions into vibrant, expressive mini paintings. Here's what you'll discover in this class, how to select and prepare your portable art tools for painting on the go. A grounding meditation practice to awaken your senses and focus your mind. Beginner friendly gouache techniques to capture the essence of your surroundings, tips for embracing imperfection or enjoying the meditative flow of painting. By the end of this class, you'll have a pocket notebook filled with tiny meaningful artworks that reflect your connection to the moment. You'll also have the tools and confidence to take your art practice anywhere. Whether you're an experienced artist or picking up paints for the first time. This class is your invitation to slow down, step outside, and discover the calming power of creative expression. I'll see you in the class. 2. Class Project: For this class project, you'll be combining the calming practice of grounding meditation with the creativity of painting outdoors using your pocket sized guash kit. The goal is to create a small gouache painting that reflects your connection to the moment and the environment around you. This project is about process, not perfection. Embrace the experience of slowing down, observing, and expressing your surroundings through art. So for step by step instructions, prepare your materials, gather your pocket sized squash kit, sketchbook, and water brush. Pick a location, go to a park, your backyard, and even a cozy spot by the window. Ground yourself. Begin with a short grounding meditation to send to your mind and connect with your surroundings. Observe and paint. Choose a focal point like a tree, a flower, or a skyline and paint what you see using the techniques from the class. Number five, share your work. Upload a photo of your finished wash painting to the class project gallery. Feel free to share your thoughts about the process, your inspiration, and challenges that you faced. Next, let's talk about materials. 3. Materials: The most important material for this class is your sketchbook. I recommend a pocket sized one that's easy to carry around. You can choose between portrait or landscape. It really depends on what your style is and what your preferences. You can choose between a hard cover for durability or a soft cover if you prefer something more flexible. My personal preference is hardcover, since it's easy to work outside and you won't need an easel to have support. Over the years, I've experimented with many sketchbooks. Don't be afraid to test out different material and see what you like. Besides the sketchbook size, another important quality to consider is the paper thickness. You want to make sure that you're looking for a thick, high quality paper that can handle guash. Something like mixed media or watercolor paper works best. So additional things I look for is elastic band. This really helps keep the book closed when I'm traveling around, as well as helps me hold things. Another thing I look for is some pockets in the back for any miscellaneous items or paraphernalia I find. I usually carry my pencil and water brush along with my sketchbook. Next, we have the star of the show Guash. A compact palette is perfect for painting on the go. But you can pick the colors that you want. I like using small tints and adding my favorite colors. You can keep it simple by choosing six to eight versatile colors that mix really well. If you're a beginner, a good place to start is having a red, blue, yellow and white and black. Some of the palettes I use are the Schminke palette or I try to make my own. A this palette is called the whiskey palate. It has a reservoir for its own water. The second homemade palette is something that I created. What's important to look for is a space where you can mix your colors, as well as a space to hold your color or gouache paint. Also need a napkin. Somewhere you can wipe your water brush. Shimike palette, I just stuffed some napkins in the middle. Don't forget a mechanical pencil for sketching out your ideas and a fine tin pen like micron for adding details or outlines. These are great for bringing definition to your work. For your brush, I highly recommend a water brush. It's super convenient because it holds water in the handle, meaning no need to carry extra water if you're traveling light. If you prefer traditional brushes, pack a small container for water, or you could use a Sminke palette like the one I showed you. These brushes are also great because it comes in a variety of different shapes. You can see that there are fine tips as well as a flat broader brush. B just make sure that the brush quality as well as the bristles are in good shape. Were you run out of water, all you have to do is unscrew the handle and refill, and you're good to go. These are the basics of a portable color kit. Play around and see what fits your style. This is one option where you have your homemade tin, as well as a water brush, a mechanical pencil, and your pocket brush. The second option is what I use the most, which is my whisky palette with the napkin tucked between the middle column, and I'm good to go. I encourage you to experiment and see what fits the most to you. You could also add a micron pen if you like that style as well. Finally, pack everything into a small pouch or case. Keep your materials organized, makes it easier to grab your kit and head out for impromptu painting session. And that's it. With these materials, you'll be ready to create wherever inspiration strikes. Remember, the focus of this class is simplicity, so don't stress about having the perfect tools. Use what feels right for you. Join me in the next lesson where we'll talk about grounding techniques. 4. Grounding Techniques: Your grounding practice, find a comfortable spot. Choose a place outside where you feel at ease. This could be a park bench, or a spot under a tree or even a sunny patch of grass. Next, connect with your breath. Close your eyes and soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in through your nose for a count of four, hold for four and exhale gently through your mouth for a count of six. Repeat this for three to five cycles, focusing solely on the sensation of your breath. Next, engage your senses. Slowly bring your awareness to your surrounding using the five, four, three, two, one technique. Name five things you can see around you. Identify four things you can physically feel like the ground beneath you, a breeze or the warmth of the sun. Listen for three sounds like birds chirping, the rustling of the leaves or a distant voice. Notice two scents in the air like fresh cut grass, flowers or earth. And last, focus on one thing you can taste. For the next step, feel the ground beneath you. If you're sitting, place your hands lightly on the ground or on your lap. If you're standing, feel the weight of your body connecting to the Earth through your feet. Imagine roots extending from your body into the ground, anchoring you to the Earth's energy. Take a final breath and silently set a simple intention for your painting session. For example, you can say, I will enjoy this creative moment. I will let my surroundings inspire me. I will embrace the process without judgment. The next lesson, I'll share my sketchbook for some inspiration. 5. Sketchbook Flip Through: Hi. Welcome to my sketchbook slip through. I'm so excited to share some of my pocket sized squash paintings I've created during my outdoor painting sessions. Each piece represents a moment where art, mindfulness, and nature came together. Remember practicing the grounding meditation we learned in class before starting these pieces. You need to decide on focusing on capturing energy and movement with loose expressive strokes. Don't focus on perfection. I usually let go of perfection and simply enjoy layering bold strokes of quash. Flipping through these sketchbooks remind me of how special these moments were, not just for the art, but for the connection I felt to my surroundings. It's a wonderful reminder that art doesn't have to be big or perfect to be meaningful. I hope this inspires you to fill your own pocket site sketchbook with moments that matter to you. Whether it's a landscape, a tiny detail, or even just experimenting with colors, each page is a celebration of your creativity and mindfulness. Now that we got everything ready, let's head outdoors and start our creative journey. I'll meet you there. 6. Taking It On The Go: Today, we're combining two wonderful practices, grounding meditation and painting outdoors. It's about slowing down, connecting with nature, and letting your creativity flow. Before we dive into the painting, let's start with the grounding practice to center ourselves and get inspired by our surroundings. You can do this anywhere, whether you're in a park, your backyard or even by a window at home. First, find a comfortable position, sit or stand whatever feels right to you. Take a deep breath in through your nose and gently exhale through your mouth. Let's do a few more breaths together. Inhale counts of four. Hold for four and exhale for six. Now, let's awaken our senses. Look around and notice five things you can see, maybe the way the light hits the leaves or the texture of the bark on a tree. Next, feel four things like the breeze on your skin or the grass beneath you. Listen for three sounds. Notice two scents and if you like, focus on the taste in your mouth or the freshness in the air. Now that we've grounded and are fully present, let's channel this energy into our art. I'm inspired by the flowers in front of me and also the bell that's right there. So I'll start with a quick sketch using my pencil. Don't overthink this step. It's all about capturing the essence of what you see. Imperfections are part of the process. Once I'm done with the sketch, I'm ready to move on to my guash palette. I use my water brush and squeeze the barrel to release some water. And then I start with a light layer of green for the leaves and add pops of color to cad variety. Guash is great because you can layer and adjust as you go. Looking at the final result, it's not about creating a masterpiece. It's about being present and enjoying the process. This old painting is a memory of this moment and the calmness I felt while creating it. It's a way to connect not only with the world around you, but also with yourself. So I encourage you to take your art outside, pack your pocket sized sketchbook, your gouache, and step into the world with fresh eyes and an open heart. We don't have to go far to feel the benefits, whether it's your backyard, a park, or even a cozy spot by the window, let the process guide you. Observe, create, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. Next time you're feeling stressed or stuck creatively, step outside, take a breath, and let nature guide you. I can't wait to see the beautiful moments you captured in your own sketchbook. 7. Conclusion: Painting outdoors is so much more than just making art. It's an experience, a beautiful blend of creativity, mindfulness and a deep connection to nature. Each painting tells a beautiful story, not just of the scene I captured, but of moments I paused, breathed, and truly felt my surroundings. Thank you for joining me on this creative and mindful adventure. I can't wait to see what you create. So don't forget to share your work in the project gallery until next time. Happy painting.