Mindful Drawing Class: Create Imaginary Leaves & Unleash Your Creativity

1. Class Introduction Imaginary Leaves: Have you ever wondered about the possibilities at your fingertips when using nature as your source of inspiration for art projects as a tool for grounding yourself. Welcome to my first class. My name is Emma. I'm a surface pattern designer exporting my work from El Salvador. I'm also a firm believer in the healing power of art. I believe it can help us process and navigate challenging concepts in new and empowering ways. This class is suitable for both beginners and seasoned artists. My teaching philosophy is centered on simplicity. We'll use basic materials and follow simple step by step instructions to make projects approachable and enjoyable. This focused approach fosters a sense of accomplishment and encourages creative exploration. This class is ideal for you if you're looking for a gentle and supportive environment to quiet your inner critic, cultivate a sense of flow, and nurture your creativity while building confidence, you'll discover how effortlessly you can interpret patterns and marks found in nature. Each day for a week, you'll create six small leaf drawings inspired by photos I've taken. You can watch the entire lesson or pause after each individual drawing and move forward with me. For the full experience, I recommend you complete each day's exercise before moving on to the next. Download the workbook PDF from the Projects and Resources tab. It includes the photos of your subject alongside the isometric paper for you to print, as well as individual photos you can download onto your device and work in your sketchbook. After a week together drawing leaves, you'll apply your newfound skills by creating five bookmarks for yourself. Or, why not? Is thoughtful gifts for book loving friends. But most importantly, you'll acquire the tools to expand your library of imaginary leaves, enabling you to incorporate them into future projects. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. I hope you join me, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this class as much as I have enjoyed creating it for you. See you in the next lesson. 2. Project Overview: I begin each lesson with a brief intention. This simple practice helps me center myself, shift focus, beyond the art, and consider personal goals and desired emotions. It's a quick yet valuable exercise that I encourage you to join me in. These intentions serve as gentle reminders to practice self kindness throughout our lesson and the day. You'll see me making decisions spontaneously throughout each lesson, and I encourage you to do the same. This is a chance to embrace your unique artistic voice. I often observe my subject quietly. That's why I do voiceovers. Allowing my intuition to guide my artistic choices. I love to share this approach with you, encouraging you to connect with the details and nuances of your subject, and trusting your gut feelings. You'll see me encounter challenges, making mistakes, and adapt, demonstrating that the creative process is often filled with unexpected twists and turns. I've seen students thrive when they follow their own path, creating inspiring work. Extra photos are included to fuel this exploration. Let's celebrate our collective progress together. 3. Class Tools: In this class, we'll be working with simple tools. Our main objective is to unleash our creativity by sketching and designing imaginary leaves. So let's start with our pencils. I do 90% of my work with my 03 mechanical pencil and for obvious thicker parts with my Palomino or a soft lead pencil. The interesting thing about Palomino is that it usually is waterproof. The erasers I recommend, a pencil eraser. The brand I use is Koinur a regular soft eraser and a needed eraser for sketches, where we need to lift graphite before painting. Of course, a sharpener. And we can blend graphite with a tip, but I prefer a pencil stub. If you have them, three size of micron pens, a 02 for thin lines, a size one for thicker parts, and a 05 option, one that works, if you prefer. The one I had was running out of ink, but that was fine with me. Any size of white pen, the one that worked for me was a jelly roll pen from sakura, a 08, not a five and a size ten. A white colored pencil, the one I used was luminans from carandash. An exacto knife and a cutting mat for trimming or bookmark, if necessary, or a pair of scissors. A small and a bigger size brush, I use for this class a zero spatter and a well loved filbrit in size four. Of course, a cup for water and a palette for mixing your paints. The watercolors I'm using are SminkaHadam, Helio turquoise and purple magenta, tenia lemon yellow, burnt sienna, titanium white, and Sminka naples yellow. Watercolor paper, any brand you prefer I use arches, hot press and cold press watercolor paper. Both are 100% cotton and work beautifully. Oh, and scraps of paper to recycle. Finally, your sketchbook to store your library of imaginary leaves. You can also download the isometric paper grid I've made for you, included in the work of PF found in the Projects and Resources tab. With all that, include the curiosity of your inner child, resilience, patience and kindness towards yourself. And this is a small time lapse, just to show you all the colors I explored with my basic watercolor palette. 4. Day 1: Pansy Moonlight: Let us begin with a moment of stillness. Ask yourself, what do I hope to gain today? Is it a sense of calm, a spark of creativity or something else entirely? Write down your intention and keep it nearby as a gentle reminder. This simple act can help you approach your art with a clear mind and a compassionate heart. Today, let's embrace curiosity. Welcome to day one and our first subject, Pansy leaves. Let's explore their unique shapes by mindfully observing one of the leaves in our photo reference to establish their very basic shape. Estimate the height and width first by drawing vertical lines, having the angular lines from the isometric paper freely soften the contours, forming a leaf shape. Spot something you see that catches your attention like the bottom part of the leaf, then gently sketch it in. The next thing that pops is a scalloped edge. Using this detail, you can slowly start priming your boundaries. Once you're happy with this soft sketch, reinforce your boundaries on both sides. Keep observing, looking for inspiration to fill in your prime leaf shape. Ask yourself, what do I notice about the veins? How do they branch out? We slowly draw them in changing the angle in each one as they travel upward. Now, notice how the middle vein stands out, tapering towards the tip of the leaf. Let's draw that in. Finally, for this drawing, freely and loosely depict some of the shadows in your leaf. Determine where to put them as you experiment with new tools like this pencil stub and finish your leaf as you breathe. For the second leaf option, we'll vary some things slightly. You'll be able to see how small tweaks are meaningful. Using the same leaf reference, follow the same steps to determine the very basic shape of your leaf, priming and reinforcing your boundaries until you have your previous scallop silhouette. Then pencil in the same vein from your first drawing. We will tweak two things. First, draw in the side veins with the same angle variation, but space them out a little more. And second, apply the tapered effect from your middle vein to all of your side veins for this leaf alternative. Once more, follow the same steps for the third basic shape. As you analyze your subject, spot something else. Can you see how the scallops on some of the edges are closer to each other? Proceta plan how to draw them using simple guide marks so you have a reference for where to start and end each curve. Once that's established, gently prime your boundary. And when you're happy with the sketch silhouette, reinforce your boundaries. Once you're done with that step, draw in the middle vein. Tweak it by not making it tapered this time. Now play with thickening the leaf edge by layering strokes with your mechanical pencil or using a soft regular pencil to create a thicker line. Let your reference photo guide you to your next step. And always remember your sketchbook is a place for creative freedom. Let's keep the soft angle change from the first drawing, but instead of tapering them, make them thick and uniform to create a new design. Consider the tool that makes the task easier. Use the soft lead pencil layering your strokes for an even bolder look. To add a final touch, experiment with bringing the side vanes closer for a more detailed intricate appearance. Let's create your fourth leaf. Follow the same steps to outline your basic shape. But this time, try a wider option for a fresh perspective. Refine the contour until you achieve your desired silhouette. Take this moment to breathe, relax, and enjoy the process. Remember, here you get to practice acceptance. Do so by welcoming and celebrating the unique quality of your lines. For a new approach, revisit your reference photo, find a new interesting detail and draw it within your silhouette. Continue referencing your subject, identify in the next detail and add that in. As you continuously study your pansy leaf, identify details and shadows that interest you. Since we can and must experiment in our sketchbooks, you're free to interpret what you see, so why not? Let's block out the soft shadows above the side veins and fill them in to create a new thick, papered curry vein. As you complete your fourth leaf, remember to explore the expressive potentials of your tools by varying your pressure to create different stroke effects. A single photo can transport you to a universe of creative potential. So mindfully observe your reference until you find something brand new. This time we will use a new leaf for your fifth drawing. As you become more comfortable with these initial steps, practice priming and reinforcing your new leaf boundaries as you breathe in, finding stillness in these simple yet meaningful steps. Every step is key. Each one helps you move forward. Now remember, you can interpret things freely here. Use simple language and take creative liberties, for example, the scallops on the photo look somewhat angled, so simplify and reorient them. You see me hesitate there a little, and that's okay. Just take a moment, return to your subject, find a detail that inspires you, and go back to your drawing. Now you can also draw inspiration from your previous work. For example, look at the drawings next to your new leaf and notice the thicker edge on the third drawing. Use that detail in this new version. Now return to your leaf. See how some shadows make the veins seem bolder or more angled and how they branch out at the tips. Use your soft pencil to draw in the middle vein, not worrying so much if it's tapered. Then for the side veins, start from the inside, applying more pressure for thicker parts and less for tapered ends. Now, the veins in this leaf are closer together and remember some branch out at the tip. Breathe. And don't worry about drawing every single vein. Just try to capture the overall pattern freely. Take a closer look at your reference photo and zoom in. You'll notice the scallops are more recased into the leaf edge. Complete this drawing by adding small pencil marks on the ends of some of the scallops to depict the small detail. I hope by now you feel more confident in your ability to identify basic shapes and smoothly prepare your leaf silhouettes for further development. For this last option, choosing something very different from what we've been working on can be daunting. But remember, to enjoy the process, keep breaking down your project into bite size manageable steps. You keep analyzing your subject. Loosely mark the width and height you want. Once that's done, lightly soften its contour. Constantly review your subject and focus on the step you are taking. As many times as needed, return to your leaf, locate where the most prominent detail is, and gently mark that in your drawing as you continue priming your boundary. Return to your photo and spot a second detail to sketch in. After making those soft marks, you're ready to smoothen out the edge to the right. You could flip or mirror the curvy line from the right onto the left side, but let's check the reference again just to be sure. The curves on the left look similar, but the deep recess there is slightly higher up than the one on the right. As you've already practiced the right curve, confidently sketch the left contour, ensuring the deep recess is slightly higher up. Once you're satisfied with the lightly sketched silhouette, go ahead and start reinforcing it. We've used the detail in almost all our drawings. If you like, add the bottom dip as you reinforce your last leaf silhouette and remember to breathe as you do this. Let's finish this silhouette. Grab your soft regular pencil and trace the outline. If your line wanders a bit, that's okay. Just bring it back and remember to breathe. Now, examine the middle vein and notice any color change or lighting effect. You can interpret this colored change with your pencil by using the pressure technique we've been practicing to bring this detail to life. Once you're done, focus on the next step, drawing the side veins. Always remember we are in a safe place where we can experiment like finding inspiration in the shadows near the side veins, block them out and use them as a new detail for this leaf. To complete this drawing, incorporate some of the delicate side veins we see in the photo. Draw these faint veins playfully. Don't worry about their exact location or angle. Finally, one more run through your reference photo is a good idea. To see if you've missed something, you can add to make your drawings more intriguing. Do them in very close. Observe the hairy texture in some of the leaves and choose the leaf you'd like to apply this new found detail as you finalize this first mini collection of imaginary leaves. A fun side note. When I know the name of my subject, I always write it down. I also like the number or index them to make my sketch collection more organized. It's like a checking off to do list for me. When you finish today's lesson, take a moment to appreciate your hard work. You've done an amazing job. See you tomorrow. 5. Day 2: Doublefile Viburnum: Let's close our eyes and take a moment to center ourselves. Inhale slowly, and exhale fully. Think about your intention for today. I'm very grateful, but sometimes I tend to forget how much art helps me relax. So today, if you like, let's focus on creating with a relaxed frame of mind. Welcome to Day two. I love that you're here. Thank you. Thank you for making time for yourself. Our second subject is a double file viburnum leaf. The steps remain the same. Analyze your subject and define its height and width by drawing vertical lines, followed by angular lines to form a rough trapezoid. Continue using straight lines and lightly sketch in the bottom part of your leaf. Once you're satisfied with the initial shape, soften the contours until you reach the first basic shape of this mini collection. Part of priming your boundaries involves eransing unwanted lines, so go ahead and remove them now. Return to your leaf and notice the jagged edge all around its edge. Gently sketch this detail onto your silhouette, paying attention to its overall pattern, rather than counting every little peak on it, and remember to breathe as you softly complete this step. Now that you've established your initial boundary, let's reinforce it. Take a moment to breathe and center yourself again. Once the boundary is reinforced, let's turn your attention back to your reference photo. We can complete this leaf by adding veins. Identify the most prominent ones and sketch them in. If you're not sure how to do so, notice their direction, or if they seem straight or curvy, gently draw simplified lines from the outer edge inward. Inspired by our light guidelines, why not? We're allowed to experiment in our sketchbooks, so let's not overthink it. Simply trace over the soft lines. And even if our guidelines didn't show it much, take notice in your photo how the veins shift direction toward the bottom. For our second drawing, we will follow a similar approach. Remember, we have the freedom to tweak things at any stage. This time, let's make the basic shape a bit more slender. As you continue to practice, you'll develop the skill to simplify your process. Soon, you will be able to sketch a few lines and effortlessly soften the contours quickly. With consistent practice, these steps will become automatic to you. Remember, even the smallest adjustments can have significant impact. We can explore these subtle changes by lightly sketching or testing them. Notice in your photo that the jagged edge isn't uniform in size, so let's try making it slightly smaller. The edge also has some shadows. We used a similar technique yesterday. With practice, we'll be able to identify more efficient ways to create variety in our drawings by simply changing our tools. We reference our subject as needed, identifying key details. To build upon your silhouette, I find it helpful to start with the prominent middle vein. And given the clear structure of the veins, we can confidently choose the most suitable tool to interpret these details. Next, applying what we learned yesterday, we'll focus on the side pins. We'll use the pressure technique, varying the length and form of the veins this time. We proceed from the center outward, considering their curvy nature and direction. In the past, I would erase what I considered a mistake, such as a crooked line. As a former perfectionist, I now practice acceptance by letting go of these imperfections. In our art practice, we can embrace our essence, recognizing that there is no such thing as perfect or imperfect. Constantly and mindfully observe your subject. Treat each drawing as a small independent project. Follow the same steps to define, soften, and prime your third basic shape. At any stage, we can make meaningful adjustments such as rounding the top of the leaf. Write these changes down to solidify them in your mind. This will help in future decision making. What else can we see in your photo? Describe the details in simple language. Notice how the jagged edge resembles inverted scallops in some areas. Take note of these details, creating a glossary you can use at any moment. Once again, we're in a creative space where we can experiment. We can isolate details from your leaf and test them out in your basic shape. If you're happy with the look, confidently reinforce your boundaries while using a tool that mimics the shadow in your reference as you finish your desired silhouette. To continue its focus on the veins, mindfully observe how the veins branch out at the edge resembling a V shape, then travel down to the central vein. So for these details, use your soft pencil to first draw the middle vein. Next, draw the side veins using the same pencil with soft pressure or with your mechanical pencil for a finer line. Draw the V shape first, then the single line down to the middle lane. Take your time to draw them, keeping the angle shift seen in your reference. As you become more comfortable, you breathe. And don't worry about perfection. Feel free to adjust the curvy veins to a slightly straighter option. We've discussed how decisions can be made at any stage, even before you sketch your fourth basic shape. Given this leaf's strong details, we can opt for a smooth overall look. As usual, start by determining the height and width and then smoothen the contour of your basic shape. We can also be bold and experiment with isolated details. For instance, we can apply the smooth edge of the bottom of the leaf to the entire silhouette. As we do this, take a moment to breathe deep. We can later decide if we'd like to thicken the outer edge for a more dramatic effect by going over the line we've just drawn. To help you remember the adjustments you make, take quick notes. This will reinforce your learning. Now, this is a super reinforced boundary, and as you finish your silhouette, remember it doesn't have to be perfect. Just focus on the overall shape. We decided to make this fourth drawing a simpler version of the bernaf after drawing the middle vein and being inspired by their strong shadows, we'll draw straight lines, mindfully observing the angle shifts. To help us stay on track, jot down the changes you make. This will be useful if we encounter any challenges and help us remember potential options for future reference. Now, go over each vein to darken them. Breaking down a project into manageable steps often reveals how simple each step can be, making the process more enjoyable. Let's continue making bold decisions. Establish the height and an even more slender width for your fifth leaf variation. In your initial guidelines, include your vertical and angular lines. Remember to take notes to help you recall these options we are discovering as we walk down this road. Soften your contour slowly and lightly, remembering to breathe until you achieve your desired basic shape. Let's keep being bold. Let's space out the jagged edge peaks and strengthen the leaf silhouette at the same time. Follow the gentle guidelines of your basic shape. Take your time and breathe. Next, dry thick middle vein and add straight veins using pressure to achieve a tapered effect. Use the jagged edge as a reference for placement, ensuring ample space for the next step. Now, let's delve into the intricate details between the veins. This leaf has a beautiful texture. How can we capture its essence? Analyzing the texture, the lines start from the side veins and either ascend or descend towards the next vein, gradually fading out. To capture the texture in its simplest form, we can use the pressure technique we know to carefully render the lines. Feel free to use your soft pencil, but I'm sticking with my mechanical pencil for more precision. To create a subtle fade out effect, go over the short lines a few times, changing your pencil direction with each stroke. Be mindful of where you place the faded lines to create an interwoven pattern. Since we are experimenting with different tools, let's try using a regular pencil and always vary the pressure. We can see that this technique can also achieve the desired look even in tight spaces. In addition to written notes, I recommend creating visual notes also. This helps isolate intricate details, making them more visible and easier to incorporate into your visual vocabulary. The steps remain the same. Take time with each one to establish a solid foundation for your desired silhouette. Also, use this time to breathe. We build complexity one step at a time. So keep observing your subject for inspiration. Let your observations guide your next move just as they have guided me in my creative process. Trust your instincts. Now, don't worry if you miss a step like I did by drawing the middle vein too early, simply go back. Use the detail you spotted that dip on the right side of your leaf and sketch it in lightly. Then use a scalloped section to reinforce your entire silhouette, focusing on the overall look for your last leaf for today. Also use this time to breathe. We've been inspired by your previous work, and today is no different. Let's use our third leave as a starting point. Begin by lightly sketching guidelines to ensure we maintain the angle shift. Once those are in place, start adding your V shaped veins. First, the V shape, then a single line that travels down to your middle vein. As we continue to practice, we'll find that this process becomes increasingly intuitive. Take a step back and see if you need to add a few more veins. Keep refining your leaf until you're happy with the result. Now, coloring is a wonderful way to reconnect with your inner child. Through your inner child, you're able to let go of judgment and allow yourself to play to be you. Embrace your true self and have fun coloring in parts of your details to depict the shadows you see in your leaf. To add a finishing touch, take a pencil stub and blend the shadows to give your drawing depth and dimension. Once more, take a deep breath as you finish today's collection of imaginary leaves and be proud of yourself. You've done a great job. See you tomorrow. 6. DAY 3: Silver Dollar Maidenhair Fern: We'll continue to pay attention to details and connect with our subject through drawing, practicing mindful observation and allowing our creativity to flow freely. Your reference photos brim with inspiration. Today, let's embrace a more experimental approach to capture the spirit of our subject rather than its mere likeness. To keep it short and sweet, today, I will experiment. Welcome to Day three. Thank you for showing up. Today's subject a silver dollar made in hair fern. Even if the leaf you'll be drawing seems somewhat different, remember to deconstruct your mini projects, each individual drawing into manageable and uncomplicated steps. Let's review them again. Mindfully observe your subject until you find something that speaks to you like one of the fresh leaves. Draw your vertical and angual lines as you decide on your leaf's height and width. Now, prime your boundaries by softening the contours, going back to your reference if needed, until you arrive at a basic shape that resembles your subject. Feel free to erase lines that you're not using. Once you complete those steps, you are ready to start reinforcing your boundaries. Go at your own pace, remembering to review your leaf often to spot the next thing that catches your attention and include it in your final leaf silhouette. To complete your first drawing, revisit your reference and find a detail that interests you. This leaf has an unusual vein pattern. They don't split in the middle. Using simple language, they form a pinstripe texture that converges at the base. Also notice how the veins are more defined at the bottom and fade towards the top. To depict this detail, use your mechanical pencil applying pressure at the bottom like we know how to do and gradually release it to achieve a lighter stroke as you move upward. And as you navigate these steps, remember to breathe. As familiarity settles in with your steps, take a deep breath and savor the process. Soften your contours and keep breathing. Prime your boundaries and take another breath. Reconnect with your subject, make a note of your plan, and let your breath guide you. Notice the colored change on the bottom rim. Now slowly reinforce the bottom of your leaf boundary to depict the colored change we saw and remember to breathe. Having our intention in mind also applies to a creative process. We can experiment with how to get to our destination by taking a different road, for example, to achieve the tapered defect, use a soft pencil to make thick lines, stopping halfway, then switch to a mechanical pencil to complete your veins. Make sure the veins you draw are more spaced out or a different look for your second leaf. Begin your journey with deliberate strokes, then let the steps guide you to your final silhouette, breathing as you work through them. If an idea pops in your head, make a note of it and continue softening and priming your basic shape. Trust your instincts and slowly take the next step, knowing that as you practice, the process will become second nature, allowing for spontaneous decisions. This takes courage, but showing up consistently will boost your confidence. Now the possibilities are endless. That's why I suggest you write down the variations you embark on for better retention. Embrace simplicity. Use a single tool and gentle pressure to create the pin stripe pattern. And anytime you can breathe as you slowly fill your leaf with strokes. To achieve a somewhat even space between the veins, eyeball the distance between the strokes and place your lines midway. Work at your own pace, methodically calculating half spaces. Add more lines and watch the pattern emerge. Follow your initial steps in dry smaller leaf shape. Opposite to the strong waves of your previous drawing, take note of softer waves this time. Now reference your subject and notice the color or lighting change at the bottom of the leaf. Interpret this detail by reinforcing the leaf's boundaries with a heavy contour. There are moments of uncertainty when I question my progress. This happens when I feel I've made a mistake. Yet I persist. I make a small note of it, knowing that these perceived mistakes hold potential. For this fourth drawing, we can transform the uneven spacing into a deliberate design choice. So our next step is then to be very obvious in placing our lines in pairs, ensuring a noticeable gap between each duo. When faced with a perceived misstep, embrace it as a learning opportunity. There's always something to learn and keep moving forward. Okay. For your fifth variation, work through your steps until you get to a silhouette similar to your first drawing. Once you get there, review your photo until you find something intriguing like the pin stripe pattern. But this time, notice the subtle markings on top of the fanned outlines. Go through the steps you took to replicate the pin stripes on your first drawing until your leaf is full. After you complete this task, use your soft pencil to add in marks to depict this newfound detail. As you finish, write down where the idea came from. It always helps to know the source of inspiration. For your sixth drawing, choose one of the leaves in your photo that has a colored change like those dried up sections at the top edge. The shape is a bit different, but walk through the steps you are now familiar with with confidence until you get to a final silhouette you like. Next, add the Pin Strack pattern, estimating the space between the lines. Experiment with a new approach by placing the lines freely rather than calculating half spaces. Finally, interpret the subtle color shift at the top edge with small strokes to achieve little organic shapes. Engage in your senses by listening to the sound of the pencil as it scratches the surface, grounding you in the present moment. I bet you're wondering what this is about, but bear with me, please. For your last drawing for today, go through the steps you now know to get to the silhouette you like. I chose the third one with a thicker contour. And as usual, whenever you get a chance, remember to breathe as you work through them. So this, I love cooking chicken soup, and one ingredient I include is corn. Looking at it one day, the corn husk caught my attention, and I thought, why not? We're in a place where exploring is encouraged. We must use it as inspiration, even if it's in a small way. So to finish off our mini collection, use it for your leaf veins. And as you translate the corn husk texture onto your leaf silhouette, once more, breathe and savor your creative journey. Before we wrap up today, let's explore a gentle way to fold leaves. Using tracing paper, trace any leaf you prefer. I chose the third leaf for its simplicity. Turn it over and trace the leaf on both sides. Then fold the tip of the trace silhouette and align it with your drawing. Mark the folded edge on your drawing. Lift the tracing paper and erase unnecessary lines. Fold the tracing paper backward this time, flip it over and align the mark you just did with the folded edge. Now transfer the shape below the crease onto your sketchbook. Finally, reinforce this new folded section and add the veins gently fanning them outward. Now one more deep breath and admire your work. Nice lead then. See you tomorrow. 7. DAY 4: Copperleaf Plant: Come to this place where being you is all you need to be. Write a story creatively through your lines, explore their beauty, the wobbles, the curves, the unexpected turns, celebrate your beautiful self through them. Today, embrace the uniqueness of each stroke you make. Welcome to Day four. Today's subject is a copper leaf plant full of color and details. Reference your photo, sketch vertical lines to establish height and width, also adding angular lines to define your basic shape. Gently soften the contours to create a smooth preliminary silhouette. Keep referencing your photo to identify details that stand out. We have a familiar jagged edge. Erase unnecessary lines and confidently reinforce the lease boundaries, drawing on your familiarity with this feature from previous days. Remember to take a moment to breathe and center yourself as you work through these steps. Continue mindfully observing your subject and begin drawing the middle and side veins. As we've practiced before, you can use a soft pencil and the pressure technique or a mechanical pencil building up the tapered effect with strokes. At the end, choose the tool you prefer to draw the veins with. As you progress, you'll notice recurring details. Though they may vary in length, form, and strength, we can safely approach them with the confidence familiarity brings. Now keep observing your leaf. It's a rich source of inspiration. But contrasting colors make it easy to identify prominent details, draw them in with conviction. Add a final touch by creating small organic marks to interpret the beautiful color change on the peaks of your jagged edge. As you complete your first drawing, take a moment to breathe and relax the grip on your pencil. It's a simple but powerful way to reduce stress and improve the enjoyment of your journey. Your second leaf variation and the steps continue to be the same. Observe, establish height and width. Make notes for better retention, draw your angular lines, breathing, softening contours, erasing unnecessary lines until you achieve a basic shape you like. This plant is a joy to behold at this stage. Sometimes the possibilities can be overwhelming. When I'm indecisive, I need to remind myself to focus on the next step, which would be reinforce boundaries. And as you can see in your reference, the jagged edge of the plant offers a lot of variety. So let's choose to soften the edge this time and make a note of it, then continue drawing this detail all around your basic shape as you breathe. Now, let's add some veins. For this second drawing, keep your middle vein tapered. Don't worry if your line wobbles a bit like minded. Just guide your pencil back and build up the strokes to achieve the desired effect. Review the leaf you're using as a guide to see how the side veins travel through the leaf surface. Use some of the indens of your jagged edge as a guide for placement. Remember to draw them loosely, focusing on capturing the overall look of your veins. This leaf looks like someone actually painted it. Let's break it down into simple manageable steps. We'll take five easy steps. One, start by analyzing it. Two, use your soft pencil to sketch the dark organic shapes. Focus on capturing the overall feeling of the pattern, placing your shading loosely as you reference the original image. It's important to breathe and focus on the step at hand, especially when tackling new unfamiliar techniques. Concentrate on the marks you're making. Three, soften the dark marks you just did. Use your pencil stub or finger to blend them. Think of these steps as small projects within your larger drawing project. Take your time, invite your inner child. Remember to breathe and focus on the step you are in. Enjoy the process. For, use your regular or pencil eraser around the veins to gently remove the blended graphite. You don't need to erase it completely just enough to create a lighter shade for volume. Let your inner child come out and play, enjoy this creative process, and remember to take a deep breath. Five or last step. Use your pencil to reinforce some of the veins that were erased. Also strengthen the dark marks you did initially. And once more, breathe deep. Let's keep our third drawing simple. Breathe as you follow the familiar steps to create the basic shape. Refer back to your photo to refine the leaf silhouette. Once you've achieved that, examine the leaf's edge. Simply put, the edge looks like pronounced wobbly scallops. You can name the details on your own using words that resonate with you. Make a note of the smooth edge on the bottom of the leaf to keep in mind for future drawings. Then continue refining and strengthening your leaf silhouette. Let's tweak our veins a little. Straighten them out and boldly emphasize the color shifts around them, playing with thick and thin lines. This is a great technique to remember for future drawings, so make sure you make a note of it. Allow your inner child to play, building up bold strokes with your soft pencil. Define the color shifts with a double line using your mechanical pencil. Breathe as you work. Embrace wobbly lines. They add a unique, natural touch to your work. One final touch for your leaf. This is one of the details I like the best, small, medium organic speckles dropped on top of leaves and petals. It's like adding a unique animal print to your drawing. Take a deep breath and loosely cluster them to the side of your leaf. And add a visual note if you like them as much as I do. We know the steps to take to create our fourth leaf silhouette, so breathe as you work through them. Before reinforcing our basic shape, let's remember we are in a place where we are encouraged to experiment, where we can draw inspiration from previous work. So swap the edge details from your neighboring drawing, then add the middle vein. We will approach this fourth option slightly different in the steps we take to build our leaf reference your photo and start adding the strong colour changes you see. Block them out loosely, allowing your inner child to guide you, focusing on capturing the overall look of your reference. Breathe as you play coloring and enjoy the process. Once you're satisfied with the dark blocking, grab your pencil stub and blend the shades into your silhouette. Go back and forth using your mechanical pencil, adding darker shades and strengthening your middle vein. Play with your eraser to create lighter shades of lines. Return to your mechanical pencil to add crisp veins, embrace the irregular lines and place them freely using your photo as a guide. Before we called it finished, why not? Let's channel the boldness of your previous leaf as you breathe, thicken the veins, and take a moment to appreciate your completed fourth leaf. Follow the steps to create a fifth leaf silhouette similar to the previous ones. We will experiment with a new approach. Instead of jagged or scalloped edges, let's turn the pattern inward. After you have reinforced the basic shape and drawn the mid rib, gently place the scallops within the leaf shape. Then color the space between the edge and the scallops. Remember to take a deep breath as you work. Similarly, draw the side veins as you did in your second drawing using the patterned edge as a reference for the placement. When you're done, revisit your reference. Use a beautiful colored change as your next detail. Remember to capture the essence of the marks. Once you're happy with the large marks, add the animal print randomly and keep breathing. Our final drawing for today follow the usual steps to create the basic shape. Now, let's try something different. Inspired by our previous work, instead of textured edges, we'll use dashes along the leaves edge. Breathe as you slowly place each small line. Now notice the strong colour contrast on your subject using multiple bold strokes, emphasize this detail by reinforcing your veins with your soft pencil. Ground yourself by focusing on the tactile and auditory sensations as you draw. Some final touches. And you know, I have a soft spot for this one. Draw the animal print pattern on the side of your leaf, then go back to your photo. Notice the interesting texture. It seems like it travels across the leaf. So skipping some sections, use your mechanical pencil and the pressure technique we've practiced to interpret these interesting veins. Now, one more deep breath. And admire today's work. Superb. See you tomorrow. An 8. DAY 5: Shaving Brush Tree: Sometimes less is truly more. Today we'll embrace the beauty of simplicity. Through it, in my opinion, the process of learning run smoother and is more enjoyable. We'll continue practicing mindful observation, breathing deeply, staying present with each mark we make, and breaking down our project into simple steps. We'll focus on the joy of interpreting our subjects in their simplest form and following uncomplicated instructions. Let's create with intention and keep things simple one stroke at a time. Welcome to Day five. Today's subject is an interesting shading brush tree. And for your first drawing, continue following the same steps to establish your basic shape until you get to your reinforced leaf silhouette. Once you've strengthened your leafs contour and drawn the mid rib, let's add the side veins. Looking back at your photo, observe how the veins slightly curve upward and are somewhat closer together. Take a deep breath and finish your first drawing. For a second drawing, we'll choose another leaf from your plant. Go through the steps you are familiar with. And as you prime your silhouette, refer to your photo to see if there is something you'd like to add in, like the tip protruding off the edge. Once you're happy with the prime silhouette, proceed to reinforce it. Mindfully observe the leaf we're working with. Notice the shadows on the side. We can use this as inspiration to tweak the silhouette, thickening the leaf's edge. Then add a bold middle vein. Zoom in and analyze the next detail, your veins. Notice how they curve outward, especially near the edge. To emphasize this, tweak the veins to be straighter, curving only at the very edge. And take notes. I love them. They're really helpful, especially when working without a photo reference. Proceed to add your side veins as you take a deep breath. The next detail is inspired by another leaf from your shaving brush tree. Add small triangular shapes at the ends of some of the veins, creating a tapered effect. Complete the second drawing by going over the leaf's edge if you need it. Take a closer look at this small leaf in your reference photo. Because of the angle, the tip seems to dip into the leaf rather than protrude this time. Use this as inspiration, add an extra tweak and create a third silhouette. Once we conclude priming the basic shape, breathe and reinforce your boundaries. Creative license is encouraged our sketchbooks. And since our intention for today's session is to keep it simple, we'll add bold, straight side veins. Use a tool you feel more comfortable with and breathe as you fill in your leaf. Let's draw inspiration from your previous drawing again and apply the tapered end to some of these thicker veins. This is a great example of how small changes can make a big difference. We've made subtle adjustment to these two leaves, and they look quite different. Keep breathing as you complete this third drawing. Inspired by your photo, explore a slender leaf shape for your fourth drawing. Follow your usual process to create a basic form. Document your steps by taking notes and choose a detail to bring back and incorporate in this drawing. Enjoy the process of creating a refined silhouette and take a deep breath as you reinforce your boundaries. Before adding details, clean up your leaf sketch by removing unnecessary lines. While your reference shows a thick mid rib, you'll sometimes see me jump from thin to thick middle veins. I do this to add visual interest to my collections, and you can do the same. In this spirit of our intention, let's simplify the process. The side veins close to the midrib are very noticeable and tapered using simple words and instructions, just draw the shape of the veins, which look like long triangles. Consider the drawing tool you like best and breathe as you add them slowly, being mindful of their placement and the empty spaces between them. Now, use your mechanical pencil to add some delicate veins that branch out from the tips of the tapered sections you just drew and breathe as you finish your fourth drawing. As you work through the steps to construct your basic shape and strengthen its silhouette let's talk about the photo references I've taken for you. In my heart, these images are a valuable resource for current and future projects. You can follow my lead by any means and use the sections I am using as inspiration, such as the folded leaves we'll explore in your fifth drawing. But don't feel confined to the plant or to the leaf itself. The surrounding environment offers a wealth of creative possibilities as well. As I mentioned at the very beginning, the ultimate goal of this course is to empower you to develop your unique collection of imaginary leaves. Once again, keeping our intention top of mind, we can see in our subject inside that folded leaf, strong veins that seem not to touch the edge of the leaf. They also seem irregular, and they seem to shift direction softly. So as you breathe, fill in your leaf and complete your drawing. For your final leaf for today, breathe as you work through the steps to establish your basic shape, prime and reinforce your leaf silhouette and erase unnecessary lines. Now, take a moment to breathe as you begin to thicken the outer edge of your leaf. With the leaf as your guide, dry tapered middle vein down the center of the silhouette and take another breath. Inspired by your earlier work, add delicate side veins, taking note of angle shifts, and be mindful of the wide spacing between them. Finally, zoom in and examine the delicate texture of your leaf. Imagine it as a collection of tiny little circles. Place them in your drawing irregularly, adjusting their size and filling in some of the smaller ones. Breathe deeply as you lose yourself in this rhythmic process completing your final drawing. Add your visual side note and take a moment to appreciate your progress. Outstanding job. See you tomorrow. 9. DAY 6: Philodendron: We are all born with instincts that we tend to tune down or turn off throughout life. Here we can practice listening to our souls, words of wisdom, whispers of inspiration. Today, let's trust our intuition to lead us to unexpected and inspiring directions, releasing control and embracing the unknown. Welcome to Day six, and thank you for continuing on this artistic journey with me. Today we'll be drawing inspiration from this big, bold and beautiful philodendron plant. Seeing this magnificent plant that Fips filled my heart with joy. Is sheer size and bold presence were awe inspiring. Yet it exuded a friendly and welcoming energy. I will confess all plants have this effect on me, but this one in particular is special. So once you have established your basic shape, prime it by adding visible details, erasing unnecessary lines, and reinforcing the leaf silhouette. Remember to breathe deeply throughout this process. Mindfully examine the leaf we're working with to see if you spot another detail you'd like to add. We can see a very small tip protruding. Go ahead and include it in your silhouette. The details for your first drawing are straightforward. Add the strong middle vein with your soft pencil and the side veins, which will feel familiar. This is a good example where you can appreciate how some details in nature and the way we interpret them repeat. The difference in this drawing will be in the size of the tapered part of the veins and the tool used to draw them. Breathe in slowly and net sale fully as you finish your first drawing. I might sound poetic, but I cannot help it. Nature is so wise and so perfect and beautifully imperfect and so generous. It offers so many options for us to find inspiration. So after reviewing your photo, selecting a second leaf, and finding intriguing details, breathe as you soften your contours. Remember to take notes so that over time, making adjustments on the fly becomes second nature. Also remember to pause to review your subject to be sure the step we're taking, priming your basic shape runs smoothly. Tweak your basic shape if necessary, adding the interesting details we've seen at the bottom of our leaf. Prime your basic shape until you feel satisfied and ready to reinforce the boundaries of your leaf and breathe as you walk through these steps. Once more, mindfully observe your subject. I identify your next detail, the middle vein. Be bold when placing your mid rib, making the bottom extra thick. Now, use your soft pencil and pressure technique for the side veins, taking notes to keep them straight, and horizontal. Breathe as you place each one, making sure they are spaced out. To interpret the soft texture between the veins, use the same pressure technique and your mechanical pencil to fill in the extra space between the strong veins. Once more, breathe as you complete your drawing with this rhythmic pattern. Allow me to show you another easy way to fold a leaf. Dry a leaf shape in your sketchbook and a second one in a cut out silhouette similar to the one we just did. Include a draft of the same marks you drew without worrying about making them the same. This is just to show you another method for folding leaves. Fold the side tip of your cutout and mark the folded piece that falls over the front of your leaf. Then dry line over the folded crease. I've used a different color just to make the lines we are going to be transferring more visible. With this cutout, you'll see that it resembles a folded leaf. So after erasing unnecessary lines, breathe and start drawing those pink lines over on your sketchbook. Turn your cut out over and lightly trace the details to use as guide for the folded section of your drawing. Finish off by adding those in. This new subject from your reference photo has a completely different bottom. So breathe and work through your steps to get to your basic shape. Carefully draw in your middle vein and take notes. Why not explore the possibilities of leaving your veins empty? All these notes we take can also serve as a guide for future projects where we can include color, for example, to use light colors on our veins where we have empty ones. Remember to breathe again as you complete your drawing. Notice how the rectangular feel of the leaves in our reference influence our drawings. That's why you've seen me draw rectangles for our first basic shapes. However, the right side fold in our subject now suggests a more angular tapered shape. Sketch this out, making notes of any other adjustments you'd like to make. And since this leaf is incomplete, draw inspiration from your previous work, incorporating details that interest you. Take a deep breath, continue refining your silhouette until you're satisfied. Remember how small adjustments can have a big impact? That impact can also be that they help us keep moving forward. Let's take inspiration from a previous drawing and make a subtle shift in the angle of the side veins. Breathe and slowly fill in your leaf, slightly tilting them for a fresh look. Take another look at your reference photo. Are there any elements that spark new ideas? We've used shadows between veins in previous drawings to create new details and textures. Since the shadows in this leaf are quite prominent, let's incorporate them into our drawing. Using simple lines, start blocking them out loosely to define them. Then breathe again as you invite your inner child to playfully fill in each section. Use the same tapered basic shape from your previous drawing to start drafting your next leaf silhouette. Lightly draw your guidelines, soften contours, start reinforcing your leaf, if you wish, and integrate the dent that flows into the bottom of your subject. One technique I enjoy selecting a small section of my subject and incorporating it into my drawing. In this leaf, I'm drawn to a section of the edge that shows soft waves. This effect may be due to the leaf size rather than its inherent shape. Regardless of the cause, I find this detail intriguing. Instead of questioning its origin, I allow it to guide my next move and reinforce my boundaries. Place a bold middle vein using your soft pencil and straight solid veins, similar to the ones we drew before. Take a deep breath and complete this step. Now, let's add a final detail. Incorporate a familiar element, the pinstripe pattern. This pattern will add visual interest and complement the soft organic texture of your philodendron leaf. Continue adding your fine veins as you finish this drawing, taking a deep breath and centering yourself again. To conclude our drawing session, let's explore the concept of detachment. While this may seem daunting, practicing this in a safe place can open our minds and hearts to new possibilities. If you feel comfortable, erase the drawing of the folded leaf. By letting go of this image, we open up space for a new idea. Not all is lost if you decided to erase the image. I know it's hard. The faint lines left behind provide a guide for you to easily create a reinforced leaf silhouette If you like, draw a dashed line to show where the original edge was. This may serve as a visual reminder for the steps you took to create the folded leaf. After you add your mid rib, reference your subject and place the side veins similar to the ones in your first drawing. Breathe as you complete this familiar step. The large leaf has many beautiful gentle waves and subtle wobbles. Select one of these details and use it. By isolating a specific detail and exploring its potential, you can create a new unique imaginary leaf. To complete your drawing, add the side details to the folded part of the leaf. Then embrace your inner child, breathe once more and softly fill in the oval shapes. To wrap up, sit back and admire the wonders of your progress. Pat yourself on the back. Fantastic job. See you tomorrow. 10. DAY 7: Monkey Plant : Breathe in slowly and exhale fully. We come here to release the pressure of creating perfect masterpieces. Allow your hand to move freely across your drawings. Trust your intuition and let go of self doubt. Celebrate every stroke, every line, and every imperfection. Feel gratitude for the opportunity you're gifting yourself, to connect with your creativity and express yourself freely. Today, embrace the joy of the process. Welcome to the final day of our drawing journey for now. Above all, thank you for your commitment and hard work. Today we will be exploring a fun monkey plant. We'll use two photo references to capture its distinctive features. Let's review our steps quickly. Begin by carefully observing your leaf and taking note of its shape. Establish the basic structure by sketching in your vertical and angular lines, defining your preferred width and height. Then, soften the contours of your basic shape and erase unnecessary lines. And, of course, remember to breathe. Before continuing, review your subject to double check for details like softening the tip of your leaf and take a deep breath as you reinforce your basic shape. Simplify the details you see in your photo and slowly start adding in your tapered mid rib. Take notice that the side veins have somewhat of a steep angle. Breathe as you continue decorating the surface of your leaf. Take a closer look at your reference image. You'll notice a distinct colored change around the veins. Let's incorporate this into our drawing. Begin by mapping out the areas where the color shift occurs. Focus on capturing the overall look of this detail. Confidently, add individual lines to define the color change. Continue adding strokes until you've fully covered all the veins, and the color variation is visible. And you can see clearly my lines aren't perfect. Take your time and breathe as you complete this first leaf. For your second variation, we'll explore a different interpretation of the same subject. This will be another good example where we will be able to appreciate how making subtle changes can make a big difference. Follow the steps you've been practicing for almost a week to establish a similar leaf silhouette as your first leaf. Remember to breathe and relax as you work. Confidently and softly, sketch in the white colored change that runs around the veins of the leaf. You can make a small tweak for the side veins, drying them slightly steeper and breathe as you complete this step. Focus on the negative space in your drawing. Let go of any expectation and welcome the joy of coloring with your inner child. As you color, embrace the texture that emerges with each stroke, take a deep breath, come to the present moment, and enjoy the process. Now grab your pencil stub and begin to gently blend the strokes. As you do so, pay attention to the sound your pencil stub makes. The auditory feedback will help you stay present and focused. Take a deep breath to calm your mind and body. Continue blending until you're happy with the desired level of smoothness. Let's take a moment to clean up any excess graphite now. Gently erase any smudges that blended into the white areas. As you erase, take deep breaths and savor every moment. H. When you're done cleaning up, use your pencil to carefully darken the gray tones that surrounded the veins. This will help to emphasize and define the colour change around them. Also, review the leaf we're working with and notice the dark veins inside the white areas. Take your time and enjoy these familiar steps. By becoming better acquainted with them, you're creating room for new knowledge to come along. Slowly and confidently, add your veins as you breathe in and finish your second leaf. Experimentation is at the core of our creative process. Sometimes decisions emerge from the heart just because make a small tweak by slightly widening your basic shape. Embrace spontaneity, as it often brings delightful surprises. And as you navigate your familiar steps, breathe deeply and relish in the process of priming your silhouette. Once you're happy with your basic shape, take some time to observe your subject mindfully. Notice the very delicate scallops on the edge of your leaf. Breathe once more as you integrate this detail and reinforce your boundaries. Begin tracing your middle vein slowly, but refer to your photo to closely observe the subtle texture at the edge of the color change. Fill in your mid rib and once you complete that step, breathe as you incorporate the textured detail into the veins rim. Now sketch the guidelines to mark where your side veins will be placed. Then proceed with each one, creating curvy tapered veins, and then adding the textured rim to each one. Have fun with this and invite your inner child again as this detail does not require perfect or smooth lines. So take your time, breathe and delight in the experience. As you build your leaf, continually reference your subject, a spontaneous decision, add more textured side veins between the existing ones. And if you get lost in a step, don't forget to loosen the grip on your pencil. I know I need to remind myself of this. So let's breathe, relax, and fill our silhouette with textured veins. To finish up your third leaf variation, take a close look at how the tips of the veins curl up and touch the vein above. Once again, breathe and complete your drawing. For your fourth imaginary leaf, we will keep it simple. Walk through your initial steps, defining the height and width, softening contours, erasing unnecessary lines, and reinforcing a silhouette similar to the ones we drew all along, breathing through each step. Once you have completed those steps, place a bold middle vein. Feeding off of your past work, use the pressure technique to add strong angular side veins. Make sure they are placed close to each other for a different look. Carefully study your reference photo. Zoom in, pay close attention to the hairy texture all around your subject's edge. Experiment adding these marks, creating a fuzzy surface as you breathe and relax in this rhythm. Nature is so, so beautiful and mysterious. Is wonders often go unnoticed. If we aren't mindful of what surrounds us, if we don't pay close attention, we might miss its majesty. The backside of this monkey plant has beautiful light shades, and though we're working with graphite, it can easily serve as inspiration for our fifth leaf. Work through your steps to come to a reinforced silhouette similar to the ones we've been drawing with smooth, strong edges. After you've completed your basic steps, begin adding the veins. To keep it simple, we will stick only to interpreting the two shades of lilac from your reference to create soft thick veins. We'll work in two phases. For the first phase, use a wide straight shape for the mid rib and angular shapes for the side veins. Breathe and hold your pencil loosely to get the soft shades of gray. Now for your second phase, draw the veins again, but make them thinner and darker, placing them on top of the light gray veins you just drew. Take a deep breath as you finish your fifth drawing. Once more, go through your initial steps and breathe as you rise to your final basic shape. Closely observe your new monkey plant leaf and analyze what else we can use as inspiration for a completely different variation. Soft waves show up again. So inhale and exhale using this detail to reinforce your boundaries. Channel your inner child again and softly shade your entire leaf silhouette. Personally, I love this as it's a time for me to really relax and let go, breathe and play. With your pencil stub, smooth out the graphite. Don't worry about making the surface even. Having texture gives your drawing warmth. To help you come to the present moment, connect with you and your senses, breathe and listen closely to the sounds. Embrace the unexpected. As you experiment with different tools, your pencil eraser can become an instrument of creation. Welcome this new perspective as you open up space for your veins. Also, add highlights around your leaf by softly cleaning up the edges. Finally, take your mechanical pencil and gently draw thin veins in between the white space as you opened up with your eraser. Breathe one more time as you finish your last drawing of the week. And after every art session, you conclude, sit back and admire your journey. Phenomenal job. See you tomorrow. 11. DAY 8: Playing with Green Leaves: It is time to put into practice what we have learned creating leaves and giving them color. But first, we will take a moment to breathe, center ourselves, and set our intention. Let's make our intention even more powerful by writing it down, like always. Use this class as another opportunity to reconnect with your inner child and rediscover the magic of play with your newly acquired knowledge. Remember to set your intention aside and have it visible. It's your gentle reminder. Use a variety of tools. I will explain with each bookmark we make. You can watch the entire video or pause, take each step and advance along with me. Please feel free to select a leaf you prefer. I understand this can be a challenging decision. Over time, I've learned to trust my instincts. When I encounter a leaf or flower design that appeals to me for a project, I don't overthink it. I simply make the choice. For this lesson selecting the same leaf as me will help you follow along more easily. Use your preferred watercolor paper, but this one in particular is Arches Hot Press. It's probably the brand I enjoy the best, but use whatever you prefer. Now, all bookmarks will be 2.5 by 6 ". And sometimes I use a decald edge ruler to cut my paper, but that's optional. Since we're working on watercolor paper, trace your leaf outlines very lightly. Personally, for tracing the drawings I paint, I prefer using a mechanical pencil for its delicate lines and easy erasing. If you use a regular pencil, please ensure you keep a light touch to avoid smudging. We'll continue following the same steps you've practiced thoroughly during the week. You'll find that the familiar steps flow easier now. Trust your instincts and enjoy the process. Remember today we're here to play. Create a composition of five leaves for your first bookmark. If you feel more comfortable tracing the same composition as me, please use your workbook PDF found in the Projects and Resources tab. It's there for you. I enjoy demonstrating the speed at which I draw in real time. You might perceive my lines as flowing smoothly, but years of practice are behind that. Rest assured, I still make mistakes and you've seen me make some. It's part of the human experience. Learning and growth come from missteps. So you might notice I was applying a bit more pressure than usual, but thankfully a needed eraser can easily fix that. Remember to stretch it after a few uses to maintain its effectiveness. Now we play some more with color. I've often heard the saying you can never have enough watercolors or any kind of art supply. That's been true for me, but I have found the fewer colors I have or art supplies, the more I enjoy the process and the more my skills grow. And I'm not only speaking of the artistic skills, like right now preparing a green color, skills like patience, acceptance and resilience are developed in our art practice. And for sure, our confidence is strengthen every time we show up. For this piece, I've mixed Helio turquoise, lemon yellow, and a touch of burnt sienna to create a light shade of green. Be sure to dilute the mixture to the consistency of milk. Let's dive in. Grab a small brush. I'm using a size one spotter and select a leaf silhouette. Don't overthink it. Just start filling it with your watercolor. For our bookmarks, we're embracing a loose style. So don't worry about a perfectly even color. One helpful tip though, try painting along the direction of the leaves veins. This will be helpful if we accidentally get any hard edges on our leaf surface. The nice thing about this is that it will create a more organic look, so we're all good, especially as we add layers later on. As you paint, you might find you need to replenish your brush with more color. Simply dip it back into water, pick up more paint, and continue layering on your bookmarker. You may notice a color on your leaf will start to shift and change. This is perfectly fine and, in fact, desirable. In nature leaves display a beautiful variety of colors. So don't worry about these slight colour changes. You can clearly see the one I'm painting has different shades of creams. Embrace these subtleties. As we've done in our drawing lessons, go at your own pace, breathe, and enjoy the journey. Continue this process for all your leaves. It's pretty straightforward. And if you think about it, an easy step to focus on. It's one overall color in each leaf. Try painting along the direction of the veins in your reference image. Remember, we drew the veins at quite a steep angle. Paint one side of the leaf first, dipping your brush back and forth in the water to pick up more of your mixed color as needed. Continue until you have painted all your silhouettes and breathe. Once your watercolor is completely dry, reinforce the stem you initially sketched in. You can use any tool you prefer. As you get to know me, you'll see that I enjoy my mechanical pencil plus. I like the look of graphite. Take a moment to breathe and quiet your mind. Now, strengthen the middle veins of your leaves in the same way you did your stem. Enjoy these steps. Let them become a mindful practice. With each stroke, bring your attention to the sensation of your pencil moving across the paper. Notice the sound the tool makes, the texture of the paper beneath your hand, and the way the light falls on your artwork. If your mind wanders, gently guide it back to the present moment. Observe your thoughts without judgment and then return your focus to the task at hand. This mindful approach to these steps can help you relax, center yourself, and appreciate the process of creation. Have your drawing handy to consult as we begin adding the lateral veins. You'll find that the techniques we've practiced this week will naturally guide you. Let's review them together as you see me draw the first leaf side veins. Use your regular soft pencil, start drawing the veins from the center outwards, maintaining a slightly steep angle. Apply pressure for the thicker parts of the veins and lighter pressure for the thinner ones. Don't forget to branch out some of the side veins at their tips. Embrace the confidence that comes with familiar steps. Keep going and keep breathing. If you need to reinforce the middle veins as well and take another breath. Time lapses, though I like them and are visually appealing, can sometimes give the impression that artists create artwork effortlessly and quickly. However, the reality is often quite different. I find watching other artists work in real time to be incredibly inspiring. It's a valuable reminder that the creative process takes time and that each artist has their own unique approach and pace. Watching me complete this leaf will give you a better understanding of the time I invest in each one. I truly enjoy taking my time with each piece, as the process itself is very relaxing for me. Make a little helio turquoise with the leftover green and make sure to water it down. Then loosely add some brush strokes onto the leaf centers for added texture and dimension. Go about it very lightly. We do not want to overpower the work you have just done. For the final touch, blend lemon yellow, hela turquoise, and burnt sienna to achieve a deeper green tone. It's okay if your shade differs. Using your finest brush, I'm using my zero spotter, reinforce the stem. Apply successive strokes to gradually increase the stem's thickness, mirroring the initial pencil work and strengthening the stem. When you're done, take a deep breath and allow yourself to fully appreciate the work you've created. Celebrate your progress. This is just the beginning. See you tomorrow. 12. DAY 9: Playing with Contrasting Color: Before you start your second bookmark, take a couple of deep breaths and remember you are here for the creative process. The intention for all our bookmarks will remain the same. Remind yourself you are allowed to play and invite your inner child to come along with you. We'll use the fourth drawing we created on our fourth day using the copper leaf plant. To explore different color interactions, we'll switch to cold press watercolor paper. This paper's unique texture will add another layer of interest to the colour transitions. You'll see what I mean when we get to the painting phase. Let's review the steps together as we pencil the leaves onto the watercolor paper for this book marker. Begin by lightly sketching in the vertical lines to determine the height and width of each leaf silhouette. Introduce angular lines to capture the leafs shape and direction. Gently soften the contours of your initial lines to create a smoother more organic leaf shape. Carefully erase stray or unwanted pencil marks. And once you're satisfied with the leaf silhouette, lightly reinforce its boundaries. We'll approach all leaves similarly to how we did before. The process will become familiar as you draw, and you can also lightly sketch in guides for your lateral veins. You've practiced these steps before, so trust your instincts as you draw composition of three leaves onto your watercolor paper. Feel free to create your own arrangement or use the composition outline provided in your workbook PDF, found in the Projects and Resources tab. Once again, that guideline is there for you to use. Be first color mix a rich red using purple magenta and burnt sienna. For the second, titanium white with a touch of burnt sienna and helo turquoise. You can barely see the one I premixed. It's underneath the one I'm mixing right now. For both colors, aim for a milky consistency. Before you begin painting, use a kneaded eraser to gently remove any excess graphite from your drawing and remember to stretch your eraser to improve its effectiveness. Now we're working with the drawing we did inspired by the Copper leaf plant. For our painting, we can also use the same photo reference to determine where to apply our deep red water color. Loosely interpret the shapes and patterns of your photo reference, paying close attention to where the color changes dramatically. Then apply the red water color to your painting in the areas that correspond to the darkest shade from your reference. Remember, it's an interpretation. It does not have to be exactly the same. Dance between the red and gray water color using water to soften the edges as desired. This back and forth technique will create a seamless transition between the two shades. But remember, nature itself is full of soft transitions and defined edges, so don't worry about hard edges. They can add depth and dimension to your painting. In fact, if you look closely at your photo reference, you'll likely notice areas of distinct contrast. The lateral veins you've sketched will serve a dual purpose. First, focused painting. By breaking down the leaf into smaller blocks, you can tackle each area more easily. If you encounter a hard edge near these lines, don't worry. The veins will paint later will naturally cover them. And second, directional guidance. These lines will help you establish the direction of your brush stroke, ensuring a more organic look. Let's keep painting one stroke at a time. Transform each brush stroke into a moment of mindfulness. Listen to the soothing sound of the brush rinsing in water. Observe the colors blending and dancing across your leaf. Feel the texture of the paper beneath your hand and the brush is movement. Take deep slow breaths, anchoring yourself in the present moment. Let go of expectations and embrace the joy of creation. Allow your inner child to explore freely without judgment. Focus on the journey, not the destination. Embrace the process of creating rather than striving for perfection. By practicing mindful art, you'll be cultivating patience, resilience, acceptance, presence, and self care. And as a bonus, you'll refine your artistic skills while nurturing your well being. Just as I'm breaking down this leaf into smaller manageable steps, apply this approach and technique to your own art practice. By focusing on one small section at a time, you'll be able to break down larger projects into smaller less daunting tasks. You'll be able to concentrate on one area at a time, improving your attention to detail. You'll also be able to celebrate each small accomplishment, building momentum, confidence, and motivation. Remember the journey of creation is where the growth happens. Enjoy the process one step at a time. And let's not forget about the power of our breath. It's a simple yet profound tool we are all born with that can help us stay centered and inspired. As you create, take a moment to notice the rise and fall of your chest. Feel the air, filling your lungs, and then releasing. It's an easy tool to incorporate into your practice as it's automatic. This simple act of awareness can calm your mind and refresh your creativity. Though I love sharing my process in real time, as you already know, this time lapse offers a glimpse into the final painting stage for the second bookmark. If you need a refresher, feel free to rewind to the painting phase towards the third minute of this lesson. O. I love all stages of the process, but there's something extra satisfying about the final stage. This is where we add in details, and it's where I consider all our hard work comes together. It's a phase where personally I can start feeling a sense of accomplishment, the victory of completing a task. Let's continue our bold approach in our color choices by adding a touch of helio turquoise to your deep red paint. This will create a strong aubergine color that will make your stems and veins stand out. Mix it to a milky consistency as well, and use a fine brush like a zi so or smaller to paint your side veins. You can create them with small, precise strokes or longer flowing lines. Remember to dip your brush in water and pick up more paint to keep the paint flowing smoothly. For larger and thicker sections, build up the thickness gradually with small brush strokes. This repetitive motion can be a meditative experience, allowing you to relax and focus. Complete the stem parts and continue to add more veins in the same manner. Go at your own pace and remember to breathe. Once you add the veins in your dark color, revisit your copper leaf plant drawings. Even in this stage, we can experiment, and I encourage you to incorporate details from your other sketches. Can start practicing by adding the idea of the double line in option C. Use a diluted aubergine mix to add interest and depth to your composition with lighter veins. Embrace every brush stroke, breathe and cherish the time you spend with yourself in your art practice. Also experiment with different shades of the same diluted mixture to create subtle more faint veins. As you add these secondary veins, remember to be open to change. You can adjust the placement as you go, allowing your creativity to flow. Keep going until you feel happy with the look of your leaves. When you're done with your faint veins, introduce a new tool like a white colored pencil to add in what would seem like a white vein. Include some of these in your leaves. Use your white pencil to accentuate some of the lighter areas as well, and start adding the animal like pattern we added in our option C drawing. Add this pattern in clusters, placing them randomly on your leaves, allowing them enough breathing space. Finally, add a few fine pencil lines to your leaves for more detail, using your pressure technique. When you're done, take a moment to admire and feel proud of your progress. You've embraced unique lines and expressive brushstrokes. You've demonstrated resilience and trust in your intuition. Remember this journey is personal, and each time you show up to create, you grow as a beautiful human being and, of course, the brilliant artist that you are. See you tomorrow. 13. DAY 10: Repurposed Paper and Negative Space: Before you start your third bookmark, close your eyes. Just for a few seconds. Take a moment to breathe and relax. Acknowledge your presence in the here and now and in the reason why you are showing up here today to play. I became a fan of repurposing material, especially paper for different reasons. First, I live in a place with limited art supplies, but most importantly, I find that creating on repurpose paper is incredibly calming and rewarding. To me, using recycled paper adds a unique character to the artwork. I believe there's a special connection between the artist and the artwork when you use materials with a history. For this book marker, I encourage you to use recycled paper. For the front, I am using Arch's Cold Press watercolor paper, the one with the flowers to my left and leftover packaging of a Lustrom notebook for the back. Both are cut to 2.5 by 6 ", though the backing runs a tad small because of the torn edges, but that's okay. Even better, as it enhances the handmade quality, it adds a touch of imperfection, which is often the most beautiful part of a handcrafted piece. We'll be using option E from our shaving brush tree, and we start off by, of course, sketching our composition onto paper. Look complexity step by step, similar to how we color the leaves in our second bookmark. This is a simple stem which will eventually become a thin branch of imaginary leaves. Next, start adding leave silhouettes, placing them randomly along the stem. You've practiced drawing leaf shapes, so I'm confident you can add your leaves in one move, move slowly and give it a try. Also try to create your own composition today. But if you feel more comfortable using the same composition, by all means, trace the guidelines provided in your workbook PDF found under the Projects and Resources tab. Take your time and enjoy the process. Whether you choose to create your own composition or trace the guidelines, remember to work at your own pace. Use light pencil strokes, so you can easily erase and adjust your drawing as needed. If you desire to overlap leaves, literally draw on top of other leaves and then erase unnecessary lines as you see me do here. Each bookmark has its own complexity. Today, complexity presentth itself in the composition, and we're done with that. So now that you've lightly sketched your composition, you can start preparing your paints. Feel free to use any color you like either straight from the tube or pen. I'll be using a soft lilac color which I'm creating by mixing a small amount of purple magenta, burnt sienna, with plenty of titanium white, and a hint of helo turquoise. We're going to color the empty spaces in our composition. To do this, we'll divide the negative space into smaller blocks, similar to how we color the leaves in our second book marker. The lines we drew for the stem and leaf edges will serve as our boundaries. Once you complete one section, move on to the next. Take your time and enjoy the process of painting each section. Keep your water color mixed to a milky consistency. This will allow you to create smooth transitions as you dance between your paint and water. Even working with one color using water, more diluted paint gives you a chance to explore the beautiful nuances of this medium. You see the upper left corner. Don't worry about painting outside the lines. I've made a few mistakes myself. We can cover these areas with details later on. You some sections will wrap around your leaves. Work methodically, completing one section at a time. To prevent the paint from drying, work your way around the leaf, dip your brush and water, and then back onto the paper to create lighter shades. Return to the milk you paint to darken the color. This technique will allow for smooth colored transitions. Though you know I like to demonstrate in real time, this time lapse provides a quick overview of the final painting stages. If you like to review the earlier steps, rewind to the third minute of this lesson. This stage, you know I like a lot. And in this particular case, it will be perfect and easier to turn it into a mindful practice, not only through the tectile sensation of the thick paper under your hand or the feeling the dry paint has on the paper, but especially through the sound the pencil makes as we start drawing our details. Be mindful of these sensations to help you come back to the present moment. You can use any drying tool you prefer. I'll be using graphite to add fine lines to the stems, leaf contours, and veins to build up their thicknesses. This will help maintain the soft delicate feel of the composition. As you work on this project, let's break it down into smaller manageable steps. Right now, focus on adding all of your leaf contours. As you continue working, remember to take deep breaths and relax the crip on your drawing tool. Once you complete all leaf silhouettes, add your middle veins and stem in the same manner. Keep breathing and focusing on completing this step now. If your wine wobbles, acknowledge the feeling and either bring your pencil back or use an eraser, there is always a solution. Now it's time to add the lateral veins. While this might seem like a big task, let's break it down into smaller steps. Make each step as easy and rewarding as possible. This will help us stay focused and productive. Concentrate on completing one leaf at a time or even one side of the leaf at a time. Remember to breathe. Remember to listen to the sound your pencil makes against the cold press paper. Bring your memory to the present. As you remember when you drew these veins on day five, they did not have a specific angle. It was a fun, stressless detail, due to its playful nature. Bring that into this phase. As you work on your side veins, remember that you're not just creating something. You're also practicing important skills. You're adapting to different challenges, finding creative solutions, and exercising patience as you focus on one vein at a time. By consistently showing up and following instructions, you're building resilience. I also like to think you're practicing being brave by coming to your art practice and by embracing spontaneity and accepting your lines, you're opening yourself up to endless possibilities. Now using a bigger brush, let's add some subtle shading to your bookmarker. Mix a small amount of burnt sienna and purple magenta and helo turquoise with plenty of water. Apply this light gray wash to the middle section of each leaf, taking your time, enjoying the process, and admiring what you have just created. Outstanding job. See you tomorrow. 14. DAY 11: Playing with Ink and Simple Details: Make mindfulness a part of your art practice. Pause for a moment before you begin, even just a few seconds. Take a deep breath and reflect on why you show up. Speak your intention out loud. It will help you approach your lesson with kindness and focus. Today, I will play. For your fourth bookmark, use smooth watercolor paper. Felt tip pens work best on a smooth surface. I'm using 300 GSM Arches Hot Press paper. Our reference for today is from our fifth day option F. Lightly sketch the silhouette of relief, recalling the steps you took to build its shape, work slowly and carefully using light pencil strokes and erasing unnecessary lines as needed. Make mindfulness a part of your art practice. Pause for a moment before you begin, even just a few seconds. Take a deep breath and reflect on why you show up. Speak your intention out loud. It will help you approach your lesson with kindness and focus. For your fourth bookmark, use smooth watercolor paper. Felt tip pens work best on a smooth surface. I'm using 300 GSM Arches Hot Press paper. Our reference for today is from our fifth day option F. Lightly sketch the silhouette of relief, recalling the steps you took to build its shape, work slowly and carefully using light pencil strokes and erasing unnecessary lines as needed. If you prefer, you can trace the leaf shape from the guidelines in the projects and resources tab. Observe your reference image. Notice the thickness of the leaf's edge. Since we're working on a larger scale, let's use a micron pen size one for the first pass. Take your time, breathe, and I struggled a little with building up the thickness of the leaf. My pen running low on ink, but I like the scratchy texture of the lines it produced. I like for the mechanical pencil. This experience taught me to be adaptable and to embrace unexpected results. However, if I hadn't been satisfied with the look, I would have switched to a new pen. It's important to be honest with yourself. Decide without guilt, and give your choices a chance to see if they work out. I'm using the same worn out pen, and I'm okay with that. If you're using a thin pen like me, build up the thickness of the midrib using short controlled strokes. Go one stroke at a time. Be patient and kind to yourself. And remember to use these rhythmic steps to mindfully breathe. If you folded the bookmark, unfold it now and lightly sketch the leaf stem. If you trace the guidelines, the stem is already there. Use the same technique you used for the mid rib to incorporate the stem. Remember to take your time and focus on each stroke. Breathe and appreciate the process. It's taught in design school to strive for perfection with flawless lines and solid colors. While I value my education and lessons I learned it also made me feel a bit rigid and stressed. Over time, I've learned to embrace and I've realized that perfection is subjective and that true beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and often it's found in the imperfections. After your mid rib, continue with the decorative details of your leaf. Draw the lat. Take a moment to breathe and sent to yourself as you work. As you add the thin parallel veins, notice the gentle shift in the angle of the thicker veins. Mimic this shift in your thinner veins for a smooth flowing effect. Again, focus on one section at a time, one stroke at a time, and breathe with this rhythmic step. But along the way, I changed my mind. I started off by mixing purple magenta, helio turquoise, and burnt sienna. Then I added titanium white. I continued playing with color, adding purple magenta, burnt sienna, and more white until I was happy with a dirty mob shade. Take your time and enjoy every step, even the process of choosing and mixing your colors. Once again, feel free to use colors straight from the tube or pan or mix your own like I did. Just make sure to mix your color to a milky consistency and that you have plenty to cover the area around your drawing. We'll follow a similar process as our second bookmark by painting the background first. Since we have a larger area to cover, we'll use a larger brush. Use small brush strokes to apply the paint, dancing between your water and color, blending them to create different shades. Micron pens are a great choice because they won't play into the water. See you tomorrow. 15. DAY 12: Playing with Two Styles: It's natural to strive for excellence. But remember, progress comes from consistent practice. Let's keep our intention of playfulness in mind, freeing ourselves from judgment, opening space for kindness towards our inner children, and embracing mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. For your final bookmark, we'll use recycled paper again. I'll use another section of the previously painted piece of Arches cold press watercolor paper for the front and a piece of a craft bag for the back. To glue them together, I'm using Much podge mat, and we will trim the excess paper once it dries. Be patient and let the bookmarks dry completely, preferably overnight under heavy objects to prevent warping. Let's keep embracing playfulness and experiment with different combinations. Mix and match the veins and leaf shape from option D Day two, with the details from option F, day seven, to create something new. Take your time and enjoy the process of drawing your leaf silhouette. Trust your instincts. The steps you followed will come back as you start to draw. You can free hand your shape or trace the guidelines from your workbook PDF sometimes we come across a detail or color combination in nature that captures our attention. We'll use as inspiration the unique colors found on the backside of the monkey plant leads for our last bookmark. The colors you mix do not need to be exact. Our photo serves as inspiration only. So from my small set, I chose purple magenta, naples yellow, and a hint of helourquoise for the darkest shade. Then purple magenta, naples yellow, and titanium white for the lighter shade. Now for this bookmark, use more watery consistency for your paint. I'm using my smallest brush because I know I'd like some texture to come out. This small brush pushes me to work slower and with less paint. While this might not create hard edges, it results in interesting little blooms of color. Use a lighter shade to paint the entire leaf, work within the blocks defined by your lateral veins. Stop painting at the end of each block if you need to take a break. Any hard edges will be hidden when we add the veins later. While painting this section, I noticed something unusual on the paper surface. The paint was resisting absorption. I really don't know what happened, but I decided to embrace not only the unexpected, but also the things that are beyond my control. This experience reminds me that in life, there are many things I cannot control. I can only focus on my own actions and allow the rest to unfold naturally. Feel free to gently shift the color at any point. Introduce a subtle touch of magenta, for example. Breathe, work at your own pace, and use enough water to soften any colour transitions. Adding a hint of helo turquoise will create a nice muddy shade. Trust your instinct and choose a color shift that feels right to you. Before we keep working on our leaf, to give it more time to dry, place your stem with your lighter water color. Build your stem with small precise brush strokes, adding water as you go to create a smooth flow. The next logical step is to add a darker shade. In option F, we use the erasing graphite to create lighter shades and emphasize the darker ones later. Similarly, we can use watercolor to achieve this. Since we don't have predefined guidelines for the darker areas, let's use our lighter color to create them. By blocking in the lighter color around the main veins, we slightly darken the area and establish clear boundaries for where to apply the darker color. I encountered some resistance again here, which is okay. It reminds me of the beautiful nuances found in nature and life. So I decided to let go and continue. Use your light colour to reinforce your stem. This is a pretty straightforward step. So take your time, enjoy the process of filling in each block with your darker shade. Remember to blend with water to keep your brush strokes flowing and color shifts blooming. Loosen your grip on the brush and breathe deeply. And once more, I encountered resistance here. This time is more obvious due to the shade being darker. This is still okay with me, so I carry on. Continue painting your dark sections, using water to create different shades of purple until it's complete. Now with an even darker purple, using your smallest brush, paint in your mid rib and lateral veins. Breathe as you desire, whether to place them using small strokes or large ones. It's up to you with what you feel more comfortable with. Include a fine line with the same deep purple on your stem to finish up your leaf. Now mix a faint gray using purple magenta, helo turquoise, Benciena and a lot of water. Place in a little shading on the side of your leaf. Move in little sections, adding your paint, rinsing your brush, and blending your gray into the paper for a smooth colour transition. Apply the same colour and technique to some of the sections of your stem as well. Okay. Finally for added dimension, grab your pencil and reinforce a small section of the shadow, the one right next to the edge of your leaf. This is optional, but let's have fun. Let's play. The back of our fifth bookmark has craft paper backing. This can be decorated. To keep it simple, we'll use the same drawing and details, but with a new tool, I had to experiment with three different white gel pens. They can be unpredictable and their performance varies depending on the surface we're using them on. This final exercise is a good one because we can practice drawing a leaf freehand. The advantage of this new leaf version is that since we'll be filling in some of the sections, any wobbles can be easily covered up later on. Proceed in the same manner you drew your leaf originally and map out the colored change around the veins afterwards. Keep breathing, focusing on the step you're in, either tracing your leaf silhouette or drawing your veins. Whichever phase you're in stay in the moment. When you're done mapping out the colored change between the lateral veins, color in these sections. One more time, invite your inner child. Personally, I needed to let go of the texture I was achieving with the colored sections. In the end, I was pleased with the appearance and happy to have created a reversible move mark. And just like that, we're done. You've gone beyond cultivating patience and resilience to overcome challenges and the kindness to extend compassion to yourself. Be proud of what you have accomplished. Be proud of yourself. 16. Conclusion: Congratulations on completing your class. Now take a moment to reflect on your journey. From the initial sketches to the finished bookmarks, acknowledge the effort, the patience, and the creativity you have invested in each step. Feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in the beautiful work you've created and how far you've come. Before we wrap up, I'd like to share a few final thoughts. These lessons have been a journey of discovery, not just in art, but in ourselves. We've explored new techniques and found inspiration in the beauty of nature. Along the way, we've also cultivated valuable life skills, embracing the unexpected, cultivating patience, building resilience, and practicing self compassion. This journey is about more than creating art. It's about self discovery. Embrace the process, celebrate your successes, and never stop exploring the boundless possibilities of your imagination. I truly believe these skills can empower you to navigate life's complexities with more ease and joy. Remember consistent practice, mindful observation, and taking action are essential for nurturing your creativity. As you continue to explore and experiment, you'll begin to see the world with fresh eyes. I know my own perspective has broadened significantly over time. Allow your creativity to flow freely, open your heart to your intuition and trust in yourself. Your inner guidance will lead you to unexpected and rewarding discoveries. The most crucial advice I can offer is to pace yourself, to be kind to yourself and stay present. Find joy in the process of creating and savoring each line and each mark you make. Engage in your senses, they anchor you to the present moment and help you quiet those distracting thoughts. When my inner critic gets too loud, I pause, I breathe, I acknowledge her presence, and I invite her to observe me as I continue. Overcoming those uncomfortable feelings can be one of the most challenging things to do. But I've consistently found that pushing through those moments lead to unexpected moments of growth and self discovery. Now, the sketches you have created during the first week and those you continue to add here library are more than just exercises. They serve as a testament to your artistic growth and are a valuable resource for future projects. These sketches can spark new ideas and even become the foundation for more complex work. Take a chance and upload your work at the end of the day to the Project Gallery. Experience the thrill of seeing other students' reactions. You might even inspire someone else in their artistic journey. And please use the discussion tab for any questions you might have. I'll do my best to answer them. Now consider following me here on Skillshare and on my social media so it can meet up again in the future. Thanks so much for the time you have invested in yourself. May this experience inspire you to continue on your artistic journey? See you in our next class.