Decorative Bow Basket

Where do you store the beautiful bows & ribbons received from your holiday gifts?  I like to store mine in a decorative basket.  The basket not only serves as storage but as a decorative element.  Find your favorite basket to store your decorative ribbon.

Holiday Colors

Happy Holidays.  I've posted a few ideas for fun holiday color combinations.  What are your favorite colors for the holidays?

• Red & Green
• Red & Silver
• Silver & Gold
• Blue & White
• Green & White

Cloud Shapes

Many of us often look up at the clouds and see objects of different forms.  I took this picture during a sunset.  What do you see in these clouds?

Vision of Blue

What's the first thing that comes to your mind for the color blue? A blue sky, a blue ocean, blue jeans...?  Draw, sketch, or create a graphic outline for the object.  Color the object with your favorite shade of blue.

Creative Sound

How does the rhythm of sound inspire you?  Whether it's music, birds singing, or a waterfall, listen carefully.  Creative sound can also inspire you for new ideas and stories.

Product Stories

Stories behind a product give the product more value.  The process, behind the scenes, and the people who make the product play a role in the story.  Today I have featured the herbal tea leaves from Sense Asia.  They harvest their natural tea from the farms of Vietnam. Each package of tea comes individually packaged with a story.  It's the life of the local farmers of Vietnam who give the world an opportunity to share their experience of tea.

Background Colors

The background color of an art can change the mood of the artwork.  Draw a tree on three different colored sheets of paper.  Each color will give a different feeling for the artwork. Even though the tree will be the same, the background color will change the effect of the art.

Capture Your Spirit

What captures your spirit?  Music, art, dance, theater, or poetry?  Create a scrapbook with inspirations that capture your creative spirit.

Favorite Animal Photos

Animals are wonderful photography subjects.  I took this photograph of my dog Simba.  He loves to take photos.  Take photos of your favorite animals.  The photos can be used to draw animal sketches.

Your Color Scheme

Do you have a favorite color scheme?  Here are a few color scheme ideas for your next art project: Earth tones, Forest green, Pastels, Warm tones, & Tropical colors.  

Road Trip Art

Keep a journal or a sketchbook while you travel this summer.  Make notes of your trip, sketch your favorite summer memories, & explore new art concepts during your journey. 

Fruit Shapes

Fruits can be drawn using basic shapes.  Pick your favorite fruit.  Set it on a table.  Sketch the shape of the fruit first.  Fill in the details & color.  Frame & hang your art in the kitchen.

Favorite Coffee Mug

Do you have a favorite coffee mug?  I often use coffee mugs to hold my markers & colored pencils.  I like to purchase mugs that are designed.  This gives an added burst of color to my art room.  

Summer Camping Art

Are you planning a summer camping trip?  Pack your sketching supplies.  Get inspired by the natural world.  Sketch trees, animals, waterside, or any of your favorite subjects during your camping.

Cartoon Ink Animals

Here's a lesson I created for drawing cartoon animals.  Draw these cartoons using black ink. Use your favorite colors to bring these cartoons to life.

Art Book

Did you know that you can turn a scrapbook into an art book?  Take the paper out of the plastic sleeve.  Draw your favorite subject.  Then place the paper back into the sleeve.  You can create an instant portfolio of your work by using a scrapbook.

Vibrant Colors

Vibrant colors create a strong visual impact.  Peacock feathers & a field of wildflowers are a couple of ideas.  Take photographs of subjects with vibrant colors to inspire you.

Ink Sketches

Black ink can be used to create quick sketches.  Try black or colored ink for your next sketch.

Inspiration Board

We are all inspired by some type of art form.  It can be music, poetry, art, creative writing, etc.  Create your inspiration board using a chalk, magnetic, or cork board.  Put your inspirations on the board then share with others.

Gray Color

The gray color may not appear as vibrant.  However, you can brighten up gray by adding vibrant colors.  Add lime green, orange, or red with gray to create a unique color combination.  Or add blue to create the colors of an ocean.   

Spring Colors

What spring colors inspire you?  I'm inspired by the colorful spring flowers.

Two Colors

Pick your two favorite colors.  Blend the two colors together to create a unique color.  Use chalk, crayons, or paint.

Simple Flower Vase

A simple flower vase can be drawn with the letter "V".  Draw a large "V".  Draw the stems of the flowers from inside the letter "V".  Then draw your favorite flowers.  Try drawing a double vase with the letter "W".

Valentine Heart

Print this heart.  Write a special message to deliver on Valentine's Day.

Freehand Rose

Graphic software can be used to freehand artwork.  I created this rose by freehand using a graphics software.  It will take some time to use the mouse to sketch.  However, create the art slowly until you get enough practice.

Red Ribbons

What can you do with the red ribbons that were used on your holiday gifts?  They can be reused on gift packages for Valentine's Day.  Tie white & red ribbons together for a creative gift wrap.

Creative You

Happy 2015!  As we begin the new year, pick a word that describes your creative spirit.  Use that word to inspire you on all art projects you create for 2015.