start

What is holding you back from creativity?

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Often the hardest part of anything is starting. So many things can hold you back – fear, uncertainty, a lack of confidence. It’s important to take stock of those things so they don’t slow you down. So you can move forward.

Since I was young I loved art, but like many people, I got away from it. But the desire to be creative stuck with me, even if it was dormant for a long time. It wasn’t until I had a career and family before the desire became stronger than the things holding me back.

Before I started my creative exploration journey, I took stock of all the things holding me back. One worry I had was about other people judging me and anything I might create. I realized creating wasn’t about how others viewed my abilities and “talent.” Creating was about me, and how it made me feel. There would always be people who didn’t like what I made. This shift in thinking freed me up to move forward.

I’ve never looked back and never regretted committing time and energy to creativity. It fills me up and brings me so much joy!

Are you ready to get started? The first step in my book “Creative Exploration” is Creative Reflection. Uncover what I’d holding YOU back so you can start YOUR creative journey. Start now by clicking here!

Creative Exploration | How to be creative How to start an art practice
Start your creative journey today!

What is holding you back from creativity? Start an art practice Explore creativity

Easy Starfish Watercolor Art Lesson for Beginners PDF Tutorial

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Easy Starfish Watercolor Painting for Beginners | Learn Watercolor Techniques
The “Easy Starfish Watercolor Painting for Beginners Step by Step Printable PDF Project Instructions” is a fun project to help you learn watercolor. This two page pdf contains:

  • Supply list
  • Step by step instructions with color photos
  • Techniques
    • Taping your paper
    • Wet on Wet painting
    • Bleed and blend background
    • Different ways to apply paint
    • Building up the layers
    • How to soften hard edges
  • Bonus starfish template for tracing

Visit my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/EileenMcKennaArt to download the Easy Starfish Watercolor project pdf.

New to watercolor? The perfect companion to the Easy Watercolor Starfish Project is the “What you need to know to get started with watercolor” pdf. It’s the perfect introduction to watercolor. And you can download it for FREE by signing up for my newsletter. Sign up for the “My Creative Collection” Newsletter by clicking here!
The newsletter is a curated collection of all the things inspiring me and comes out every two weeks. Just in time for your Saturday morning coffee, you’ll get to read about other artists, different art mediums, places, all things creative! The newsletter contains links to books I’ve read, shows I’m loving, tutorials, interesting videos, and more! Sign up now for a free download off “What you need to know to get started with watercolor.”

Beginner Watercolor Painting Instructional PDF "What you need to know to get started with Watercolor" Beginner Printable Introduction

What you need to know to get started with watercolor

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Would you like to: Be creative on a regular basis and experience the joy that creativity brings? Explore mediums and subjects, in search of your thing?
Learn about my new ebook Creative Exploration: A Six Week Process for Introducing Regular Creativity into your Life by clicking here.

Creative Exploration book -

Watercolor is such a fun medium to work in. I love it! I’ve created a two page pdf to give you the basics.
It’s “What you need to know to get started with watercolor” and contains:

  • What supplies you’ll need
  • How to set up
  • How to use watercolor:
    • Shading
    • Wet vs. Dry
    • Painting Layers
  • Simple exercises to get you started

It’s the perfect introduction to watercolor. You can download it for FREE by signing up for my newsletter. The newsletter is a curated collection of all the things inspiring me and comes out every two weeks. Just in time for your Saturday morning coffee, you’ll get to read about other artists, different art mediums, places, all things creative! The newsletter contains links to books I’ve read, shows I’m loving, tutorials, interesting videos, and more! Sign up now for a free download off “What you need to know to get started with watercolor.”

Sign up for the “My Creative Collection” Newsletter by clicking here!

Beginner Watercolor Painting Instructional PDF "What you need to know to get started with Watercolor" Beginner Printable Introduction

Beginner Watercolor Painting Instructional PDF "What you need to know to get started with Watercolor" Beginner Printable Introduction

Want to be Creative? Start here.

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Want to be creative? Start here! creative inspiration | how to be creative
Want to be creative but don’t know how/where to start? Try these 3 steps!

  1. Open your eyes to inspiration – “stop and smell the roses.” Take off your blinders and notice things – The flowers on your walk, the fruit in the fridge, everyday objects. Ever look at how interesting the shape of scissors is? Take photos. Make a list of things to sketch.
  2. Start simply with paper and pencil. Sketch the things that catch your eye. Sketch everyday or every other day, even if it is for just 5 minutes. Form a creative habit.
  3. Practice makes progress. Sketch your subject not once but several times, studying the object as you draw. With each sketch you’ll learn more, and notice more. And as your sketch gets better – you’ll be motivated to continue your new creative practice.

A piece of printer paper and a pencil will suffice, but if you want to invest in your creativity purchase a sketchbook, a set of pencils, and an eraser. See my recommendations below:

Sketchbooks – don’t buy anything that you’ll feel is too nice, too “precious” – that you’ll be worried about ruining. You should feel free to practice and play in your sketchbook. I started with a Strathmore Sketch Pad. If you like book form try this Strathmore in 9″ x 12″, or 5.5″ x 8.5″.

Pencils – drawing pencil sets come with B pencils and H pencils. B pencils are softer, H are harder. A 6B is softer than a 2B. H pencils are great for fine lines, while Bs are great for shading. I use Derwent pencils.

Eraser – kneaded erasers are the best. They remove the pencil from the paper (without leaving a pink smudge). I use this eraser.

Spend time in this creative phase – weeks, months, it’s up to you. When you are ready to “kick” it up a notch read this.

 

Want a dose of creative inspiration? Sign up for my newsletter “My Creative Collection” by clicking here. Learn more here.

Click here to view my collection of watercolor and acrylic seascapes.

This post contains affiliate links to products/brands I use and recommend. I earn a small commission whenever you buy using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!