Finding flow.

Sketchbook painting with mixed media January 18th 2026

Dear friends,

I’ve been working on some loosening up exercises in my sketchbook. Working small, is easy enough - use a largish brush and the appearance of loose, intuitive mark making is achieved in three or four good strokes. On a larger surface, however - unless the brushes move up quite a notch - the flow is not so easily achieved. The state of mind and body is important in achieving a good flow state. If I notice that I’m holding my breath or my shoulders are tense, then the painting is going to reflect that somehow. I find music playing influences the work also. Selecting a good playlist that lifts my mood, or is not too distracting but uplifting and joyful helps me relax in the studio. This studio space is still in the process of development.

The Velux window in the studio allows light to fall onto the wall and I can step back far enough to judge the progress of the work. The room is too small for a studio easel, so that is still packed away. I’m hoping to get to grips with this way of working - but yesterday - I ended up working on the floor In the first picture oilbars were drawn directly onto the surface and I used my fingers to smudge and draw the hyacinth blossoms (before they were fully opened). The middle picture shows how it looked when I had applied spirts and added more oil paint, the picture shows a drawing from my sketchbook and a small painting of the hyacinths.

This week, I’m working on freeing up my style with gouache paint and pastels in my sketchbook - using colour expressively and adding layers of marks with soft pastel and charcoal under drawings. I do enjoy painting with gouache colours. The freedom of painting in a sketchbook, means I will have more reference material for my next paintings.

There are going to be quite a few bad paintings before the good ones come. That’s something I need to remember and not beat myself up about.

With thanks for your love and support,

Joanne x