2015 Projects – Everyday Brave – Intro and Week 1

During the summer, I finally signed up for classes at SketchBook Skool after pondering them for way too long. The first class I signed up for was “seeing.” It had some of my very favorite sketchers like Danny (who is in all the classes, of course) and Brenda Swenson and Cathy Johnson and Andrea Joseph. Once all the people I loved were on the list, I just couldn’t not sign up.

And I am so glad I did.

The class was amazing. It inspired me to do the 75 Day Sketch Challenge and after that was over, I decided I wanted to keep sketching every single day. Even if it was something small. And since I really missed the color during the 75 days, I decided to sketch something small and color it with watercolors every morning.

And that was the birth of the Everyday Brave project.

I got a Watercolor Moleskine and played around for a few pages, and then I started what looks like the page you see above. Each week I plan to share a spread with some small sketches and some daily journaling. In the beginning, my journaling was about thoughts, daily musings, etc. But I’ve decided to use this project to keep track of my brave acts daily to remind myself to be braver and to be aware of when I am being brave. So even though the first few spreads will be random, the journaling starting in the new year will be about daily brave acts.

Here’s the left side of this page. It has a poppy bagel with tea and in the bottom middle is my ipad which I was using to listen to some audiobooks.

And the right side of my page which has the other half of the ipad on the bottom and a Starbucks latte on the right.

And there we are. Here’s to a year of little and big brave acts and a year full of sketches!

Today I Know – Week 32

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I used pastels and pen on this page. I like how lovely it is.

prompt says: today i know that i am still learning how to

I wrote about learning to love and accept myself.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 20

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I am still obsessed with figure sketching and I loved this one.

I drew this girl in pencil then drew again with 0.005 micron and used the watercolors to for all the red/pink. The background is yellow watercolors. I am not such a fan of the feet and the legs were so hard but alas, I am learning.

prompt says: today i know that i want to focus more on

I wrote about healing, finding my path.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 19

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I am obsessed with figure sketching lately and I loved this one.

I drew this girl in pencil then drew again with 0.005 micron and finally i drew over both with my Stabilo All and used the watercolors to pull the color all over. The background is blue watercolors.

prompt says: today i know it is ok to change my mind about

I wrote about what I like to do.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 18

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I loved loved loved this little image.

I drew this page and then colored it using watercolor pencils. I colored the whole background with Neocolor II crayons.

prompt says: today i know that i spent way too much time

I wrote about carrying the weight of my past and feeling broken.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 17

This week’s inspiration comes from Alisa Burke. I love her art, but alas, I really dislike how this page turned out. It doesn’t look anything like how I had hoped.

I drew this page and then colored it using watercolor pencils. I think the background was yellow gelato. I was just so unhappy with it at that point that I just wanted to be done.

prompt says: today i know that i really believe in

I wrote about serving/volunteering and about self-motivation.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 16

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I love how bright it is.

I drew this page and then colored it using Montana paint markers. I then used some watercolor pencils too. And finally the Stabilo All black pencil which is quickly becoming my favorite.

prompt says: today i know that i am trying to believe in

I wrote about believe in a good future and that things will work out.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 15

This week’s inspiration comes from this pin. I have no idea why I thought I could tackle this amazing piece of art.

I drew this page and then colored it using Montana paint markers. For the first time, I didn’t draw with pencils first, I just drew right with the marker and hoped for the best. I then added a bit more layers with watercolor pencils. For the background, I originally did purple and hated it so very much that I decided to gesso and paint over it. I don’t like how matte the paint is but i still like it better than the purple.

prompt says: today i know that i am not willing to give up

I wrote about working at home and about taking time to myself.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 10

This week was one of those where I just didn’t feel inspired by anything and after spinning and spinning, I settled on an oldie but goodie by Abigail Halpin who is just amazing. I drew my little girl, colored it with some crayons and pencils and called it done.

Some weeks are just like that.

prompt says: today i know that i want to change my mind about

I wrote about how i want to change how i see myself.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 9

This page is inspired by these lovely owls. This page uses some gelatos, some watercolor pencils, and some neocolor watersoluble crayons.

prompt says: today i know it feels good when i…

i just wrote down all the things that make me feel good like nathatniel’s baby smell and holding david’s hand, etc.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 8

I saw this pin last year and I’ve been holding on to it for a long time. This week, I decided I had to try it. So here’s my result.

I used the Neocolor II water soluble crayons to color this page.

prompt says: today I know that i love to talk with

i just wrote about all the people I love to talk to in my life and how wonderful it feels.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.

Today I Know – Week 6

This page didn’t turn out how i wished but I still like it. It was inspired by this lovely piece of art. I still need to work on my doodling and making smooth lines. It just doesn’t come naturally to me. When I watch others do it with so much east, I am always awed.

I think I used the neocolors on this page too. watersoluble crayons and then some gelatos and pencils on the background.

the prompt says: today i know what it feels like to envy

I wrote a lot about how grateful I feel and putting everything in perspective.


Today I Know is a project for 2014. You can read more about it here.