Welcome to Better With Art! I'm Melinda and I'm here to encourage you to reclaim your creativity and practice creative selfcare with weekly smallart prompts that can be done in an art journal or on paper if you don't have one. Link below for my favorite if you’re looking for one. It works well with the dry, wet, and layered applications I use it for.

We’re not using our art journals this week, but painting papers to be used next week. Near the beginning I share a colormixing tip I learned not too long ago on YouTube from an artist whose name I can't remember. I tried to track down the video but failed to do so. If I come back across it, I'll share.

More simply watching my process in this video than I intended. So if you like watching someone just create, the second half of this video is for you. My goal became to leave not places where the white paper showed through.

I will say that this paperpainting session was amazingly therapeutic. I need a reset like this from time to time. Probably more often than I have the time. I didn't realize how much more relaxed my body was when I finished, or how much less joint discomfort I was in until my right shoulder gave one of it's grindy twinges when I was picking up a big clump of grassy weeds I'd just pulled out of the ground.

Take time for art, Friend. It's not a waste of time.

If you'd like to extend the week's theme with journaling prompts and other creative selfcare inspiration, click below to sign up for Better With Art emails.
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As promised, here are the 52Week Art Journal Journey cutpaper prompts mentioned in this week’s video:
   • Week 16: Our Patchwork Lives  
   • Week 23: A Page from Eric Carle’s Books  

And here's my top valueforthemoney recommendation if you'd like an art journal to get started with my simple form of art journaling:
https://amzn.to/3oThdR4
I use it in my prompt videos, and for the art journaling groups at the library where I work. I LOVE the paper. If searching for something different remember the paper needs to be heavyweight and preferably hotpress because although I love the texture of coldpress it's really hard on markers and pens. This one is 140lb/300gsm.

Other materials:
I typically get my Liquitex Basics from Blick Art Materials, as they typically cost less there https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=266832...

There is usually a minimum order for free shipping, so here’s the link to the Liquitex Amazon store:
https://amzn.to/3yd8nls

Various paintbrushes. Use what you have and what works for you.
Here’s the big one from the video, my FAVORITE, mostly for laying down large areas of color, Simply Simmons XL number 50 from Blick Art Materials
https://shareasale.com/mpr.cfm?merch...

Plastic palette knife
Silicone pastry brush

I didn’t get out much texture stuff. I was just having fun playing with the colors.

If you use any of my Amazon links and make a qualifying purchase, I will make a small commission as an Amazon associate. This does not affect your price, but gives me a few cents toward supporting my sharing my healthy art habit with others. So, thanks if you! The same is true of my Blick links as a Blick affiliate.

HERE'S PART 2!
   • Express yourself with Collage... beca...  

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