You get excited about an idea, but it literally feels like it would take an act of nature to actually sit down and start. I am dipping into the world of watercolor and I have an idea for a painting but I can't just seem to start. Maybe getting started is the hardest part? Please tell me its not just me. lol

We all go through phases ~ sometimes it’s the perfect brush, sometimes a pen, sometimes a piece of software, or even a random household item that sneaks its way into the process. Right now, mine is my Clever Fox Planner (but it's such an important tool for me to keep everything in order when chaos is a wrong date or plan away). What’s the tool you’ve been reaching for the most lately? Drop it below 👇 and let’s see what everyone’s obsessed with right now!

For me, it was watercolor. When I was younger, I honestly hated it ~ I didn’t fully grasp the concept (or have the patience for it). It always felt out of control and messy, and muddy. It wasn’t until well into my professional career, when I was forced to use Japanese Poster Paint (which is essentially gouache), that things finally clicked. That experience gave me a new perspective, and I fell in love with watercolor’s versatility and depth. Now it’s one of the mediums I can’t imagine working without. 👉 How about you? Was there a medium you struggled with at first but grew to love later on?

THE ELEMENTS OF ART 1. Line practice 2. Geometric shape study 3. Organic shape study 4. Form 5. Value 6. Texture (paper towel, paint brush hairs, leaf skeleton, crackled candle jar, brick) 7. Color wheel/monochromatic/complimentary 8. Space circle study/hallway study Over the course of this lesson I was able to do a lot of experimentation and fluidity, but also more strict studies. I enjoyed the breakdown throughout and got to use my origami paper for my shape study, use graphite for form, value, and texture as well as space. I also got to use my watercolors to create my color wheel! This lesson allowed me to experiment with tons of different mediums which reminded me how much I love mixed media! There are so many options to create with so never be afraid to open your horizons 🖼️ I found the texture portion to be the most difficult looking at something with such detail while I found the form study to come with ease. No matter how long you’ve been creating there’s always lessons to grow from 🌈

Hey everyone, This week we’ve been busy behind the scenes working on adding more courses to the platform and creating fresh filming + images to go along with our current ones. 🎥✨ It’s all about making the learning experience more engaging and easier to follow, whether you’re just starting out or refining your practice. Current Courses: 14 52+12 Weeks of Prompts! Purchasable Courses: 2 Unlockable Experiences: 2 We’re also excited to share that STAEDTLER has sent over images for our Our Recommended course! 🖊️ Having brand-approved visuals helps us give you even clearer guidance on tools and materials we personally stand by and use. 🎬 And~ if you haven’t already~ check out our YouTube channel for some behind-the-scenes and work-in-progress (WIP) videos. It’s a fun way to peek into the process and see how things come together outside the courses. Lots of good things in the works~ we can’t wait to roll it all out. In the meantime, keep creating, keep sharing, and don’t forget~ your posts and reflections inspire the whole community. 💜 – The ACI Team