One week of intentional practice with new tools and materials can change a lot. This past week I spent 1 hour a day really learning my new paper, brushes, and water ratios instead of rushing to make finished work. Just slowing down and experimenting, researching, and playing~ seeing how much water the paper can actually hold, how pigment disperses, when ink blooms beautifully versus when it muddies, how different brushes carry and release paint. This kind of practice is IMPORTANT~! We NEED this to further ourselves. We can't expect to get better on a whim and some sheer luck. A week of focused experimentation builds familiarity. Familiarity builds confidence. Confidence builds fluency. Suddenly your hand hesitates less because you understand your materials instead of fighting them. I think a lot of artists feel pressure to constantly produce finished pieces, but growth happens in the quieter moments more often than not~ the testing, the failed marks, the weird little experiments, the “what happens if I try this?” sessions. Practice is not wasted time. Learning your tools is part of the art itself. What would it look like for you if you spent even 20 minutes a day learning your tools, materials, process, or craft a little more~? (Here are my 6 days... I somehow didn't take a pic of some of the things I added~ last one was from tonight where I started playing with ideas for how this can be applied to designs and patterns~ slightly blame @Jen Ritchie for that 🤣🫶🏻)

What’s currently on your desk, easel, sketchbook, screen, workbench, or mind this week~? Big projects, tiny experiments, messy middle stages, color tests, half-finished ideas, planning notes, scribbles on sticky notes… it all counts. Creative work rarely appears fully formed~ most of the magic happens in the layers between beginning and completion. This is your reminder that progress does not need to look polished to matter. 🌿 Share your works in progress below~ We’d love to see what you’re building, exploring, learning, or even struggling through this week. Sometimes seeing another artist’s “in-between” stage helps someone else keep going too.

What’s in progress this week? Not everything we make is meant to be finished in one sitting~ and honestly, most of the good stuff isn’t. This is your space to share what you’re currently building, whether it's: sketches, rough drafts, half-finished pieces, messy middles, all of it. A few gentle reminders if you need them: • What are you working on right now? • What part feels clear vs. uncertain? • Where are you in your process~ start, middle, or refinement? Remember~ WIP isn’t “not done.” It’s in motion~ Drop your work below (or just tell us about it) 👇 Let’s see what’s unfolding with everyone this week.

This week’s word: Luminous Light doesn’t always have to be bright to be powerful. Sometimes it’s soft. Sometimes it flickers. Sometimes it’s barely there~ but still enough to guide the way. What does luminous mean in your work right now? Is it: – A glow breaking through darkness – Reflected light on water, glass, or skin – Something internal~ quiet, steady, enduring – Neon, bioluminescence, or something otherworldly – A moment, a memory, a presence that lingers You don’t have to paint/ draw/ write~ the light literally. You can suggest it. Contrast it. Hide it. Let it feel just out of reach. Let this one be about atmosphere, not perfection. Create something that explores luminous in your own way~ visual, written, abstract, or conceptual. Play with contrast, edges, and where light chooses to exist (or not). Drop your work below~ we’d love to see how your light shows up this week ✨

New faces and friends~! If you’ve recently joined us, welcome. We’re really glad you’re here! This community is a place for artists, makers, and creative thinkers who want to keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep growing their creative practice over time. Whether you work in drawing, painting, mixed media, writing, design, or something entirely your own~ there’s space for you here. Creativity isn’t something we rush. It’s something we develop~ through curiosity, practice, and sharing the journey with others. If you're new, we’d love to get to know you~! ✨ Introduce yourself below: • Where you're joining us from • What kind of creative work you enjoy or explore • What you're currently learning or working on Feel free to share photos of your work too~ we love seeing what everyone is creating. Welcome again~! We're excited you're here~! 🌱 ~Hansheng The Art Collective International