Simple habits can spark gentle shifts.

It begins with a warm-up challenge. Want to create together, and paint flowers?

Hi! Welcome to Happy Surprise. This month I’m trying something new and sending you two weekly posts, focusing on the flower challenge 🌺

P.S. I have included a poll (at the end of this short piece) asking if you’re interested in joining me on a shorter challenge later this month.

Last weekend shot of beautiful architecture around Wimereux, France.

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Dear creative, artist 🌸

In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to experiment this month by sharing two weekly posts, sharing about a personal new challenge: 31 days of flowers.

You see, I love art challenges and they have changed my life.

I once joined a 30-day challenge with a group of people inside a Facebook group with no expectations other than my curiosity to pick up a drawing.

It was the best decision I ever made because it helped me unleash my inner artist — after a 10-year hiatus of not making art.

Plus, it also kickstarted my love for daily art practice.

So, it's time for a new art challenge, and it's only natural to explore flowers again—after all, I adore them.

Below I have included a poll, asking if you’re interested in joining me on a shorter challenge later this month.

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New daily habits

Apart from the art challenge, I have started journaling in the mornings again. I was doing this at the start of the year and I reached till Day-50 till, till I left to down under.

Journaling in the mornings can make a big impact on your life, and I can’t recommend it enough, but that is a story for another time.

The other habit is to go outside for a walk first thing in the morning — just as I was doing this back in Australia with no worries. Sounds so simple, yet I need a little gentle push to get me out of the door when it’s not always shining.

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A gentle start

So rather than being over-ambitious and adding pressure from the start of a challenge. Which I have done in the past several times and only ended up stressing out and being disappointed with myself.

I have decided to begin small and work with a small sketchbook.

That includes a minimal amount of art supplies, such as a small selection of gouache colours, markers, and pencils—they must be accessible and easy to pick up if needed in a new space.

The idea is to focus on picking up the daily sketchbook habit, rather than having the perfect art supplies.

The first week is all about finding my rhythm and spending between 10-20 minutes on warm-up sketches.

Instead of scrolling on Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration — go outside if you can.

Here’s where I intertwine my morning walking challenge with spotting a flower, blossoming as a source of new Inspiration.

It’s also a perfect season for a flower challenge, wouldn’t you agree?

If needed, I have a couple of botanical books nearby, ready for those rainy days.

You can truly simplify any new habit or challenge, making it both fun and manageable, while drawing inspiration along the way.

Remember to take it one step at a time until you discover your rhythm. Embrace the journey, finding joy in each moment of the process, for therein lies true inspiration—not solely in the outcome.

In case you're still wondering, let me affirm: anyone can learn to draw or paint with some curiosity and practice.

Okay, don't forget to share your input in the poll below.

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DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

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Interested in joining me for some floral fun challenge?

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Why 100-Days of Art Projects

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7 Days In so far, and learning to embrace the bumps

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