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I'll give this a try. I'm new to painting and sometimes feel overwhelmed trying to recreate everything I see online. It got so stressful the past weeks that I didn't want to go into my studio space (which I used to love). I realised I kept procrastinating out of fear. Now I have decided to go back to basics, and instead of trying to recreate more advanced art, I will do more simple exercises and see where they lead me :) Any other tips would be very appreciated!

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Hi Tugba - thank you for sharing your thoughts. I understand that feeling of being overwhelmed by the abundance of art online, and it can be quite stifling. You're certainly not alone in experiencing this. Admiring all the art can bring about pressure regarding what we should be painting or how our artwork should look. When this happens to me, I take it as a sign that I need to take a break from consuming and reconnect with my own style and what I enjoy creating. Does that make sense?

Depending on what inspires you, I like to go outside and either draw or paint from nature in an abstract way. This approach allows me to break free from the constraints of specific expectations and focus more on exploration and self-expression. I would recommend giving this a try for a couple of days before embarking on a new painting.

I would also explore the art prompts 1 & 2 from here, they can be useful in quieting your thoughts and promoting a sense of calm. Let me know if you have more questions and how it goes!!

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Thank you so much for all the valuable tips :) I'll definitely give it a try

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Oh happy days — thank you for sharing! I'd love to experiment with watercolor, thinking I'll give this a go in the new year. And I really love the idea of doing a doodle each day, or at the end of a hike. Are you living in the UK now? I'm here (living in Sheffield) from the states, and just love exploring the island. It's got so many hidden gems!

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Hi Courtney, I hope you give it a go with the watercolours and maybe you might even end up mixing it up with journaling. A doodle at the end of a hike sounds so nourishing, as long its not too cold though! I'm actually based in the Netherlands, but also love the idea of exploring islands! Thanks for your lovely comment.

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Marvelous photos--plenty of inspiration for paintings to come! 💥

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It’s a gorgeous place! And you are right, I have so much inspiration for some fresh painting ideas. Thank you!

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Sep 30, 2023Liked by Susan Jimenez

West AND North West Scotland.

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The best parts of Scotland 💙

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Sep 24, 2023Liked by Susan Jimenez

I’m so happy you enjoyed our great wee country! It looks like you managed to get through quite a few places & locations.

All the best with settling back in.

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It's so beautiful and green! We covered a lot of kilometers, that's for sure, but we still have so much to discover and see again. Where are you from?

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