Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people. -Leo Burnett

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In case you missed my special birthday SALE last weekend, I’ve extended it through tonight (Friday, December 19, 11:59PM CST). Use code DECEMBER for 10% Off online classes, original paintings and large prints (even when you sign up for class with the 3 Month Payment Option).

Visit my shop here.

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Here’s a peek at the December Bonus Project for my Serendipity 2 – A New Year In Mixed Media online class.

Lately I have really been loving to keep some paintings really simple. I stick to just a few supplies and instead of painting on canvas, I create on cardboard or old book pages.

Sometimes there’s such a mystique about painting on canvas.

To work around that creative block, I start on something I don’t care so much about to loosen up like ripped cardboard or a canvas I’ve already mucked up by using it to clean my brushes or as my paint palette.

This way my painting feels less precious, allowing me to stay free and in the moment, unafraid of making a mistake.

For the December Bonus Project in my Serendipity 2 – A New Year In Mixed Media online class, I kept these guidelines in mind and created a primitive portrait in a large-print book that I’d picked up for free at a garage sale.

I especially love painting in old books as if they were sketchbooks because there is already something there, waiting on the paper. I don’t need to make the first mark.

Painting on something I’ve picked up for free also takes the hesitation and precious-ness out of the mark-making. Since book pages are usually thin and not the greatest for mixed media, I like to glue on cutouts and torn sections from other book pages for my first layer. This adds thickness to the paper and, again, takes away the initial fear of making a mistake.

For this Serendipity 2 class painting, I layered on book pages and handmade papers, then added acrylic inks, water-soluble oil pastels, acrylics, pencil and watercolors.

I like to create paintings like this rather quickly, so I don’t think too much about what I’m painting. I often do a series of paintings in this free style before moving on to a painting on canvas.

What sort of things do you do to get over your own creative blocks? I’d be delighted to know and will look for your suggestions in the comments.

Happy holidays!

xo,

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Ps. If you’ve been wanting to paint more freely, we really get over creative blocks in my Bliss and Serendipity 1 and 2 classes.

Watch video previews for all of my classes here.