Lately I feel like I don’t have enough time to paint. But I try to paint every day. So I have to make it easy for myself to get creative. Sometimes I’ll doodle or sketch with a pen or marker in my sketchbook. Other times, drawing just doesn’t cut it. My soul just craves to get messy and paint.

Here are 4 Ways to Paint in 15 Minutes:

Create An Ink Painting – I love using waterproof black india ink or caligraphy ink to paint characters on loose paper or in a sketchbook. Paper that’s at least 93lb works best. Sometimes I’ll create a few characters on one page or add a little scene around the character (a beach or some trees and a moon). This is especially fun to do with a bamboo caligraphy brush, but any thin brush works too. The ink easily gives me imperfect lines that add depth and emotion to my characters.

Create A Water-soluble Pencil Painting – While I enjoy sitting and doodling with a pen or marker, drawing with a water-soluble pencil in a sketchbook, then using water and a thin brush to bleed out the lines makes me feel like I’m painting. I like to create these characters in layers – do an initial pencil drawing, add water to my lines, then go back in and redefine parts (like the eyes that will sometimes get too smudged) or add extra details to hair or wings.

Add Color – I keep a little watercolor set out all of the time (with a small jam jar filled with water). Then I color in my ink or pencil paintings to give my characters bursts of color (some pink or red on the cheeks, some blue or brown at the edge of the body for shading). It’s also fun to add color with crayons, water-soluble oil pastels or pencils (add more water, then more details), or soft pastels (to which you can also add water for more of a watercolor look).

Add Layers – I’ll often rip out my favorite characters from these ink or pencil paintings (even if I added a background) and glue them onto another surface (usually paper, wood or canvas). Then I layer my favorite supplies – like acrylic inks, acrylic paint, papers, oil paintsticks and more water-soluble pencil – and create a scene around my character so everything fits together (adding characters from my coloring books is an easy way to do this too).

If I don’t have time to finish a piece, I’ll create an ink or pencil painting, then come back and add my color. Then come back again and add my character to another surface and make everything fit together with layers.

For me, it’s all about having these easy ways to get creative, even when I don’t feel like I’ve time. Then I feel so much more free (and paint every day).

I hope that helps to keep you inspired!

xo Juliette

Ps. Click HERE to join me for a Free Painting Workshop and learn my favorite painting techniques and supplies.

Pps. Early registration ends soon for my online class Whimsical Animals – by the end of class, you’ll know how to paint any animal, so you can easily get started and have the techniques to develop your own style. Click HERE to learn more about Whimsical Animals.