Do you sometimes feel like your art takes a back seat to everyday life? Do you feel like you will never get enough time to do the creative things you love?

A 30 day leaf challenge is a great way to learn plants and paint at the same time getting you outside for a walk!
I recently had the wonderful experience of participating in INKTOBER for the 31 days in October 2019. It was fun to post on Instagram and Facebook. Making the commitment was really good as it forced me to step up! I looked forward to seeing what some of my friends and fellow artists were posting. This is not the first time I have participated in a challenge. In 2011 I was caring for my mom who was terminally ill. This was a tough time as I was her sole caregiver and she depended on me for everything. It was physically and emotionally draining and left very little time for myself or my art. I began to feel as if I would “loose” the desire and the skill and fall into an abyss of an uncreative life. During that time I presented myself with small “do-able” challenge. I did a 30 day/30 leaf project. It was great. I went out everyday and found a different leaf to draw and paint. Sometimes it meant I was picking up a leaf off the asphalt in the parking lot on the way to a doctor’s appointment. Each day I would spend at least 20-30 minutes with a leaf and do a small watercolor painting. The paintings were no bigger than a 5 x 7 piece of paper. This helped to create a discipline and keep my observation and technical skills from atrophy. After the 30 days were over I felt like I had accomplished something and I did. I was taking care of myself and my artist’s soul. Here are some suggestions that can get you jumpstarted to create more art!

Create a leaf journal of your local plants or ones from your garden. It can easily be done with just a pencil!
Create an ART CHALLENGE!
It can be daily, weekly, weekends, monthly etc…but plan it out, map it out and DO IT!
Find a subject you love that has simple components and work with a theme:
- Leaves- I have a sketchbook devoted just to plants in my garden.
- Veggies- A trip to the supermarket can bring a whole new twist on grocery shopping!
- Go for a walk each day and find a small treasure found in nature, bring it home and draw it.
- Create a book of color recipes. Take your paints or colored pencils and create swatches with notes. This is a great way to learn how colors interact with one another.
- Travel Journals- I have a wonderful sketchbook from my travels in Costa Rica that keep my inspired and gives me lots of projects to work on the year round.

Here is a page from my travels in Costa Rica. Encountering these exotic plants, birds, frogs and animals is so inspiring. I am able to create art fro the entire year after I come home from my travels!
Speaking of travel! If you need a jumpstart and would like to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature why not go on an ARTISTIC ADVENTURE. Journey to the Heart of Creativity in the Costa Rica Rainforest! This could just be the thing you need to get those creative juices flowing. It is wonderful to brainstorm and share with passionate like-minded nature loving artists. The cutoff date for registration is fast approaching on November 15. We only have a few spaces left and we would love to have you join us! Got questions? Email Mindy at: Mlighthipe@mac.com
I love that you posted this. I remembered when you did this in 2011 (I have been a fan that long) and I decided to try it myself this year. I gave myself the challenge and called it “Leaftober.” I painted a leaf every day in my sketchbook and finally put an entry about it on my blog on October 31. It was a fun project and forced me to slow down and draw each day. I looked at leaves as they turned color and actually found myself looking for odd-shaped leaves with mixed colors. I am thinking of my November project now. Maybe I’ll try vegetables or butterflies or something else. Your blog was an inspiration as your work always is. Hope life is good. Thinking of you.
Warm thoughts,
Trudy Smoke
http://drawingonthenaturalworld.blogspot.com
Terrific Trudy! Leaftober is a great catchy spin on Inktober. I felt the same way……looking for odd shaped leaves and multi colors. I did a challenge of insects also and it was fun. Thanks for leaving a comment and I am off to read your blog! Let me know what you come up with! Cheers, Mindy
Thank you. You have inspired me!
Terrific Mique! I am glad that I have inspired you to put pencil and paint to paper! Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. Let me know how it goes! Happy drawing and painting!
Mindy
Good post. I certainly appreciate this website.
Continue the good work!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. It is most appreciated! If you have a specific question or topic please feel free to let me know. I am always looking for content and subjects my readers will be interested in.