Sharone Stevens - Watercolor for the Soul: Simple painting projects for beginners, to calm, soothe and inspire

SIMPLE PAINTING PROJECTS FOR BEGINNERS, TO CALM, SOOTHE, AND INSPIRE

Painting with watercolor is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind, and to find peace in the rush of everyday life. With its uniquely transparent colors and soft, unpredictable blends, it is a beautiful, enchanting medium that has the potential to nourish our minds and souls as we paint, connecting us to the abundance of beauty and inspiration in the world around us. It has the ability to transform something ordinary, an everyday object, into something captivating on the paper.

This book was born out of my desire to share my love of watercolor with you; to encourage and inspire you to have a regular, creative practice that provides a way to relax and feel joy. I am passionate about showing you how watercolor can be a wonderfully beneficial, mindful activity that can be accessible while also being satisfying and rewarding. It does not need to be complicated. Even painting simple lines and shapes, concentrating on each brush stroke, can be incredibly therapeutic and calming.

I have always enjoyed being creative and have explored many different hobbies over the years. There is something special about creating by hand, no matter what it is and no matter how small or simple it may be. It allows us to concentrate our focus as we watch something develop before our eyes, something personal and unique made from our own hands.

These days, it is so common to bombard ourselves with noise and distractions from our phones, social media, news, and the internet. It is all constantly vying for our attention. I believe we are all naturally creative as humans but, as we grow up, responsibilities, noise, and stress from the world around us can stifle that creativity. Watercolor, for me, is a way to switch off and break away from that noise. To be more mindful as I concentrate on simple brush strokes or watch the water carry the paint across the page. It also gives us the opportunity to interpret the world around us in our own unique way, telling a story through a painting and expressing our emotions on the page.

In this book, we start with the foundations to set you up in the best possible way to understand and enjoy watercolorfrom mindset tips, to basic techniques, exercises, and color theory. Later in the book you will find a variety of projects that I have broken down into simple steps for you. Some of the projects are quick and easy, perfect for when you have just a small amount of time or just want something simple and relaxing to paint. Then there are some longer, more detailed projects that you can lose yourself in and stretch your skills with. I have chosen projects that I believe will not only be achievable as you learn, but that will also feel relaxing to paint, from patterns and textures, to food, animals, landscapes, and botanicals. Whether it be from the subject itself, the colors, the type of brush strokes you use, or the repetition involved, I hope you will find the projects relaxing too. These topics are some of the things that inspire me the most and my goal is that they will encourage you to open your eyes more to the abundance of inspiration that surrounds you in your everyday world as well.

Whether youre new to watercolor or more experienced, I hope this book will be a valuable part of your watercolor journeyhelping you to build a wonderful, relaxing hobby and encouraging you to make it a regular and meaningful part of your life.

Happy painting!

To truly relax with watercolor, or with any creative hobby, we must first become more aware of ourselves, our thoughts, and our surroundings. The following tips are things that have helped me to approach my art in the most relaxing way possible. I hope you will find them helpful too.

Focusing on our breathing is one of the quickest and easiest ways to calm ourselves. The more stressed we feel, the faster we tend to breathe. So intentionally slowing our breathing tells our brain that everything is okay and that we are in a place of calm. It can have a surprisingly immediate effect on how we feel. When I first sit down to paint, I spend a couple of minutes just focusing on my breathing, and I encourage you to do the same. Take a deep breath in for a count of four, hold for four, and then breathe out for four. Repeat this a few times. Throughout your painting session, make sure you keep coming back to your breathing, checking that youre not holding your breath as you paint. Become aware of any tension in your body and make sure to relax your shoulders. You may wish to add a little note to your desk to remind yourself of this every time you sit down to paint!

Our brain is constantly responding to the world around us. The more we have to process, the harder it can be to relax and be mindful while we paint. I like to clear any physical clutter from my desk before I start painting, keeping out only those supplies that I will need. If my mind is feeling busy, I also find it useful to grab a pen and paper and write down all of my thoughts or my to-do list. You can then put them to one side, knowing that they are in a safe place and you can forget about them for a while and focus onyour painting.

When I first sit down to paint, I spend a couple of minutes just focusing onmy breathing.

Beyond your desk, surround yourself with things you love and that inspire you. Make your painting area a motivating and comfortable place to be. This may mean having your favorite artwork on the wall or treasured books nearby. For me, I love having flowers and greenery around my home and near my desk, from small cacti to larger plant pots and dried flowers in a vase. If possible, position your desk next to a window for lots of natural light as well. This will make your desk feel even more expansive and joyful.

I like to remove as many distractions as possible when Im painting. This may include turning the television off or moving my phone out of reach. Try to disconnect from the noise around you and instead connect fully with your painting and how you feel. Youll be amazed at how much mental energy is taken up by constantly being distracteda notification popping up on your phone or hearing the news in the background. Removing these things will help you to make the most of watercolor as a mindful activity.