Committing to a leaf a day

August 19, 2021
Here’s an idea—particularly if you’re having difficulty finding time to draw and paint—committing to a leaf a day. I’m suggesting a daily regime of sketching at least one leaf a day.

While normal daily commitments can rob us of time to paint, it’s not difficult to find a few minutes to sketch a leaf. You can do it early in the morning before things become hectic. The middle of the day during a lunch break is another option. And If you’re not too exhausted in the evenings when calm returns, that can be a good time too.

If your climate ensures an abundance of leaves year round, you’ll have no trouble committing to a leaf a day. But even those of us in snowy climates have access to leaves in the depths of winter. Indoor plants are a possibility. Even outside you’re likely to find dead leaves still clinging to mostly bare trees. Then there are those hiding on the ground in spots not covered by snow.

And aside from developing your drawing skills, there’s the therapeutic aspect of blocking out everything else and focusing only on your sketch, even if it’s just for a short while each day.

In botanical art, like everything else, practice is is the key to improvement. You will find me urging continual practice in every one of my e-booklets.