Building a Sustainable Creative Practice

Earlier this week, I joined Maria Coryell-Martin, Founder of Art Toolkit, for a live demo focused on creative habits, mindset, and the practical systems that support a sustainable art practice.

The subject was “Tips for Everyday Art,” and we shared about our favorite tips for building a daily art habit that lasts. I discussed how Author James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, and the Four Laws of Behavior Change have helped me maintain a daily creative practice for more than four years, including:

• Reducing friction
• Habit stacking
• Portable everyday carry kits
• Habit tracking (without perfectionism)
• and making art approachable even on low-energy days

One theme that came up repeatedly was the idea that creativity becomes more sustainable when we remove pressure around outcomes. Sometimes a sketch is detailed and observational, but other times (many other times, in my case), it’s just a quick session spent making watercolor swashes and loose doodles just to stay connected to the process.

We also discussed how sketching changes the way we observe and remember experiences—whether that’s nature journaling, urban sketching, travel, or simply documenting ordinary moments from daily life.

If you’re interested in sketching, nature journaling, watercolor, or building a more consistent creative habit, I think you’ll enjoy the full conversation.

 I had so much fun visiting with Maria and am so thankful to the Art Toolkit team and community for the opportunity to share about subjects so near to my heart.

I hope you have a chance to tune in and watch the replay!