Keep a Visual Journal

A visual journal is just another way of expressing yourself. You can write and draw, doodle, paint, sketch or fill it with shapes and lines. Anything goes. Many painters keep a sketchbook next to them at all times. It helps them develop their ideas just like many writers have a little notebook (or their phones) where they jot down their inspirations, ideas, and more.

Have you seen people at coffee shops and restaurants writing away on their phones or in a notebook? I never thought much of it until a person told me that she goes to coffee shops, restaurants and train station to listen to people’s conversations. She told me that it’s how she researches for her books. She is attentive to the tone for voice, the pace of the conversation, body language, and sometimes even the subject.

I don’t know why that was such a surprise to me because I have seen so many artists sketching people at coffee shops. I guess that listening to people’s conversations seems like snooping and sketching – well, drawing a person is not intrusive- but it sort of is!

The truth is that when you use other people’s lives in any way, it is intrusive (being blunt about all this). I just never gave it much thought.

I just went on a tangent—back to a visual journal. When my teacher told me to do a visual journal, I froze. I had never done one before. I used loose sheets of paper to do sketches for a final drawing and threw them away when I finished my final artwork.

There are days that I do quick doodles to draw my walk. Other days I draw rectangles on my book and sketch the activities of the day with watercolor pencils. I love watercolor pencils. One day I had absolutely no motivation, so I painted a large red circle in the middle of the paper. I have used that circle in a few photos.

You can do so many things on your visual journal: Collages, write, add photos and more!

On the first day:

• Quick doodles, a few lines, and other shapes, maybe paint them with watercolor pencils.

On the second day:

• Take your time drawing something and add quick sketches.

On the third day:

• Draw with a watercolor pencil.

• Color it in.

• Use a wet brush to soften the pigment.

When it dries, use a pen to outline a few things.

How to Make your Over 50’s More Exciting

Doodle to Quiet Your Mind by Marguerite

Watercolor by Marguerite

Watercolor and Pens by Marguerite