I have mentioned before the benefits of using a sketchbook or journal on a regular basis. I have several sketchbook/journals on the go, ranging from a watercolour book, one dedicated to en plein air, messy background journal and one for courses I do.
Each one has a unique voice and job within my creating zone, each one is special and exquisite with all the flaws.

I was gifted by my hubby a beautiful A4 journal last year and that has been my journal for doing grid creations.   I have a template I use with the option of four large grids or six smaller grids.  In this journal I experiment with colour, shapes, stamps, stencils, materials, mediums, designs and more.  Using the grid, I generally work on all of them at the same time.  Adding colour, subtracting colour, creating marks, removing marks and challenging myself to be brave and crazy.

These grids give me a library of experimentation with no expectation.  There are things in there I truly love and other parts I don’t.  Each grid or series of grids have a purpose, they are a reference library for future works.  I can look back for inspiration, I can see what worked and what didn’t work.  I can look at several grids and from those come up with an artwork I would like to produce. 

Grid work is also a great way to get the creative flow working if it just isn’t happening.  Because the grids are small, I can work on a few with only a ten or fifteen minute time frame.  This gives me the chance to be creative every day without having to allocate hours.

The sketchbooks and journals are precious to me and many don’t see the light of day, they are my safe place to experiment, have fun and practise.  They are similar to a diary with your innermost thoughts.  On occasions, I share a book with my class to show them how beneficial they are and what I use them for.  

The photo above is a sample from one of my sketchbooks/journal.

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When I run classes at any of the programs I run, including at my studio "Art in the Garden Room", I always recommend to sign the artwork and date it on the back. 
I wish I had done this when I started back painting. Fortunately, modern technology means I can work out dates based on the photos on my phone.

I love to look back and see the progression in my artwork, how my brushstrokes have changed, my colour palette and style changes. My art has always been inspired by nature, the style and colour palette has changed over time, yet my artwork continues to be inspired by nature.  Over time, I realised, I  prefer to paint impressionistic and abstract work, using mixed media. 
 
When we look back at our artwork it can trigger ideas, identify what we love, what we prefer to leave behind and monitor our development. Looking back can move you forward to exciting new ideas, spark joy in following your own artistic journey and create a sense of accomplishment.  This is why, I highly recommend having a sketchbook for practice as well as a safe private place for experimentation. 

Do you sign and date your work? Do you like looking at an artist's earlier work?
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Featured Artwork: Spring Meadow
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I often wonder is it important to have your art fit into a style or a label. My work flits between expressionism and impressionism and sometimes slides into abstract. 
Expressionism art uses vivid colour to convey the emotional response to the subject where impressionism art captures the essence of the scene relying on the use of light.  Abstract however, is non-representational and left to the interpretation of the artist and the viewer.  I do enjoy abstract; however, I keep finding my way back to vibrant florals.
For this reason, I call myself a mixed media artist, as I use multiple media in my work and I can't really put a style or label to it. 
Should we label our style or should we be able to create to our passion as opposed to a label.  There are differing opinions in the art world as to the benefits or attributes of labelling an artist to a genre or movement. 
For me, I don't want to limit myself as I continue to experiment, play and develop my artistic skills.

What is your favourite stye, genre or art movement?