Floral Muse: Creative Take Aways From My Floral Series
I love working in themes that help me connect with the rhythm of the seasons—it keeps my creativity feeling fresh and grounded.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working through a floral series in my art journals and documenting the process on my YouTube Channel. It has been full of little surprises, creative pivots, and lessons in letting go. Here’s a look at what I created and what I learned along the way.
Color First: Gelli Prints with Intention
I started with color—solid gelli prints inspired by specific floral arrangements. Each print was pulled on paper that included the color name and its meaning, which added this quiet layer of symbolism I really loved. It wasn’t about accuracy or detail yet—just the emotional feel of color and how it shows up in blooms.
Marker Sketches: Fast, Loose, and a Little Uncomfortable
I experimented with quick floral sketches in marker. To be honest, I didn’t love them—but I appreciated the fact that I couldn’t erase. There’s freedom in committing to a line, even when it’s imperfect. These ended up being surprisingly helpful as reference points for other mediums, like pencil and paint.
Exploring Ink: Fountain Pens, Sticks, and Brushes
Next came ink sketches. I used everything from fountain pens to sticks and paintbrushes to explore different kinds of lines. Visually, I really liked the result of the fountain pen, the fine detail, the elegance, but I didn’t love the feel of it while drawing. It reminded me that sometimes the outcome isn’t worth the discomfort. I’d much rather enjoy the process, even if it means the lines are messier. In spots where things didn’t work or where the page felt off, I started adding collage, small scraps and paper fragments. I loved the results. It turned what felt like a misstep into something layered and interesting. It’s another reminder that play and imperfection often lead to the best surprises.
A Colored Pencil Surprise
One of the most unexpected joys of this series was sketching with colored pencils. I used my ink and marker sketches as reference and was surprised by how much I loved both the process and the final results. Colored pencils aren’t a go-to for me. Normally, I use them just for adding small marks to mixed media pieces, but this experience might change that.
Painting Freely: Letting Color Lead
When I moved into paint, everything felt more fluid. All the sketching and color studies I did beforehand gave me the freedom to be abstract, loose, and playful. I wasn’t trying to get it “right”. I was just responding to what was in front of me. It felt alive with energy, and that’s the kind of painting I love.
Every Medium Has Its Own Voice
What kept coming up through this series was how each material has its own language, its own attitude, really. I found myself letting go of control and just letting the medium lead. Some pieces turned out better than others, of course, but even the ones I didn’t love had something to teach me.
A Journal Format I’ll Keep Coming Back To
I also played with format during this series. I made my own accordion-fold and one-page no-sew journals, and they were a perfect fit for quick studies and short bursts of creative time. I’ll definitely be using these again. That said, I also really enjoyed dipping back into one of my older journals for a few sketches. It was like reconnecting with a past version of myself.
Final Thoughts
This floral series reminded me that the process is the work. Every mark, every page, even the ones I didn’t love, had something to offer. Sometimes I was following a color, sometimes a shape, sometimes just a feeling. And more often than not, I found what I didn’t expect.
If you’re feeling stuck or looking for a new place to start, flowers are a generous muse. They invite observation, experimentation, and a whole lot of play.
You can watch the full series here.