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I love this! It is about curiosity, exploration, learning, growing, practicing and observing (both your environment and your interpretations). When I nature journal, I add notes about observations, and it helps me shift my mindset from making "precious" art, to documenting learnings. This is the same concept, only the "nature" you are observing is that of your own mind! I'm going to give this a try, thanks for the inspiration!

Your work on the techniques is great. When I was in art school we did that work everyday, I had no idea how much that would benefit me down the road!

thanks for sharing! it’s very inspiring

That's a very good idea!

The seriousness and sense of commitment in the first sketchbooks have just made you a hero in my book. God bless you. (Having finished the video) I agree with you, and thank you for this amazing moment of insight share. You somehow remind me of the first verses which Gabriel brought to the Prophet (peace be upon both of them) in the cave: "Read! And your Lord is Most Generous. Who taught by the pen, Taught humanity that which they never knew" (Al Alaq (the Clot) 3-5)

Thank you for sharing your experience, I’ll try to do the same. Also I don’t know whether you have reading habit but I’d like to say that try reading good books according to genre you are interested in , it might help to improve your mood and I wish you are happy and do what you love:)

You're super talented man 👍

I wonder, why sketchbooks should have finished paintings. We should not think about "FINISHING" a sketchbook or "finishing" a site in it. A sketchbook in the hand of ppl creating and expressing themselfes is not a product. I have so many sketchbooks, cause the bags I use have different sizes and so I need different sizes of sketchbooks. All have really messy drawings and sketches in them. There i collect my ideas, i practice, i put down wonky faces and weird anatomic figures and sometimes I glue in little sketches I made on paper, when i have not had my sketchbook with me. I mix media and blobbs of colour and ink might spoil a page... but i might see some figures in them and turn them into something. I am not documenting my art. I am just sketching, scribbling, playing. That is, what sketchbooks are made for. My most loved Sketchbook of all those unfinished sketchbooks is a4, and it is far more heavy now then when i bought it (because of all the collectables :D). A4 size might be intimidating.. not being able to fill a full page - another thing, youtube and instagram suggest artist should be able to do. But it is not. Choose a size you feel confident about. little sketches and thumbnails might guide your process better, than big sketches. I learned an amazing thing: there are ppl, that are good with shading and hues. Some are good with colour, some are good with drawing. Your art is like you: it consists of many many many aspects. There is sooo much to learn and this process will automatically fill pages and pages. :D Putting down notes is always a great idea. Oh and dont forget to come back to your old sketches to flip the pages, and maybe one of the wonky faces might inspire the creation of a funny sticker or a comic character. You never know. Your younger artist self can be a great inspiration. Dont underestimate yourself or your beginnings. Learning art skills is a neverending jouney and it should be a fun one.

Oh this is actually brilliant!! I have seen sketchbooks from artists in art galleries and they do the same....they experiment, they play and they make notes. Lots of thumbnails and doing it with different mediums and compositions. THAT to me is what a sketchbook is all about. It helps you hone in on what you want in the finished piece; it helps the creative process and the creative practice and keeps it interesting. I am one that doesn't tend to experiment and play. I need to. I've never used my sketchbooks for that and then I end up not wanting to ruin the sketchbook. So so wrong!!! These sketchbooks are not for perfection. That isn't how you grow and evolve as an artist.

Recover well my friend. You are number one.

Just a thought... 🤔 At 3:36 you are showing sort of the before and after. The work you did that led to the finished piece of art. Perhaps a split screen thumbnail - Before and after - left side, right side - equal sign in the middle... I don't know... something like that. Sort of to get the point across. (Obviously I'm just procrastinating...) 😉

That’s a nice hoodie. Really nice. I wish 9 had quality clothes and a vacation to Turkey. Cool sketchbook ideas. I thought I was the only one that just liked the feeling of doing the painting and the learning. I really don’t care if I ever make an art to hang on the wall. Or sell.

I've recently discovered the same thing!! Thanks for the video and sharing your journey!

Given that time is limited, it will be interesting to hear when you reach the point where Draw A Box starts teaching things that are not necessary for watercolour painters.

Awesome job! Love Mandalorian and Baby Yoda... Looks like you had fun 😉. Thanks for showing all of the other drawings as well. Yes... contest!!! Yes... share!!! Lol

I love that you paint so much from plein air. I think it forces you to capture light and mood so much more. Your paintings always seem to have a fleeting aspect to them… capturing a moment and then it is gone. Magic! Lately I have been experimenting with doing a tonal under painting using Derwent Inktense. It seems to have a similar feel to watercolour, but does not mix on the page with the colour I paint on top. (I am just doing little paintings so I can repeat them on different backgrounds to compare - I haven’t reached any decisions as yet.)

Thank you. This painting makes me very happy. I like the way you capture such life in a tiny painting. I am also enjoying your Turkish holiday. It is the middle of winter here! (Many years ago I had the good fortune to visit Turkey and you are bringing back many warm memories.)

Hi. Thank you for the video. I hope you're doing better.

I think artist to put out these videos are sharing different ways to do things. The way that they are doing it or the things that they have tried nobody on here should assume that it’s the one and only way to do something you’re taking the time to share your art, and your processes and your learning, so don’t put so much pressure on yourself trying to blame yourself for how someone interprets your information. There is always going to be some negative Nelly on here and you have to try to overlook them please and thank you.

your a very good artist...thank you for sharing

Nice 🤩

I use sketchbooks for inspirational ideas. I use to think that a bonded cover was for showcase drawings and it prevented me from just drawing garbage and it was intimidating to draw for fear of making a mistake. But if you use a sketchbook for just trying new things and exploring your tools it replaces the pressure with enjoyment. You can glue pages in it for texture changes. It becomes a training tool. You’ll discover the art inside you thru playful exercises of exploring

Wonderful way to start the weekend. Nice, soothing voice and watching you enjoy yourself. 😊 You gave me that. Congrats on Miko! He's adorable! Take lots of pictures... He will only look like this for a little while. Your picture, beautiful colorful houses in the moody view. I love rainy, gray days. 💕

Enjoying your video. So many videos about how to paint step by step. But you just talk about things that must of us. "Regular people artist to be" think and fell.Thanks We have some one that express our thoughts!

Very inspiring👍

15 minutes? I am so slow that when I sketch in airport, my "sitters" fly away 😅

Howard Jones is my favorite watercolor channel;)

i think that sometimes we hyper focus on technique , and materials .. we start to lose the pure joy of creating something , just for the sake of creating .. sometimes i think we hyper focus on technical stuff because we are actually scared to just let go and give it a try , go for it , regardless of outcome .. we have image in our minds of some perfect image we want to create , and we freeze , because of the self inflicted fear of not being up to it , not being able to attain it ... just some things i've been thinking about as i watch artists on their journeys .. norakag

congrats on hitting 5,000!! it must be because of the plant and warm lights 😁😁😁 so happy to see your channel growing !! Norakag

I am fairly old and had a similar journey behind me like you, i think you are already "over-trained", an artist depends only on one thing: the subject, thats were the art happens, many people simply chose boring themes or "ideas" that don't really mean something to themselves. You need to deep dive into yourself and find out which subjects really matter to YOU. Working as an artist like an "employee" or to satisfy a specific target group or market is a big motivational difference from the artist who only expresses himself. What message do you wish to communicate to yourself? And what message do you want to convey to the world and why? You will be surprised by how the outcomes change and the right mediums and methods fall into place, carrying enough impact to deliver the "message" -- if you are truly know what matter to you. I understand that some artists aspire to be professionals and "allrounders" who can produce anything on demand and on spot -- these are a specific type of individuals, I refer to them as "art athletes" who dominate the industry and are often exceptionally trained in addition to having raw talent. But are you one of those people who wants to serve another "realm" or do you want to become one? I believe that every artist has a story to tell - something personal. That is the best art you can create.

Great video Antonio! I am in a similar place, I can do some things, but want to progress even more. I've been looking at online art programs and realized I need more structure and critique. I'll give Draw-a-box a try too. I like that they focus on representing 3D objects.

Great video. Here's my takeaway. Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to just draw or paint with what we know and what we have. I often have to remind myself that I'll will likely never get as good as the last thing I learned taught me I might be able to achieve maybe one day in the future. Memento Mori. Everything I've learned so far in art always moves the goalposts further way. The more I learn the less I realize I know. Ok, maybe we should just go and paint as often as possible. Well, that's what I was thinking while you were talking. Cheers!

So inspirational! Thank you!

Thank you for the mention dude - your channel is great 🙏

It’s all in the process!!

We need more of this guy!!

I started learning watercolor a year ago with no art experience. I never could've imagined I'd want to learn to draw. But I was getting frustrated with needing to trace simple things like birds and fish that I wanted to paint. Learning to draw has been a bit of an unexpected detour to me. I've been drawing faces in a sketchbook and really enjoying it. I love knowing that my drawing will enhance how I paint, no matter what. I've been using the amazing free resource called Art Prof, and cannot say enough good things about their content and resources.

You are so right on my friend 😊

Thank you for making this video!

This is a great step in your art journey. You are definitely going ahead as an artist because of this new practice.

Surprised to not see Liron Yanconsky anywhere in the comments

Thank you for sharing this! It’s very helpful for someone like me who is just starting my artistic journey with drawing & watercolors in my late 50’s…

Thank you, Antonio-this video was freeing🙏

Hi Antonio. I have just discovered your channel as I practice art as a form of self help. I then came across this video. I just wanted to tell you a couple of things that I have found useful when going through difficult periods. Firstly replace the word "failure" with "falling forward". Everything in life is a learning experience even though it can be very difficult and like a painting that may not work out, we are literally adding to our portfolio of skills through it. Also your lack of joy is a common symptom of depression and it's called anhedonia. I'm no expert but I have looked into it a lot and thankfully it's usually temporary. I sometimes find it helpful to know that i am not alone when I find out there is a word for an aspect of my illness. Sending you light and healing thoughts.

Thank you for your thoughts on your sketchbook practice. I have been afraid of using my sketchbook because, being a beginner, I felt I wanted my sketchbook filled with 'perfection' so to speak. And of course I'm learning more and more to be playful and less rigid so I can truly find my niche and style.

Better and better!

Ooh this is a nice scene!❤