Watercolour Salt Experiment: Mixed Results

| Patricia

“Passion is the salt of life…” ~ Françoise Sagan, author.

A small experimental piece to try out materials, techniques and colour combinations.

In this approximately 6” x 6” watercolour, I dabbed some beads of Daniel Smith tube colours (Yellow Light, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet, Quinacridone Rose, French Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue) midway down the sheet. Next, I floated clear water up to the paint, tipping the board to flow the colour into the corners of the space. When still wet, I sprinkled some table salt in a couple spots. Some lovely cloud-type and crystalline shapes formed. Though the salt did not disperse as much in later stages. Perhaps the paint was too dry by that time. Also, the salt didn’t rub off very well after dry. I expect it will work better with thinner washes.

Lessons learned include: a) work faster before the paint dries too much to easily flow; b) use a coarser salt and apply it where there is more water on the sheet; and c) put paint on in thinner or smaller daubs to start.

What are your ‘go-to’ subjects, materials, colours when you just want to doodle?

Art created 3/19/2026.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

A Small Coloured Pencil Sunlit Ocean Landscape Sketch

| Patricia

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The torrential rains pelted down from lowering moisture-laden clouds. The sun-burnt grasses, that lay flat on the long-parched hills, lifted their faces to the welcome relief from the drought.” ~ Patricia White. Written March 13, 2026.

A small sketch from my bedside stash of art materials. Whenever I pick up a pencil or brush with no preconceived idea of what to draw, it often turns out to be a sea/sky-scape. I love using complementary colour combinations for the dynamics they set up on the canvas.

What are your ‘go-to’ subjects, materials, colours when you just want to doodle?

Art created 2/12/2026.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

EXPERIMENTAL EXERCISE: A LITTLE GLUE INSIDE MY SHOE

| Patricia

“I was reading a book titled The History of Glue – I couldn’t put it down.” ~ Tim Vine, Comedian

Artists: Take a break from being serious about your work. I think it helps creative block unravel itself when we get out of our own way. Put the thinking part of art in our back pocket and pretend that we are in kindergarten again, splashing glue on strips of paper and scribbling with crayons. I am already thinking about rendering this subject in watercolour or coloured pencil.

In an effort to do something creative every day, I sometimes find ways to experiment with unusual materials. 

After finishing my morning bedside sketch, using coloured pencils, I noticed the pile of multi-coloured pencil shavings from sharpening them and wondered how I might use them in another art exercise.

So, taking a new sheet in my small bedside sketchbook, I dribbled glue on to the flat surface, creating a network of lines encased in an outline of sorts. I then took the pencil shavings and sprinkled them on top of the still tacky glue. I propped the sketchbook up on a basket beside the bed to dry.

Later, I realized that the glue was more runny than I thought, and had dripped off the page. When I put my shoes on, I realized that the glue had dripped into the inside of my Clark’s clogs and was now also all over my socks!

To me this piece could represent a flock of birds or butterflies alighting in a stand of saplings, or maybe wilted flower buds browning on wintry stems. Kind of like a Rorschach test. What do you see?

So, today’s message is don’t mistake your brush cleaning jar for your cup of tea; and watch out for dripping glue into your shoes, LOL. What strange or funny things have happened to you when you are working on a piece?

Art created 2/22/2026.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Daily Soft Pastel and Pencil Sketch

| Patricia

“In the springtime, the heart regrows hope.” – Angie Weiland-Crosby.”

ART FIX: I, once again, have restarted my practice of daily experimental art-making. Sketching, collage, writing, anything to drag the ideas out of my head and on to paper.

Journals for creative writing as well as to make notes for art-making. A tiny sketch pad and a small basket of writing, drawing and painting materials close to hand.

This is a quick little soft pastel and pencil sketch, exploring texture and colour combinations.

Grabbed colours randomly, without thinking about how they might work together. Not sure how successful this combination was but it will form part of my colour catalogue to inform choices for future works.

Practicing a total spur-of-the-moment, don’t-think-just-do, creating.

Drawn 2/6/2026.

What practices do you use to create when the spirit is not moving you?




All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Finding Creative inspiration

| Patricia

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein

Love this quote from one of my art instructors at the Dundas Valley School of Art (Ontario, Canada) back in the 70s.

Gordon Perrier was not only a renowned painter, but a creative thinker of the first order. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend his courses.

The expansive way I’ve grown to think about the arts, painting, drawing, plastic arts (mostly hand-built porcelain clay works), creative writing, etc., was influenced, in part, by these early creative experiences.

Where do you find inspiration for your art or creative writing? Leave a message in the comments.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

10 Fascinating Facts About Art from Neuroscience

| Patricia

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.” ~ Albert Einstein

Great article: exploring art in relationship to the brain.

Did you know that creating or viewing art can rewire your brain? Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or just curious about the mind, the relationship between art and the brain is fascinating. From boosting memory to enhancing problem-solving skills, art engages our brains in unique and powerful ways.

Art can make you a better problem-solver.

Working with clay will calm you down, more so than drawing with a pencil. Note: I can attest to this having worked in plastic arts for years. Nothing like ‘playing in the mud’.

Empathy shapes how we experience art.

Different kinds of art light up different brain areas.

Creating art can boost memory as we age.

Instruction in art-making may make your brain more relaxed.

Art-making activates reward pathways in the brain.

See story here.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Rolodex Watercolour washes

| Patricia

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Pablo Picasso

When I closed down my design business years ago, I had a box of blank Rolodex cards in a storage cabinet. As most artists are packrats, I thought , “hmm, maybe I can do something with these”. So they sat for years and then I started trying out watercolour wash combinations on them. Kept in a notebook, these make great colour studies for future works.

I ran across them today and saw that they could be ‘matched up’ to create a kind of segmented landscape work. Here, a skyscape and a foreground.

Where do you find inspiration for art or written works?

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

A Little Apple ‘Juice’ Notes Sketch

| Patricia

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” ~ Carl Sagan

A quick daily sketch of an apple with a bit of anticipated juice flowing from the fruit.

Drawn on iPad Pro in the Apple Notes app using the Fountain Pen and Watercolor tools native to the note-taking app.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

The Value of Miniature Sketching

| Patricia

“A day is a miniature eternity.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I try to adhere to a daily practice of creating something—be it a paragraph or two to further a story or verse; a thumbnail sketch, or a quick concept to be used later for a larger work of art. I like the challenge of doing tiny works, making sure they have the same impact and balance as larger pieces.

I found this 2” square seascape in an old sketchbook today. 

I generally list materials used for future reference: In this case, I used Faber-Castell, Grumbacher and Gallery Soft Pastels, plus a few CarbOthello pastel pencils. Created May 24, 2023, 1130am. 


What practices do YOU use to preserve ideas to use for later works?

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright ©️ of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.