Welcome
On most Wednesdays, check this blog for a strategy, process, or reflection for illustration with the iPad app ProCreate or Affinity Designer. This week I thought I’d again miss out on art fun because I participated in WriteOut, but I do have a few pieces to share completed in Procreate.
WriteOut
“Write Out is a free two-week celebration that will run October 12-26, 2025 where we step outside the doors of our classrooms, homes, and workplaces to write and create. Everyone is invited—educators, students, families, and friends—and encouraged to explore neighborhoods, parks, and other outdoor spaces. The goal is to be inspired by the world around us and to connect and learn through place-based writing and sharing.”National Writing Project WriteOut
Above you see our dog, Guthrie, also enjoying nature while I write for the WriteOut program for 2025. I wrote every day for two weeks — sometimes more, sometimes less; sometimes poetry, sometimes more. You can find my writing responses for WriteOut here:
I’ll share also October 20th’s Why I Write response.
WHY DO I WRITE?
I write for many reasons, among them as a blogger, like in this space. I agree with Donald Murray, who said, “Writing is hard fun.” It helps to write to just think things through, to voice one’s thoughts, and to share what, to you, is important. Though it’s hard to get the words out or to get them organized, rereading our words is fun as we discover what was never written before that expresses oneself as each writer chooses and revises and rewrites to clarify, detail, imagine, and organize one’s thoughts.
If you’ve never been a writer, try spending a few minutes each day to write down some things, such as:
- an interesting phrase
- a funny thing that happened
- a memory
- a description of something [a flower, a boot, a child’s laugh]
- a list of things you’d still like to do
- a favorite recipe
- an act of kindness
- something you’re worried about
- something in that worry to help you find a way through
- something you’re looking forward to
- something you remember looking forward to
- what’s out your window
- how the sun feels in the summer
- how the sun feels in the winter
- your favorite season
- your favorite _____
- a list of things you know about
- a list of things you can write about
- a word of encouragement, for yourself or someone else
WHY I WRITE
Why I Write
Time passes
Sheri Edwards
and I grow old,
but I am thankful
for so much that
earth provides-
small things-
a partial rainbow
after a rain,
a yellow flower
on the path;
I am thankful-
for furry friends,
for gatherings
of friends or family,
memories of laughter
of grandchildren,
laughter of great-grandchildren,
breakfast each morning
with my husband,
and for a community of people
who believe
we all matter;
I am thankful-
I still have a voice to share,
an ear to listen to voices
who share with me,
and the courage
to see openly
to stand
to speak up
with those who cannot
share their voices.
I write of these
so we do not forget-
my friends, my family-
all of us-
do not forget
our gifts
our responsibilities
to others
to remember.
WriteOut Why I Write
October 20, 2025
iPad Update
I also spent Monday updating my iPad first to OS26 and then to update Procreate to the new version with the new sortable brush libraries. My iPad still won’t back up — it’s not backed up since 6/2/24. I’ve backed up my Affinity and Procreate files to iCloud, so I have everything, but it’s a bummer knowing there’s a lot of other things I’ll loose.
I spent over two hours creating libraries and sorting brushes. I created libraries for Stipple and Bits; Sheri +others [brushmaking with artists], Portraits, Birds, Glanz, Delores, Calvin, etc Watercolor, Other artists, Collections I’ve Made based on projects, Liz, Bardot, ET, and a whole ton from Jennifer Nichols of Creative Journey [affiliate link]. I think I’m going to make gouache library too. I still need to sort within the categories and that may result in more libraries. The Stipple and Bits is for stipple brushes and decoration brushes and things like Bardot Imperfect Patterns.
I’m loving the update in iOS and Procreate. After working through the brushes, I ended at a Delores Naskrent set called Mixed Media Butterfly brushset and did a quick draw of a notecard for friends:
Unmatchy Style
In Liz Kohler Brown’s community, The Studio, I watched her unmatchy trend report and her Live Draw in that style. I’m still working on my own– I just started the sketch. You can see all the unmatched things in the picture, like in an antique or vintage store shelf.
Unmatchy Thrift Store Challenge
Spoonflower’s Thrift Store Treasures Design Challenge reminded me of the unmatchy trend, so I gathered together some retro images, folk art birds, circles, and dots to jumble them together in required reds, yellows, and blues for the challenge. I’m not sure this will be my entry, or if I’m even finished with it yet. But here’s what I created so far for the challenge. You can see the folk art dragon fly and bird and circle and four point star shapes, dotted and dashed lines, folk art flowers, and iconic retro hands holding the string of beads. Perhaps there’s some “pearl clutching” here while out in nature…
Brenda Bakker Texture Brushes
Next I took Brenda Bakker’s Skillshare Class, How to create High Level Brush Stamps for Procreate. Link to Brenda on Skillshare: Brenda Bakker, ♥️ Sharing my skills is sharing my joy ♥️ and a link to my project: Autumn Joys, which will take you to the class.
We learned to create Procreate stamp brushes that actually have texture and color change built in. Here are the brushes I created in an illustration in wreath form. I’m going to work on them a bit more so there’s a bit more shading and texture, but I will keep these too.
Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you do enjoy your day and perhaps mark your calendar for next year’s October #WriteOut to find inspiration outside to write and create. And, despite being very busy, I still found time for a few art projects and a challenge. As always, please comment with any questions or requests.
You can find many helpful artists teachers on my Artist Resources page. Take a look at their IG and YouTube. Find one that fits your learning and art preferences and stick with them a while to develop your skills. If you have any questions, just ask!
You’re welcome to follow this blog for art inspiration. We can share with #warmup4art to enjoy our work together! I look forward to your sharing and find me at @42Sheri, on Mastodon Sheri42, on Flickr teach.eagle Sheri 42.
I wonder, if I draw a line... 