“There were so many beautiful places to paint, so I had to move quickly to get them all on paper.”

That was my thought process as I started exploring watercolors.

I would paint one thumbnail, jump straight into the larger watercolor painting, reminiscent of my old process, and then wonder why the finished piece still felt like something was missing.

The thing is, this habit was cultivated during my college days, when I studied oil painting while earning my graphic design degree. Oils can be methodical and layered, so when I first picked up watercolor in 2017, it felt almost opposite to what I knew.

I started with a beginner’s watercolor palette from my local craft store and was quickly hooked.

The flowing blooms, bleeds, and gradient washes that you can create with watercolor fascinated me. I started using those new supplies for daily paintings of wildflowers I encountered on my weekend hikes, and soon those small studies grew into landscapes.

The more time I spent painting the places I encountered on my hikes, the more I wanted to capture what it actually felt like to be there, not just recreate the reference photo.

The warm sunlight at an overlook at sunset, the changing colors in the landscape, even the gradual shift of color across the petals of a wildflower. But a reference photo could only do so much justice to those moments.

Then, sharing my work on Instagram became a way to hold myself accountable, but I found an incredibly encouraging watercolor community instead. That’s where I first connected with Trupti, long before Blue Pine Arts, and found a treasure trove of knowledge from artists generously sharing what they knew.

When My Sketchbook Started Holding Me Back

As I painted more landscapes, scenes from my hikes started filling various watercolor sketchbooks. I hadn’t quite found one with paper I enjoyed using, but I was also stuck trying to nail a perfect little painting on every page, and I didn’t realize it was holding me back.

I would make one quick study, try to get it “right,” and then move straight into the larger piece. I wasn’t really giving myself the space to explore composition, color, or all the possibilities that could happen before committing to a final painting.

The more I painted and learned, the more I started questioning that process.

And then it hit me...

What if My Sketchbook Was Just for Me?

Instead of following the rigid small-painting-to-large-painting two-step process I was used to, what if I started treating my sketchbook more like a journal? 

I knew I needed to slow down and get comfortable with the entire process. In my eagerness to paint, I had been overlooking the most beautiful part of the creative process: play.

In 2024, I purchased four Banarasi Brocade silk sketchbooks from Blue Pine Arts. For the first time, I had one place where I could pencil sketch, make notes, swatch colors, test thumbnails, and still paint a full watercolor spread.

Having more space to experiment helped me stop worrying about making a mistake and “ruining” the whole sketchbook. I could see concepts side-by-side, change my mind, embrace the messy side of the process, and just have fun with it.

If you’ve been looking for a watercolor sketchbook that gives you room to experiment, I honestly recommend the BPA Watercolor Sketchbooks. The 100% cotton, 220gsm paper works beautifully for everything from pencil sketches and color swatches to thumbnails and full watercolor paintings. You can find them here.

Playing With Composition and Color

My sketchbook was no longer just somewhere to make one quick study before moving on to the larger painting. It became a place for playful experimentation.

Reference photos could only do these places so much justice. So instead of selecting one reference photo and sticking with it, I returned to pencil sketching multiple compositions before painting.

Sometimes what I think is my favorite reference photo becomes even more interesting by cropping the scene, moving the focal point, or trying a different perspective.

I often leave my sketchbook open beside me for reference or clip it directly to my easel while working on a larger painting. Because it lies completely flat, it easily becomes part of my painting process.

And composition isn’t the only thing I can play with.

What if I created a painting in three different colorways to find the one that resonated most?

Which yellow can create the perfect level of warmth? Which blue will mix into the lushest green? How do these combinations play out in a thumbnail painting versus a color wheel?

Sometimes I try an unexpected combination just to rule it out and end up loving it.

Finding My Rhythm Again

The loose, quick repetitions in my sketchbook allow me to relax and move freely with the medium, finally finding that loose, peaceful watercolor flow I had been looking for.

After a break, I’ll often reach for my sketchbook just to put brush to paper and reconnect with my creativity, sometimes doing something as simple as making a color wheel.

My sketchbook has become a journal of growth and discovery. Each page and each volume is woven into the chapters of my life, a witness to the beautiful things that have inspired me.

Octavia Spriggs is a West Virginia-based watercolor artist inspired by nature and the changing light she observes in landscapes. Follow her work at @octaviaspriggsstudio or octaviaspriggs.com.

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P.S. I love how Octavia turned her sketchbook from a place to get things “right” into a place to play, experiment, and figure things out. If you’ve been craving more freedom in your own watercolor practice, consider this your nudge to fill some pages: Get the sketchbook here →