A simple creative ritual you can start today.
Sometimes the most meaningful inspiration is already in your pocket: your phone. A simple photo of a hummingbird, a quiet corner of the forest, or a pattern in the snow can become the seed of a creative practice that is both fun and heart-centered.
To help you turn a photo into a meaningful sketchbook page (without worrying about drawing skill), I use a simple acronym: S.E.E.
S – Select
Choose a photo that speaks to you.
It doesn’t need to be perfect—just something that makes you pause, smile, or feel curious. This is your doorway into creative exploration.
E – Explore
Look at the photo closely. Notice the details, colours, shapes, and emotions it evokes. Why did you press the shutter. Why did you take the picture the way you did? Let your curiosity guide you. This is about observing deeply, not judging or critiquing.
E – Express
Respond to the photo in your sketchbook. Creative Play Time. You can use pencil, pen, collage, colour, words, fabrics, magazines pages, or even textures. There’s no right or wrong way. The goal is to let the photo inspire you and record your personal response.
Why This Works
This simple practice helps you reconnect with your intuition and creativity, without pressure or expectation. You’re not trying to “make art”—you’re exploring, noticing, and letting your heart respond.
It’s the perfect way to start building your sketchbook pages as we prepare for our Create From the Heart event in January. During the workshop, we’ll take these everyday snapshots—your hummingbirds, forest paths, winter skies—and turn them into expressive, sketchbook pages.
Try It Today
Pick one photo from your phone, follow S.E.E., and see where it takes you. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence.
Even a few minutes of this gentle practice shifts your energy, opens your imagination, and reconnects you with your own creative voice.
I’m sharing a little behind-the-scenes look at my own sketchbook. I chose a small hummingbird image from my phone and began turning it into several sketchbook pages using this exact process.
FROM CELL PHONE PHOTO:
TO SKETCHBOOK PAGES:
They’re not finished — they’re works in progress — but that’s the beauty of this practice. You can start anywhere, follow the feeling, and let the page evolve naturally over time. Creativity grows in these small, gentle moments.
