Imagine I’ve just invited you into my studio.
Consider this the virtual version of hanging out with your new artist friend.
A paintbrush, paper + watercolor paint are waiting for you on the table. Handing you a cup of tea + pulling out my favorite oracle card deck, we’re ready to connect with Creative Self.
Since you’re not in my studio with me, below are all the things you need to make this happen. There’s book + supply lists, free coloring pages, as well as courses + digital downloads on watercolor + doodling.
May these practices allow you to integrate creativity into your own life, so that you feel more peace + joy + inspiration.
Art Supplies
in My Studio
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Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Brush - Round, Size 6*
CfM Matte Gold Travel Brush, size 6*
Princeton Snap! Short Handle, Stroke 1/2 in
*A round 6 is my go-to brush. A 12 comes in handy too.
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Get Instant Access
Free Educational Resources
Here's a little something just for you! I've created these free resources so you can experience more peace, feel more inspired + connect to more joy in your life.
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Mandalas + Mantras Coloring Sheet Set
Get started with 4 coloring sheets so you can easily drop into creating in the small moments.
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Doodle Inspiration Guide
Spark your own creativity with my page of doodle inspiration.
I love helping women connect to their joy through creativity!
Bookshelf
My first job was at the library.
We lived a block away, which made this a dream job for a 15 year-old, type A, introvert. I believe this is where my love of books began as I sorted, organized + shelved books in solitude. Nerd alert: I memorized my library card number. I learned I could place a hold on almost any book, movie or CD I desired. I still feel an immense sense of joy checking out a desired title at my local library.
I have compiled a library for you— one that is full of books that have grown my love of learning, helped me understand myself better + deepened my love of art, drawing, nature, cooking + self reflection.
I’d love to know if this list inspired you to pick up one of these books + what you thought.
ART
Spilling Open: The art of becoming yourself by Sabrina Ward Harrison + other books by her
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Craft, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco
Art Workshops for Children by Hervé Tullet
ART INSTRUCTION
Just Add Color on the Go: 100 Designs to Relax and Color Anywhere, Anytime by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and 44 Other Fabulous Flowers by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw a Tree and 44 Other Nifty Things from Nature by Eloise Renouf
Botanical Line Drawing: 200 Step-by-Step Flowers, Leaves, Cacti, Succulents, and Other Items Found in Nature by Peggy Dean
A Field Guide to Color: A Watercolor Workbook Paperback by Lisa Solomon
I only add my true favorites to my library. Consider checking with your local library, or keeping your eye out at the thrift store, before purchasing these titles.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron Phd
Quiet by Susan Cain
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World by Sharon Heller
The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response by Ellen Vora
The How: Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
COOKING
The Forest Feast Road Trip by Erin Gleeson
Everyday is Saturday: Recipes + Strategies for Easy Cooking, Every Day of the Week by Sarah Copeland
NOVELS
Hard Laughter: A Novel by Anne Lamott
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
NON-FICTION
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World By Peter Wohlleben
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
SPIRITUALITY
Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron
What's Your Heaven?: 7 Lessons to Heal the Past and Live Fully Now by Rebecca Rosen
“I really enjoyed just doodling, having fun.”
“So often I think art is so specific, you sort of taught me, if you mess up, try something different.”
Judy | student from Exploring Colors + Shapes virtual workshop
Courses from educators I can personally recommend.
Recommended Classes
These are the courses I watched at my kitchen counter after I opened my box of watercolors for the first time.
Full disclosure, I binge watched CreativeBug classes at the end of both my pregnancies. Too tired to actually create, it felt good to watch others create.
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Sketchbook Explorations with Lisa Congdon
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Creative Boot Camp - Spark Artistic Discovery with Lisa Congdon
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Basic Line Drawing with Lisa Congdon
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Creative Doodling with Pam Garrison
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Creative Sketchbooking with Pam Garrison
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Modern Watercolor Techniques: Explore Skills to Create On-Trend Paintings with Cat Coquillette
Grow your practice
Explore learning with me
Become an insider
The Art of Joy is sent out every other Thursday to help you connect to Creative Self so you feel more grounded, calm + present.
Each newsletter features a creative invitation, things worth sharing + a snapshot from my studio.
Hiya! I‘m Lexis, an artist + educator + mama.
I specialize in watercolor + doodling, the creative process, and art + workshops designed to help women discover their own color + joy, getting a home cooked dinner on the table at 5pm and putting everything back where it belongs.
As an introvert by nature, life-long creative + color loving soul, I believe we are all creative so I seek to bring out the artist in everyone.
With a background in graphic design, marketing, illustration + fine art, I use my 20 years of creative experience + my deep rooted call to create to help women connect to creativity by sharing what our Creative Selves need most to experience.