Chatty Sketchbook tour/What I have created in the first 3 months of my artist journey

Getting started as an artist can be very daunting. In this video I get vulnerable and share my sketchbooks and art that I have made in the last three months since I decided to embark on my artist journey. I go through several of my sketchbooks and a few paintings that I have done so far. I chat throughout the video about my thoughts of becoming an artist and the work I created and what I am being drawn to with regards to style, mediums and subjects. Becoming and artist is a marathon and a lifelong journey. I am so excited to be on the path now and I can't wit to see where it takes me. Art is for everyone. Grab a cuppa, settle in and join me on the journey.
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/ michellejozina
Supplies that I use:
Get Started with Gouache by Emma Block
amzn.to/4bwIBHo
HIMI Gouache paint set 24 colours
amzn.to/4aKGwH8
Arteza Hardcover Watercolour 140lb Paper Notebook 9"x12"
amzn.to/3TZfSVU
Canson Artist Series Watercolor paper 5.5"x8.5"
amzn.to/4e6FZlN
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Art Nouveau Palette
amzn.to/4aCelKW
Pigma Micron Fineliner Pen
amzn.to/3vAlNal
Derwent Inktense Colored Pencils set of 72
amzn.to/3WXAkIy
*Some links may be affiliate links that may earn me a very small commission at no additional cost to you. I do appreciate it if you use my links as it does help me to be able to create more videos for you!

[@sueallen1945]

I can definitely relate. I graduated art school in 1998. Life took me in a different direction. I began working in watercolor a couple of months ago. It’s pretty daunting, but I’m doing it!

[@michellejozina]

That is awesome! It hasn’t taken me long to fall in love with art again! Good luck with your watercolour and enjoy the process! 😊

[@ladysongster]

The floral abstract (at 25 minutes in) would make a beautiful fabric! ❤ I'd love to see you have it printed and create a beautiful dress with it! 😊

[@shona4321]

The floppy sweater girl on the beach with blowing hair! Made me smell the ocean and feel the wind. Thank you.

[@michellejozina]

Ohhh, I love that! ❤️ one of the most beautiful things about art is the ability to evoke emotions and feelings in the viewer. Thank you for your comment. It made my day! 😊 thanks for watching!

[@annibarry1338]

The girl with flowers looking away is perfect, don’t agree with you at all, she is simply looking down the street and is very real and convincing. You are so talented, should back yourself more! ❤

[@GGGaia]

I really love your art and your drive, Michelle. I have subscribed so I can follow your journey and hopefully get back to doing art myself. In fact, you've inspired me to try. I did start a YT channel several years ago but after losing my only child I was unable to do anything except essentials as I had to carry on caring for my elderly mother. Since her passing over 2 years ago I have to really push myself hard to get up and do even the simplest of chores. I LOVE art, and I can't even find it in me to do anything art-related - maybe 10 minutes of listless doodling or colour-mixing, once a month if I find the drive. Oops, I'm rambling! Sorry about that, but thanks so much for sharing your work (I really love the girl by the water at 37:45 and the other girl on the sand at 32:30 ). The artichoke and the "Amantia Muscaria" are beautifully rendered. I'm off to watch your gouache video. I have the same set - unopened, luckily, as it's less likely they've dried up. Sending you love and light!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and your kind words! I’m so sorry for your losses. Grief can really do a number on us. Just remember that the people we have lost would only want us to be happy and find the joy in living everyday. Im so glad I can inspire you to get back into art and creativity. That is one of my goals for this channel and sharing my journey so that really makes my heart happy to hear! Thanks for watching and sending love and light right back to you! 🥰

[@suzannemarshall7458]

You are really courageous to show your progress as you re-ignite your artistic self. I'm doing it too but not on youtube Thanks!!

[@michellejozina]

Thanks so much for your kind comment! I have heard the biggest growth comes from outside your comfort zone. It's scary but I am actually having fun with this. I am so happy to hear you are on your art journey as well. Just keep creating and having fun! Thanks for watching! :)

[@heathertroynak9041]

You have beautiful inherent talent. And your vulnerability is courageous and so admirable. Well done, I’m really proud of you. Keep going!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much! That means so much to me! ❤️ thanks for watching!

[@gabhyk8869]

I started drawing last year as an adult and felt like I wasted so much time by not doing it when I was a kid/teenager and seeing other people on the same journey to reconect with art makes me feel accompanied. And by the way don't feel bad about copying other artist's work/style! It's indeed something that you need to do when you are at this stage, I do studies on paintings and drawings from people that i admire and that has made my art progress a lot faster :D

[@michellejozina]

You are so right! We can learn so much from other artists and I do think it’s important to try their styles and techniques until we figure out what works for us. There really is nothing new just what we pluck form the artistic universe and put it together to make our own. ❤️

[@shelina_virjee]

Good luck on your journey! I am also working on my journey as an artist after working in corporations for so many years.

[@michellejozina]

Thank you! You too! It’s funny but not surprising how many of us that were in “big girl jobs” are now called to return to creativity. I love it! ❤️

[@bonitatompkins2881]

Thank you for sharing your work. It is so refreshing to see someone willing to just put themselves out there and show their creative process. I spent most of my lifetime thinking I was not artistic and couldn't draw. But then I found a book on drawing my sister had gotten for me when I was a child, and I started following it, page by page and working the exercises. I went from that to creating the things I love, and after 5 years, I would say I can draw a fairly decent picture.. I look forward to the process now. Artists on KZbin like you is part of what encouraged me to give art a try again.

[@michellejozina]

Oh, I love that! Thanks for sharing! We are all creative but some of us get in our own way I think. Everything can be mastered with practice. I’m so glad you are enjoying the process. Enjoy the journey and thanks for watching! ❤️

[@Skinnychelle48]

That’s awesome! What’s the name of the book?

[@artsyfartsylife0369]

I am happy to have found your channel. I enjoyed the sketchbook tour so much. I look forward to seeing more of your artwork and growth as an artist.

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@sjones8117]

You have such talent! I can see that you could already work as an illustrator for children's books--particularly with your whimsical gouache paintings, and the exquisite watercolour mushrooms.

[@michellejozina]

Thank you! 😊

[@DaryaUliceva]

Beautiful art, inspiring and helpful

[@3legsgood61]

Your progress over the sketchbook is terrific. I. particularly like the botanical illustrations, and the loose watercolours. Good luck!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@josettacastner4698]

Stop knocking yourself. You are very talented. You are so much like me it's scary 😳. Keep up the good work.

[@michellejozina]

🥰🥰

[@Bunnyplans]

I’m obsessed with your fashion girls! I would honestly buy some of those!! I’m so inspired to try that too. I’m new to art/watercolor but I’ve always been a bit crafty - so I love seeing this journey !

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much!! I appreciate you watching and your kind comments! I’m hoping to do some more fashion artwork this year as I really enjoy making them. 😊

[@wegajane]

The abstract one in tones of blue, lavender, and mauve, with accents of yellow or lime is my favorite!

[@yvonnekraft4015]

You are so great at the details! Glad you are experimenting with different mediums to find your fav tools. The flowers and veg are so well done.

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@angieadwin8515]

Michelle. I'm really glad I found your channel. I'll be watching. I know the beginning of the public journey is hard. Thanks for putting yourself out there and sharing. I'm hoping to join the YT community soon as well. Gathering equipment currently. I look forward to sharing your journey. Good Luck!

[@michellejozina]

Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement! It’s much appreciated! Good luck to you as well! It certainly is an interesting journey! 🥰

[@shanemacpherson2622]

I really love all your gouache and water colour work, so great well done..xx

[@michellejozina]

Thanks so much 😊

[@TinkITreasurebooks]

I have been a diy gal all my life. Started oil painting in my teens, 20 years ago Started watercolor and never looked back. In 2018 I started working with paper and fell in love, my current art is handmade journals I call Treasure Books. In 2020 I started a KZbin channel, after way over 300 videos I only have 1050 subscribers and my watch time rate is low. It is so disappointing when I see other channels with low video count but very high subscribers. I was hoping this would get me out of my full-time corporate job that just sucks the life out of me. 😢😢

[@michellejozina]

I know it can be frustrating but hang in there. As long as you are still enjoying making videos then it’s not a waste of time. It might happen when you least expect it. That’s what happened for me. Good luck! ❤️

[@lynneellis2647]

You are doing great. Keep it up.

[@rachelledellinger174]

Love the iris!

[@heatherpoirier6597]

I just found your channel. I really like your content and thank you for sharing your work and process. Your work is really good. The girl on the beach in the chunky sweater spoke to me, I could see a series in that. I love your floral abstracts and figure drawing. Can't wait to see more.

[@michellejozina]

Hello and welcome! Thank you so much for your kind comments! I’m hoping to another video soon on some more work I have been doing. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@cuddlywolf_designs]

Michelle have a go at drawing with wax crayons or oil pastels then flood with inks or paint to watch what resists, then have a go at scratching out details to reveal layers underneath 🎉

[@michellejozina]

That sounds fun! Thanks for the suggestion! 😊

[@Rise_Higher-444]

21:30 VERY nice. ❤ Beautiful landscape. Looking forward to seeing more videos. Great job starting and documenting. ❤ Maybe film yourself WHILE painting and just randomly talking during the video, but not long videos, maybe break them into more videos. ❤ dont worry about making mistakes or bloopers, just leave them in.❤

[@BadKittyNoMilk]

hello. I stumbled upon one of your videos, and then this one showed up. I appreciate you showing your art journey. I love the collage/abstract type of art with the flowers. I've always been interested in art, music, and dance. I'm a new subscriber. thank you for sharing

[@bellap2570]

I feel exactly de same at my 50’s y.o. I was an artist when I was little and just before the pandemic I began my journey with art. I don’t want to make a living out of it…just having fun. And I love the way you show up…nice sensibility and you are good! ❤

[@michellejozina]

I think everyone should create and make art for the enjoyment of it! If you can make an income from it it’s just a bonus, lol. Glad you are creating art again and thanks for watching! ❤️

[@babyblueagle]

LOVE your “last attempt at abstract” piece @ 25:33 soooooo much! All are beautiful, but that’s my fave. 😉 thank you for sharing your journey!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you! 😊

[@poisondartfroggify]

I agree. The contrasts in value, shapes, and markmaking make it exciting and satisfying to look at.

[@ouisalv7462]

Hi Michelle! I’m a new sub too and so thankful I found you. I too am in my 50s. You are so inspiring, please don’t stop posting about your journey. I know many of us are encouraged to join you! Mucho hugs from Texas!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much!!😊

[@gillesdufaux5519]

A LOT OF TALENTs

[@cindyhorton6980]

I happened upon you just now, and I really enjoy your paintings! I kinda skipped thru cause I got sidetracked, but I plan to come back and watch again! I am looking forward to seeing more!❤

[@Mymysticmama]

The flowes in the vase is my favorite. Keep doing those!

[@biancathomas7934]

I'm 48 yrs old and haven't picked up any art stuff for over 20 yrs. I was corporate for a long time and have been unable to work for just over a year and a half now. I'm currently battling with illness, so it's slow progress but revisiting art and using the skills I developed as a child, teen and young adult is the best feeling. I'm 6 months in to my journey and trying watercolour and mixed media for the first time in my life and I'm discovering a love for abstract as it allows me the freedom to not have to think too much but go with the flow and see where it takes me, which is great for my minds capabilities at the moment (I suffered a TBI). What i'm producing is trial and error at the moment (it's a journey of self discovery) and it's a good feeling when I've managed to create something that I think looks OK. It's hard going sometimes, and I have to keep reminding myself that the pieces that go wrong are also good practice and use them for lessons. I think you are courageous to show us your artwork and your journey. It inspires many. ✨️ Keep going.

[@michellejozina]

Sending you healing vibes as you recover. 🙏🏻 Thank you for your kind words as well. I am just feeling called to put myself out there to try and inspire people to find creativity again and some joy in life. Yes it’s a bit uncomfortable but also a healing journey for me I guess. Good luck with your art as well and just enjoy the process. Thanks so much for watching! ❤️

[@bettyyve4914]

Great video. Looking forward to following along with you.

[@michellejozina]

Awesome, thank you! Glad to have you along for the ride! 😊

[@vivienneadamson2307]

Jozi I really love your openness and honesty about your progress with painting. You definitely do have a talent and your figure illustrations are superb and you definitely have a flare for fashion design. Thankyou for sharing and inspiring me to continue. If anything I need to be more adventurous and try more things outwith my comfort zone. Keep doing what you are doing. Xxx 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@michellejozina]

That means so much to me, thank you! Yes, definitely get out of your comfort zone and try new things! You never know what new joys you might discover. Just remember, we all start out bad, lol! ❤️

[@PamelaHolland-b7b]

The first vase of flowers at 17:19 would look great on a tee shirt or a mug, the abstract flowers at 24:42 would make a pretty floral fabric...very inspiring work. Thanks for sharing.

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

Michelle, I do a lot of abstract painting. I can tell one of the things that you may be challenged with is your values. If you take a photo of your work and look at it as an edited black-and-white image, you might be able to see that you need more variety in your values from light to dark… contrast is really important if you want to hold peoples’ attention with the piece of abstract work. I really am enjoying looking at your journey. Thank you for being vulnerable and posting. You’re very talented.

[@michellejozina]

Thanks for the advice and I agree. 😊 I have an actually watched a few videos recently on that exact topic and it real opened my eyes. ❤️

[@suethompson4460]

Your loose watercolours are amazing. The hair and the fact you can't see their faces makes it unique!! You are inspiring me to get into art. And those mushrooms are gorgeous.

[@michellejozina]

Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear you are getting back into art as well! Have fun with it. 😊

[@EricaHavens]

Girl on beach and artichoke❤❤❤

[@biancathomas7934]

I really like the girl on the beach with the big floppy sweater and the windswept hair. I think you managed to get a lot of energy into it with the amount of windswept hair. It feels cozy and energetic at the same time ❤

[@michellejozina]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@annibarry1338]

Oh my gosh that last acrylic abstract one is absolutely gorgeous, really love it!

[@michellejozina]

Thank you! 😊

[@HeebieJeebie]

Just happened upon your video while looking for inspiration for my own art journey, and your stuff is great, especially after such a long stretch of time. I’m 47, and started keeping a sketchbook in 2022, for the first time since high school! A lot of things have changed in my life and I needed something new and challenging to do during the rough times… and now I do it all the time! It’s been a very long time since art class in high school, so the stuff I’m doing is very primitive but I’ve filled up one mixed media sketchbook and have two more in the works that are nearly done. I’m hoping with practice I can get as good as you! I’m also trying to find my style, so I have a great big, fun mess going on in my books right now. Keep up the good work, and I wish you good luck on your journey!

[@michellejozina]

So happy to hear you are on your art journey as well. The playing around and creating just for the joy of it is the best part. You can’t do it wrong because it’s art! Thank you for the kind words and thanks for watching! 😊

[@Emma-ku7nx]

Good luck on your journey! I can recommend Helen Wells for abstract art you might like? She has a KZbin and just brought out a very helpful book.

[@michellejozina]

I'll check her out! Thanks for the suggestion! 😊

[@mariamillett4609]

I enjoyed watching your video. I think you’re doing better than you think you are. 😊

[@michellejozina]

Oh thank you! That’s so kind. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@LindaMagruderArt]

Loved your video and art. New subscriber 😊

[@michellejozina]

Thanks and welcome! 😊

[@Rise_Higher-444]

I loved watching this video. I wish it was posted at faster speed, because it's not easy to spend so much time watching ( even at 2.0 speed) I didn't want to quit before the end, but should be doing stuff in real life..😅❤

[@michellejozina]

Sorry! I know it was a long one! This was one of my first videos and I was still trying to figure it out. lol. 😆 thanks for watching! ❤️

[@poisondartfroggify]

Your journey is so inspiring. I’ve just moved into a new place and had to laugh at the overwhelming amount of art supplies I have. But one question: what are “pencil crayons”?? Am I missing an important art supply?!!! 😳

[@michellejozina]

Haha! Someone made the same comment when I first uploaded this video last year and I was laughing. “pencil crayons” are what we have always called coloured pencils here in Canada since I was a kid. 😂 Probably something to do with the fact that “crayon” is pencil in French. I have said it again in a recent video where I forgot to correct myself so I’m waiting for the comments. Sorry for the confusion! 😝

[@poisondartfroggify]

@@michellejozinaoh oops California here 🤷🏻‍♀️ but thank you! Well yes, I have colored pencils and watercolor pencils and Derwent Inktense, etc.. 😅 -but I was hoping you’d discovered some sort of super thin but sturdy oil pastel or even Crayola crayon.. wouldn’t that be nice??! Anyway, thank you so much for your very relatable videos. And congratulations on your recent monetization!!! 🥳🎉🎈

[@michellejozina]

Thank you! 🥰

[@wegajane]

The acrylic inks you got at Michael's... which brand are they? I really love those black circles. I think you called it trichromatic black?

[@michellejozina]

It’s the Artist’s Loft brand. 😊

[@wegajane]

@@michellejozina thank you!

[@amybarton9237]

With you sister If you want to chat and compare experiences I am 60 and got back in at your age

[@michellejozina]

Amazing! I would love to chat. Email me at [e-mail]. 😊