A Common Struggle
Starting something new is always a challenge. Where do you begin? What do you need? How much time and attention will it take? All of these questions, although valid, can make getting started feel impossible.
I have felt this recently as I work on building a sustainable creative workflow that supports my goals. One of those goals is to share a weekly blog. Doing anything consistently is hard, and creativity often comes in waves, which only adds to the challenge.
This brings me to The Worktable, a weekly return to the table and a space to practice, experiment, and make small things without pressure. It is about showing up consistently, working together, and growing through the act of making.
Worktable Small Spark
This week at the worktable, we are starting with the simplest thing: marks. It is interesting how many courses I have taken over the years begin in exactly the same place, making simple marks. Whether it is a class on drawing fundamentals or Bonnie Christine’s Immersion course, they all start there.
So that is where we will begin today.
The first prompt for The Worktable is simple:
Fill one page using only repeated marks such as lines, dots, arcs, or small shapes. No objects, no composition, no pressure.
Ways to Approach It
- Keep It Simple:
Choose one mark and repeat it across the page. - Add a Twist:
Divide the page into sections with different marks. - Stretch It:
Create a repeat pattern using your shapes
From My Sketchbook
For this first exercise, I decided to work with simple painted lines. I chose two colors and used a brush to paint loose horizontal stripes across the page. The goal was not precision, but repetition. Each line is slightly different, with small shifts in thickness and movement that happened naturally as the brush moved across the paper.
After filling the page, I began looking more closely at the marks themselves. Even though they were simple, the slight variations created an interesting rhythm across the page. Those irregularities can be what give a pattern its character.
Using one section of these painted lines, I created a quick repeat to see how the marks would behave when arranged together. It was a simple step, but it showed how even the most basic marks can start to evolve into something larger. What began as a page of practice marks turned into a small exploration of pattern and movement.
This is exactly the kind of discovery that can happen when we start with something simple and allow the process to unfold naturally.
Why This Helps
Starting simple is key to overcoming a creative block. I know that when I am facing a slump, I feel pressure to make something, and then even more pressure for it to be amazing or perfect. Beginning with something as small as simple marks helps remove that expectation and gives your hands a place to start without judgment.
As the page fills, the pressure tends to ease and momentum begins to build on its own. What starts as a few lines or dots can quietly turn into a sense of progress, and sometimes that is all you need to move forward again. Returning to this kind of simple practice each week can make showing up feel easier and more natural over time.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the hardest part is simply beginning. If all you do is make a few marks, that is enough. If you try this exercise, I would love to see what you create so we can celebrate those small starts together. Even a few minutes spent making something is a step forward. I will meet you back at The Worktable next week.
♥️ Kelly
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