Instagram story viewer> @lanakitcher> Posts

Lana K. | Follow Your Art

@lanakitcher

737

followers

977

following

Creativity and Time Management Coach
Helping busy creatives make time for art. Sustainable. Process > perfect.
Join the Follow Your Art Community ⬇️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

How often do you find yourself saying one of these three words when talking about something you’ve created?

Just.
Only.
Little.

Maybe even all in the same thought?

“I made something, but it’s just a quick sketch. I only had a little amount of time and energy to work on it.…”

I catch myself doing it more often than I’d like to admit.

It seems like a small thing, but I’ve been considering what we really mean when we say them, and what we’re telling ourselves and others about how we feel about our work. Maybe we’re protecting ourselves from criticism? Maybe we’re following “social” norms that keep us safe and make others like us? Maybe it’s a way of lowering expectations before anyone else sees the piece and judges it too harshly.

But what if these words are also convincing ourselves that our work doesn’t matter?

I’m aiming to try a different approach moving forward.

Instead of saying, “It’s just a sketch,” I’ll simply say, “I made this drawing.”

It’s a surprisingly small shift that I think can have a powerful impact.

It has me thinking about comparison, confidence, and why so many of us hesitate to share what we create, even when creating brings us joy.

If you’re looking for a place where you can make art, share it without apology, and be surrounded by people who understand what it feels like to carve out time for an essential practice that makes us human and keeps us sane, I’d love to welcome you into the Follow Your Art community.

Show me what you’ve been creating!
Link in bio.

#sketchbookart #followyourart #arttogether #watercolor_daily #dailyart by @lanakitcher

7

0

3 months ago

Recently, I completed a sketchbook, front to back.

There’s something satisfying about reaching the last page of a project that’s taken months to complete. Actually, even just getting to the last page of any notebook project is pretty fun.

As I looked back through it, I was reminded how growth happens gradually. So gradually you may not notice it at all unless you take a moment to look back…

I’m currently doing an online course (more like a prompt a day) that is pushing me to forget the “rules” and experiment with what ifs. This last book has me wanting to do more multi-media projects where I blend both photography and drawing/painting.

Some of this week’s Notes came from trying techniques that were completely new to me. Others came from making multiple attempts at the same idea (over and over again, directly on top of the previous attempt). I wasn’t even really sure where most of the pages would be going, but pushed through the uncomfortable uncertainty to discover something new.

I also find myself thinking about the eight-year-old version of me who drew with complete confidence. Not because everything she made was wonderful, but because she wasn’t worried about whether it was.

Not only will I benefit from learning new techniques, but I think MOSTLY I’ll benefit from remembering how to play.

I share Notes like these throughout the week on Substack and offer other resources to members in the Follow Your Art community to help you get your creativity rolling again. Come check it out.

#sketchbookart #followyourart #dailyart by @lanakitcher

11

0

3 months ago

I’m in a weekly sketch group that has an ongoing/rotating sketch project. Our most recent book was a little different from past ones. It had no unifying theme or prompt, but the unifying idea was that we each made our own “junk journal” sketchbook from a large sheet of Fabriano paper, then filled it however we wanted.

My goal: try new art that was outside of my comfort zone.

In particular, I wanted to experiment with collage. I quickly discovered I didn’t feel very good at collage, and I didn’t really like the practice of looking through papers, cutting them out, saving them, organizing them together, planning out an image, gluing them down, etc.

Many of the pages felt awkward. Some of them I actually completely reworked a few times. There are first drafts hidden beneath final pages that look nothing like what you see now.

In the end, I liked the final pages that I did in a rush most - the ones I did with very little planning or thought.

If you’ve been avoiding a creative project because you’re worried you won’t be good at it, I hope this post encourages you to try anyway. You never know where it may lead!

In “Follow Your Art,” a Substack community, we’re making space for experimentation, imperfect practice, and the occasional piece of experimental art that teaches us something valuable.

I’d love to have you join us.

What have you been curious to try lately? Come share it with us inside the community. ✨

#sketchbookart #followyourart #arttogether #watercolor_daily #dailyart by @lanakitcher

8

1

3 months ago

Weekly Recap (June 15-21, 2026)

I’ve been making my way through a few Danny Gregory courses. In his course “The Creative License” one of the prompts was “Make bad art.” I suspect I’m not alone in feeling that making bad art intentionally is hard. How do you even define bad art? Of course, much of what I try to make doesn’t come out as I’d like… Perhaps some of that stems from trying too hard? I ended up liking my “bad art” piece better than most of my “good art!” (See June 18th, the chicken.)

Looking back through this week’s Notes, I see sketchbook pages, experiments, studies, and little reminders that art doesn’t have to prove anything to be worthwhile. Have you ever made something just for the fun of it, only to discover it became one of your favorites?

I hope the next piece will be better, stronger, more successful than the last. I want the sketch to look like what's in my head. I want to feel happy with the result. I want other people to say how lovely something is.

But l’m learning (slowly) that the joy of creating comes from letting go of the need to get everything right and allowing myself to be curious instead. Curious enough to make the sketch even when I’m unsure how it will turn out. Turn the page and draw again tomorrow, even if today’s was ugly. Follow an idea… just to see what happens.

I am building a community on Substack to help people make time and space for their creativity. Join me! I’d love to see you there.

#sketchbookart #followyourart #dailyart by @lanakitcher

11

0

3 months ago

I recently took my first solo trip in over ten years. I packed a sketchbook, temporarily left my responsibilities behind, and explored Mexico City with a friend currently living there.

After my visit to the Anthropology Museum, a realization began to form. Humans are inherently creative. Not just artists, writers, or those who call themselves creative - all of us, in one way or another.

We evolved BECAUSE of our creativity.

Throughout most of human history, creativity wasn’t limited to hobbies, weekends, or retirement, it was completely integrated into daily life. We crafted nearly everything we used by hand. Dishware, clothing, homes, jewelry, tools… we made it all. This creativity helped us solve problems, adapt, connect, and express ourselves.

Today, many of us spend our days creating solutions in a less physical way, and often on screens. We remain inventive and resourceful, yet, how often do we produce something tangible with our hands?

This question is leading me on an unexpected journey, profoundly changing how I view art, creativity, and why so many of us are drawn to them. I’m also wondering… is a modern lack of creating by hand also hurting us and hindering our well-being?

Join me in the Follow Your Art Community, where we’re reigniting the spirit of creativity, one small art-piece at a time. The next Art Together Night is tonight, at 8PM Eastern. Join as a new member ($5/monthly - reduced pricing for the summer) to get the call details.

Link in bio.

#arttogether #followyourart #dailyart by @lanakitcher

10

3

3 months ago

I’ve been working on what happens when I loosen my grip. I have a tendency to try to control every outcome. I feel pressure to create something “good” right away, and bypass the process of learning.

It was a perfect time for me to watch a few Danny Gregory’s course videos this week, in which he reminded me that the outcome is not the point. The point IS the process.

I tried drawing while standing, and as quickly as possible.
I tried working at a desk completely cluttered with ongoing projects.
I submitted a half-completed art assignment.

When I look back at my Notes I feel proud of how many things I’ve tried. I feel proud of being a beginner, and attempting something new and hard.

A creative practice isn’t built on how many museum-ready pieces I have (though of course those sure would be nice, too!), but on experiments, trials, practice, ideas, scribbles, and unexpected discoveries, all the small moments that eventually add up.
And even if I never produce anything hung in a gallery or museum, at least I decided to keep showing up. For me.

I share these Notes on my Substack, sketchbook pages, in-progress works, experiments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of art-making.

If that resonates with you, I invite you to join me there. The link is in my bio. Members of my community get additional posts, art calls, and other fun stuff. by @lanakitcher

5

0

3 months ago

Weekly Recap (May 27th - June 7th)

These last few weeks I've found myself drawing in different ways. Drawing while in motion (in a car, standing, walking), drawing from memory, drawing from photographs, and revisiting pages from earlier projects.

Despite them not being so tidy, or even complete, I'm actually going to count that as an accomplishment. I'm practicing letting go. One of my recent sketches had clean lines, but something about it felt off. The rough, bumpy ones resonate more. As a type A person, I'm trying to let go in so many areas of life. Let go of having a rigid plan, let go of having a backup plan B, C, D, E and F. Let go of trying to make art look photorealistic... (Not that I ever accomplished that - but let go of making that the goal.) I'm learning about and exploring observation, curiosity, and the willingness to try and put in the time, even when the conditions aren’t ideal.

Actually, I'm learning that ideal conditions are not necessarily what will make my art better. An art practice is built from small attempts, imperfect sketches, and the decision to keep returning to the page, even when you're not so happy with your work today.

I share moments like these throughout the week on Substack: glimpses of the creative process as I go.

If you’d like to spend a little more time in that space with me, I warmly invite to tag along.

Link in bio.

#watercolor_daily #arttogether #followyourart by @lanakitcher

10

3

4 months ago

Want some accountability and camaraderie around getting the boring stuff on your to-do list, OFF your to-do list?

Join my first Admin Accountability Group session! Thursday, June 18th from 2 - 3:30 pm Eastern. Meant for ANYBODY who has boring admin items on their list and just needs some time/space/accountability set aside to get it done.

Registration link in bio. Let me know if you have any questions! by @lanakitcher

9

0

4 months ago

These are the little studies/sketches painted in between school pickups, folding laundry, and all the things. Some were "failed" plein air attempts, others simply experiments.

It's hard to share my bad art, but helpful. Not all of the art I create is beautiful. Many times I only have a minute or two to scribble something down. These pieces are important though. They keep me going, and they help me connect to my creativity (and self) amid the ordinary and chaotic moments of life.

We often forget how meaningful these in-between pieces can be... the unfinished, uncertain, and playful works that we tend to hide away because they don’t seem good or important enough.

Yet this is where so much of our creative journey quietly develops: in the act of showing up, in the willingness to try again, and in allowing ourselves to create without the pressure to produce something significant.

You don’t need to create a masterpiece every time you sit down to paint. Sometimes, making art is simply a way to reconnect with your own life.

If perfectionism or the demands of daily life have kept you from creating, I hope this serves as a gentle reminder that even small moments of creativity matter.

In Follow Your Art, we make space for creativity in a slower, kinder way, without pressure and performance, just a beautiful return to making things with joy.

If your heart has been longing to create again, we’d love to welcome you in.

Link in bio.

#watercolor_daily #arttogether #followyourart by @lanakitcher

17

2

4 months ago

Weekly Recap (May 11-17)

Throughout the week, I share notes, photographs, and artwork on Substack, giving glimpses of my process, travel fragments, and life (through art) as it happens. The goal - push through the fear of sharing my work. Slow down. Observe life through different lenses (photography, art, writing, experiencing) and be a beginner at something hard, but totally fun and worth it.

For anyone who is interested in pursuing creativity, or seeing imperfect, behind-the-scenes glimpses of someone learning how to art, let's connect.

Link in bio. art.lanakitcher.com by @lanakitcher

9

0

4 months ago

I drew today!!!! Woooooo!!! It’s not done yet but it felt so satisfying to spend some time on this today. Swipe to see my reference photo, courtesy of @lanakitcher

She hosts monthly art events that you can sign up for through her Substack. Join us and come make things 🌈 by @lanakitcher

10

1

5 months ago

A couple of years ago, a passing of a relative led me to inherit a small metal palette with Winsor & Newton paints, Handmade Modern brushes in a tidy roll, and a (figurative) canvas waiting to be brought to life.

One year for Christmas a few family members received the same few art supplies as gifts. We began bringing our travel palettes to family gatherings and squeezed in small plein air sessions between conversations, walks, and euchre games. Since most of us live far apart and meeting in person is limited, we started an ongoing Zoom call and kept the art dates going.

At first we met weekly but eventually switched to twice per month. Sometimes guided. Sometimes BYO creative project. Sometimes watercolor. Other times embroidery, quilting, or coloring.

What surprised me was how smoothly the conversation flowed when everyone was actively engaged in various projects. The atmosphere was calm but charged with creativity and camaraderie, free from awkward silences or performance pressure, creating a comfortable backdrop of quiet focus, shared laughter, and a broader window into each other’s lives and stories.

Whenever I share about “Family Art Night,” people say the same thing:

“I wish my family had something like that.”

You can!

It doesn’t have to be weekly. It doesn’t even have to be "blood" family. It just has to begin.

And if you don’t have people in your life who want to build an art night with you, that’s exactly why I created the Follow Your Art community.

We meet, make, create, and show up imperfectly together.

If you’ve been craving a creative rhythm and a circle of people who understand why it matters, come join us.

Link in bio. DM me for the link to the full post on how you can create your own Family Art Night.

#watercolor_daily #arttogether #followyourart by @lanakitcher

7

0

5 months ago