World Watercolor Month: Days 10 & 11 — Finding the Common Thread

Welcome back to my World Watercolor Month journal.

You may have noticed that I skipped another day of writing.

I didn't skip my morning painting sessions—I simply chose not to record my thoughts while I was painting. Sometimes I'd rather be fully immersed in the quiet process of creating than trying to find the right words at the same time.

Over the past two mornings, I completed two more paintings: another poinciana tree and a tropical fruit arrangement. As I looked back over everything I had painted this week, I found myself thinking about something I've heard many artists talk about—the idea of finding the common thread in your work.

This isn't my idea. Many artists describe it in different ways, but the concept has really stayed with me.

Sometimes it's helpful to step back and look at your paintings as a collection rather than as individual pieces.

Are there certain colors you keep returning to?

Do you make similar brush marks?

Are there shapes, compositions, or subjects that seem to appear again and again?

As I looked through my own sketchbook, I began to notice patterns.

There were colors I was consistently drawn to.

There were certain brushstrokes that felt natural and enjoyable to make.

There were themes that kept quietly reappearing.

Those observations are just as valuable as finishing a painting.

They're clues about what makes my work feel like my work.

This morning, with the luxury of a long weekend and no rush to get out the door, I gave myself permission to simply experiment.

I opened my sketchbook, pulled out my gouache paints, and began painting a scene inspired by a photograph I took while walking through the gardens at a local retreat center. The orchids were beautiful, but I wasn't interested in making an exact copy of the photograph.

Instead, I wanted to paint the feeling of being there.

The quiet.

The color.

The peacefulness of walking through the gardens.

Rather than worrying about accuracy, I paid attention to how different brushstrokes and color combinations made me feel. It became less about recreating the photograph and more about capturing the memory it held.

Today's Thought

Sometimes the most important part of painting isn't the finished piece.

It's paying attention.

Pay attention to the colors that excite you.

Pay attention to the marks your hand naturally wants to make.

Pay attention to the subjects you keep coming back to.

Those small observations become the threads that quietly connect one painting to the next.

Over time, those threads weave together into something much bigger—a body of work that feels uniquely your own.

So the next time you finish a painting, don't rush to the next one.

Take a step back.

Look for the patterns.

You might be surprised by what your own artwork is trying to tell you.

Thank you for following along with my World Watercolor Month journey. I'll see you again soon with another morning of painting and reflection.

If today's post resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever noticed a common thread running through your own creative work—or even in another hobby or passion? Leave a comment below. I'd love to know what keeps drawing you back again and again.

Orchid Gouache painting in sketchbook