A NEW CREATIVE ENERGY: THE ART OF ADVENTURE
Sam Waters and Rachael Johnson
A New Creative Energy: Artists Adventures
What is Artists Adventures?
Artists Adventures is a creative journey shared by two artists, myself and Sam Waters. I am from Bristol and Sam is from Shropshire. We have been working together as accountability buddies for two and a half years. We regularly meet to collaborate on projects and build our art businesses. Our meet ups have become a source of inspiration, sparking new ideas and generating energy. Now, we are taking this partnership to the next level by documenting our adventures, expanding our locations, yet keeping the process simple. We have no set agenda, we limit materials and we focus on creative curiosity. Our goal- to inspire others to embrace the joy of making art—anywhere and anytime.
Let the adventures begin …….. and let your surroundings inspire you.
I had been looking forward to taking Sam to Valldemossa, a beautiful town in the Tramuntana mountains, to begin our Artists Adventures. Stepping into a new environment always creates a buzz of excitement and the town was full of inspiration. We wandered through the narrow cobbled streets first, soaking up the ambience of this hilltop oasis, capturing photos of festival streamers, the curved edges of roof tiles, tangled wires and the intricate patterns in old wooden doors. I could already feel my creativity sparking as we settled ourselves onto a concrete bench in the square, at the foot of the Real Cartuja, Monastery.
The simplicity of our art tools and materials made it easy to jump in without overthinking. I had packed us each an Artway Indigo - cotton rag, A6 concertina sketchbook to work in.
Art tools and equipment
I started with sepia acrylic, letting it drip down the page like it had a life of its own. I didn’t plan too much, just responded to the motifs around me—beautiful wooden doors, stone textures, and those quirky lightbulbs overhead. It was freeing to work with only a few colors, especially on the high-quality paper in our concertina sketchbooks. Fewer choices meant I could dive deeper into the work without feeling overwhelmed.
Starting with sepia acrylic ink
Oblivious to everyone
Working outdoors brought unexpected influences. A group of Spanish teens sat nearby, completely oblivious to us, which was oddly comforting. They were so immersed in their world, and it let me get lost in mine without any self-consciousness. A few passersby paused to check out our work, and one even snapped a photo! It made me think about how our art impacts others, even in small, fleeting moments.
The creative process flowed so naturally that I barely noticed time passing. There was no pressure, just pure joy in experimenting with new textures and patterns. I’m excited about continuing this project and expanding it. Maybe next time, I’ll challenge myself to create something even larger, bolder—who knows?
Sketchbook work
As we wrapped up, I felt a renewed energy for my art. It was refreshing to create just for the fun of it, with no agenda other than to enjoy the process. I can’t wait for our next adventure and to keep building on this experience!
To read Sam’s version of our art adventure read her blog here.
Takeaway
Allow yourself to be spontaneous. The more you let go of expectations, the more room there is for creativity to flourish. The environment around you can be the perfect catalyst. Go with an art buddy if you need that bit of confidence to get out there!
How you can get involved
To stay updated with all Artists Adventures, please sign up below. Additionally you can get hints and tips to start your own adventure.
Have you ever been on your own artistic adventure? I’d love to hear about your favourite moments or the challenges you have faced along the way.
Do you enjoy working outside or in different places? Does it fuel your creativity? Let’s share our stories.
What tools and supplies do you use. Do you have special kit? Have you discovered anything along the way?
Please share in the comments below.