Hobbies help you stay engaged, connected, and will help you feel more relevant and good about yourself.
Did you know that hobbies give you a sense of purpose?
A hobby will give you a sense of achievement.
When you do something you like you feel good. Choose a hobby that makes you feel good.
Challenge yourself with something new.
Choose something that is not connected to your work or your daily life.
Let your hobby become part of your life.
Whenever you learn more about your hobby, become better at it and enjoy it, you will feel fantastic about your accomplishments.
Share your accomplishments, don’t share them. This is all about you.
A hobby allows you to escape for a while, and it’s wonderful!
There is nothing better than running away from reality for a few hours!
Don’t have a hobby and want to try something new, but don’t know where to start?
- Knitting
- Painting
- Photographing
- Dancing
- Playing Bridge (not for money)
- Gardening
- Writing
- Acting
- Cooking
- Puzzles
- Music
- Sewing
- Hiking
- Storytelling
Painting and Sketching as a Way to Tell Your Story
Create your visual journal with watercolor pencils and pens.
Get a mixed media notebook. The paper should be thick enough to handle water colors.
I like the spiral notebooks because I can allow one side to dry while working on the other. It lays flat. My notebook has a hardcover so that I can use it anywhere- no need for a table.
Choose a notebook you like, and that will fit in an easy-to-carry bag.
Your notebook is for having fun, putting down marks, painting, doodling, sketching and experimentation.
Forget your old ideas of perfection.
When I started to use the notebook as a visual journal, I had such a hard time because I wanted all my drawings to look perfect. And- of course, they didn’t and don’t look perfect.
I had to find a way to make my notebook less precious, so I scribbled and doodled on it until I started treating it like a tool for self-expression.
It’s all about expressing yourself
A hobby is just a tool for self-expression, and that is why hobbies are so much fun. When you treat hobbies as an extension of yourself, you will relax and enjoy them.
Painting is a way to describe your feelings, your day, a dream, or your view.
You will never feel lonely or bored if you take your hobby with you everywhere.
You will be surprised to find out how well you can draw on a moving bus, a plane, or while waiting around for anything.
Take your notebook with you and sketch.
You will start to see things that you had not noticed or things that you never found important.
Shapes will take another meaning.
You can create a whole new world with your very own colors.
Your mind will be busy, and time will go by so quickly.
Before you go, check out 7 Easy Steps to Create a Happier life.
Doodle to Quiet Your Mind by Marguerite
Watercolor by Marguerite
Watercolor and Pens by Marguerite
David Schofield (My teacher in Edinburgh)
Sandrine Pelissier Artist and fabulous online classes and loads of tips
16 Commonly Asked Questions by Painting Beginners The Spruce Crafts
Updated September 2025
FAQ Supplies for a painting hobby
Hardcover: 8.5 x 5.5 inches, Canson mixed media, 123 lb (paper thickness)
Larger notebook, soft cover: Canson XL Watercolour: size A4 8.3 x 11.7 inches)or smaller, 140 lb(paper thickness)
Caran d’Ache water color pastels
Caran D’Ache water color pencils
Brush pens that allow you to fill them with water making it easy to travel and paint anywhere.
