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Hey creative friend, I had a different message planned for today… but I know many of us are feeling a swirl of emotions right now — especially here in California, where our communities are witnessing painful events unfold.

When the world feels chaotic, I turn to my sketchbook.

Not for perfection. Not even for beauty.

But to give the swirl a place to land — through scribbles, through pigment, through layered pages that don’t ask for answers, only honesty.

If you’re feeling unsettled, tender, or heavy…

know that your art can hold those feelings for you.

✍🏽 3 Prompts to Begin Processing:

1. “Right now, I feel…” Let the words tumble out. Then layer on top with color or collage.
2. Draw your nervous system ~ Make marks that mimic how your energy feels — spiky, soft, scattered, calm?
3. Create a ‘Protection Page’~ Collage textures or symbols that represent safety, strength, or grounding.

This is what I call Studio as Sanctuary.

And it’s always available — even if you only have 10 minutes, a few scraps, or a single pen.

If you’re craving more creative nourishment…

I’ve curated a few things that might support you: 🎥 Watch this playlist of swatching, sketchbook PLAY + mixed media videos using #tracibautistaCOLOR PIGMENT BARS​

PIGMENT BARS PLAYLIST

🎨 Wild Terrain Pigment Bars – Limited Edition

Textural, earthy, waxy pigment bars that are meant for layering emotion into the page.

WILD TERRAIN is a limited edition set of 8 handcrafted artisanal multicolored confetti PIGMENT BARS, inspired by pigment foraging journeys through the redwoods of Northern California, ochre cliffs along the Central Coast of Australia, and volcanic soil in Hawai‘i.

Each bar is infused with earthy texture, some have foraged hand ground pigments, and unexpected color shifts—an invitation to explore your own wild, expressive terrain.

The initial boxes SOLD OUT but I've added a handful more! Grab your box before they're gone. Pre-orders close on 6/16 at noon PT.

👉 Preorder your WILD TERRAIN set here »​

Digital Artists Summit – Registration is open!

I’m teaching at the Digital Artists Summit 2025, a free weeklong online event running June 16-22, 2025 focused on digital mixed media + expressive art on iPad.

In my workshop, Sketchbook Remix: Marks, Motifs & Moodboards, I’ll show you how to blend analog textures and hand-painted layers into bold, expressive digital collage compositions using Procreate along with ideas for collaborating with AI.

👉 Grab early bird pricing for DAS25 »​

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🌀 I’ll also be back soon with more about the Studio Storyboard Workshop.

Right now, let’s make space for presence.

Take care of your energy — and use your art to hold what words can’t.

P.S. If you need to pause, scream, scribble, or just scroll through color… it all counts. 💖 You’re not alone.

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With creativity and color...

Artfully, xo Traci Bautista 💞 Founder, #tracibautistaCOLOR

If you have any questions reach out to customer care using the chat box at tracibautistacolor.com