Inspired by the seasons: winter
“Winter is not just a season, it’s a celebration.” – Anamika Mishra
Inspired by winter? Even if you love all things festive, Christmas tends to steamroller all in its path in December. Just staying calm and rational can take all your strength – leaving little time for yourself or to be creative.
In its aftermath, the world can seem colourless, cold and dreary. But of all the seasons, winter has an enchanted, understated beauty that can both inspire and restore your creativity and wellbeing.
We asked our brand ambassadors what winter means to them – and how they keep their creative home fires burning, during these long, dark months.
“I typically write first thing in the morning, when it’s dark and quiet because no one will disturb me. But during the day, I love to turn my music up and get the sewing machine out or do some drawing.”
Claire
What’s beautiful about our winter landscape?
Winter has its own mood – and beauty. With the leaves gone, and bare branches silhouetted against a chilly sky, it’s an austere season. Yet there’s nothing bleak about a midwinter landscape. Frost on a cobweb. A clear blue sky. Shapes and shadows seem clearer now the showier colours of spring, summer, and autumn have faded.
And if we’re lucky, an overnight snowfall will miraculously transform the landscape, taking us to a magical world of snowballs and snowmen.
Ambassador Claire is inspired by winter. “Much as I love the warmth and the light of the summer months, I’m far more creative during winter,” she says. “I’m ready to wrap up in oversized hoodies and fluffy socks and sit at my desk for hours on end.”
“When it’s cold and dark outside I have no desire to go out, so I can write, study, sew, doodle or do anything else creative that takes my fancy.”
And for Alex too, a spell of wintry weather can inspire reflection and creativity. “While a busier time of year, the weather usually allows for some journal time. In winter, I am especially inspired by the New Year, the chance for a fresh start and new stationery!”
(Did someone say the magic words “new stationery”? 😉)
Why winter can be your most creative season
“When the mild autumn days are replaced by the blowing of the cold winter winds, my creativity with lettering and calligraphy changes into more subtle, softer yet brighter tones, both in colour and fonts I use.” Andrew
For ambassador Andrew, our calligraphy guru, being inspired by winter means allowing the changing of season to stimulate exploration and experimentation. “Winter awakens my dormant illustrative style that I hardly use during warmer summer days,” he explains. “It’s a perfect excuse to use more of my Fluorescent Mildliner Brush pens!”
How can we be inspired by winter?
It may look like the world’s asleep, but inspiration is all around us. And the smallest thing can catch your imagination.
Sketching the delicate beauty of frost on a twig, shiny red berries in the hedgerows, or a new bird on the feeder, is something to look forward to, especially for our bird-loving ambassadors, Lois and Amanda. “Winter to me means frosty mornings and robins chasing each other in the garden” says Lois. “I love using my journal for a birdy tracker! And the colours of winter make my pages feel super aesthetic.”
Treasure those moments – daydreaming, observing and discovering new ideas, are all part of your creative seasons too.
Best colour palettes for winter
“For winter, I love all the cooler tones like a cold pink, silvers and lots of light blue and white!” Peach
Winter is a season of contrast, but also of muted colours. Try picking one colour – like a Smoke Blue Mildliner – and using different lighter and darker shades, such as a Soda Blue or Dark Blue Mildliner, accented with darker grey, or silver. Or use a frosty, light blue, lilac and violet with a warmer accent colour such as berry red, or magenta.
Image credit: As Alex demonstrates, Mildliners are wonderfully versatile pens to capture the essence of winter. Alex has also used the Vintage Sarasa Clip 0.5mm in blue-grey.
Image credit: Ambassador Amber created a gorgeously subtle season colour combo for her December spreads. She’s chosen the silver Glitter Doodler’z to accompany her Mildliners.
It’s time to ‘winter’
Just as seasons change, so does our creative impulse. Low light levels can also mean lower levels of inspiration, so it’s a key time of year to give yourself some love.
Too often, we’re under constant pressure to be creative and productive; to be a fountain of original ideas. But without the ‘winter’ downtime, you may not be rested for your own spring rebirth. Take a leaf from our ambassador Peach’s book: “In winter I give myself a break after Christmas exams and tests! I often do a lot of miscellaneous pieces of work. And I love ice skating! It’s my favourite seasonal treat!”
And listen to your own seasonal creative clock. You don’t have to be journalling, collaging or designing 24/7 either. Seeking out inspiration from others or looking back and reflecting on what you’ve created over the last 12 months, is just as important.
Be kind to yourself while you wait for your mojo to return. Like spring, it always does. That’s what winter teaches us.