I use a small paper pad to get painting ideas down without the pressure of making a finished work. In this short video, I turn through a few painted studies and drawings to show how I keep those visual notes.
Make a note with paint
The pages include small landscape sketches and beginnings that I can return to later. They are a way of recording an idea and helping my memory. I am not trying to make every study detailed or polished, and most of these pages are simply for my own use.
Keep the format simple
I show the size beside my hand and explain that the brand is not the important part. A small, modest surface can be enough for this kind of exploration. I also mention making notes about where a study came from. The value of the pad is that it gives the ideas somewhere to go.
Leave room for unfinished beginnings
Some pages are painted, while others have only a drawing waiting to be developed. I would not call them finished paintings, but I enjoy making them. The purpose is to keep track of possibilities before they fade from memory. This is a look inside my working pad, rather than a demonstration of paper preparation or a detailed materials guide.
For a related lesson, see finding several design possibilities in a reference.
