![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXouAHoC2yJpXeysQGieZzpvwBZG9FPPw2ITdAZ8654mLzo21y2UQRtWst5Lnk2zqeAdQ_tO5Cs4bQ9jATj-iK9guxL3MzHCzbtQtxvlwNJdx6dwS7vWjb5AkioiBIR2DP1wkcZKDB8c/s320/sketch+book+leaves+two.jpg)
When I was in art school I took a fabric design class and one of the first assignments was to come back to the next class with fifty designs. Believe me there was a lot of moaning and groaning about coming up with that many designs. Then the professor explained that he didn't want full blown designs, just thumbnail sketches. So off I went and did a bunch of drawings, which were really, just doodles and, low and behold, some good things came out of it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaWda8jC5iVZ16FJk2ED5hp2ortAJFURiGFrYkDDKaFKBPPlExE6f5_1Oei_9xdrRCyGI2vHPvO2-UVf5vodUw_4FyOyNpBBWBlzP-Qa_HibbHqIJiSH8IQeDKVWBem8TXJOpSZ-e27M/s320/sketch+book+leaves.jpg)
I do this exercise nearly every time I want to try out a new idea. I struggle in my head with where to begin and then a light goes on that says, "Make 50 designs!" So the struggle ends I get sketching and at the end I have many possible ways to take the idea. Interestingly when you have so many choices you can clearly see the best because they stand out. I did this exercise yesterday, my first day back really working and it energized me. I have included some pages of my sketchbook from yesterday as well as other times I have used this technique.
So, if you are struggling with where to begin, make fifty designs!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LRu7Fwh8SAsbMduppefH9rCMweGjsojoYSyXLMXFU5S7bDaFHRMwd-jtkQXP66LRG7cJxit-DYnpUN3W_Zue5tx9cL-4eK0oLUlZgna-NYW1TbgFURYupq3jUceBGWFU_spwjGaNvls/s320/sketch+book+page+two.jpg)
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