The 3-Layer Sketchbook | A Lazy Way to Stress-Less

Have you ever felt a little feared, as you opened a brand new sketchbook? As you see that white, bright and empty page, you think, Oh no, I do not want to spoil it. It almost happens to everybody. 

The people who have been painting for years, even face the syndrome of the blank page. It is our emotion that every page should look like an artwork. We also have that feeling that if we make a mistake, we have failed. 

But in reality we would like to tell you that the best way to be relaxed is by actually making a mess. This is the secret for the 3-Layer Sketchbook. It is a lazy way to do art that helps your brain feel the silence and happiness. 

You should not be perfect in making drawings. You will also not need much time for it. The things that you need are just, ArtVibe Wellness watercolor kit and a sketchbook. We will teach you how to change these scary white pages in a recreation area for your brain. 

What is a 3-Layer Sketchbook?

Most people consider art as all about drawing a picture of something that is real, like a tree or a cat. This is hard and annoying. The 3-Layer method is completely different. You just have to make three simple layers of images and colors. 

Just think about it like making a sandwich. You have to begin making it with bread, add the middle stuff in it, and then the topping. In your sketchbook the bread is just some splashes of the color. It means that you are not painting a sunset but you are just simply adding the wet color to the paper. 

This method really works because it makes the tension go away. You are just playing with your tools and not trying to win some art competition. 

Why “Lazy Art” is Actually Good for You

Maybe you think that being lazy is a bad thing, but as it comes to stress, being lazy is good. When we try too hard to be perfect, our brain stays in High Alert Mode. This makes our muscles more tight and our heartbeat becomes faster. Perfectionism is the cause of stress, and it is a scientific reality. 

You tell your brain that it is safe to relax by doing art in a lazy way. You are not being awarded with the marks. There is no wrong way to splash the paint. This helps your nervous system to calm down. 

Your brain can finally enter a state of deep rest, as you stop getting worried about the final results. This is the reason that a powerful tool for wellness is a 3-Layer sketchbook. 

Layer1 - The “Messy” Watercolor Splash 

The first layer is the “no-rules” layer, and it makes it more enjoyable. Draw your ArtVibe watercolor kit and make your brush real wet. Maybe a happy yellow or a soft blue, pick up a color you like. Now, just make some big and messy beads on the page of your sketchbook. 

Do not try to make images with them. Just let the paint splash and spread. This is known as the “wet-on-wet” technique. It is really satisfying to see the colors dance in their own style. 

You kill the fear of making a mistake just by ruining the excellent white page. So now you can just enjoy it, as the page is already messed up. 

Layer 2 - Adding Simple Shapes 

When the first layer becomes dry, now it is time for the second layer. Watch the dry splashes of color. Do they resemble something? Maybe it looks like a rock, a cloud, or just a funny circle. Take a little darker color and make some simple images on the messy splashes. 

You can paint circles, squares, or bumpy lines. This layer is about the soft focus. You are not yet doing the detailed work. 

You are just adding a little more meat to your art sandwich. This part of the process consists of meditation. It will keep your hands busy but make your brain walk. It is like a holiday for your thoughts. 

Layer 3 - The Tiny Details

This is the most relaxing part for most people. The final layer is when you add the toppings in your art sandwich. Take a pen or a fine brush and add the small details. You can make small stars, little dots or small “V” shapes that look like birds. 

The small movements help your brain focus on something small. This is called Micro-Focus. It is the best way to stop your brain from getting worried about the big problems of your life. 

You are not thinking about your agenda or work as you are busy making the 50 white small dots. You are absolutely on time. This is the actual brain reset. 

Want to try the 3-layer method but don’t have the right tools? Our ArtVibe Wellness Watercolor Kits and Premium Sketchbooks are made for each other. The paper is thick enough for big splashes, and the paints are bright and easy to use. Shop our Beginner Kits and start your lazy art journey today!

Why Your Sketchbook Matters

You may think that any type of paper is good for painting, but it is not true. If you use a thin paper, the water of your first layer will make the paper curly and bumpy. This can be frustrating, and frustration is the enemy of the rest. 

A best watercolor sketchbook has heavy and thick papers. As it should be strong enough to face the water and do not get wrecked. Our ArtVibe sketchbooks are specially designed for this purpose. 

They make the paint to stay on top of paper so that the colors can remain bright. If your tools are working well then you do not have to fight with them. Everything feels just easy and smooth. 

Comparing Perfectionism vs. The 3-Layer Method

This helps in concentrating, so this method is best for your brain health. To see the difference, look at the table below. 

The Facts About Art and Your Heart

Do you know that making art can really change your body? It is not just an emotion. Scientists have researched how it affects when people enjoy sketchbooks and colors. Some amazing facts are as follows:

• Heart Rate: Your heartbeats slow down when you aim for creative work. This makes you feel relaxed physically. 

• Breathing: Most people start taking deeper and slower breaths while they are painting. This gives more oxygen to your brain. 

• Blood Pressure: Studies show that creative movements can help lower your blood pressure, that is best for your health. 

• Muscle Tension: As you go deep in the flow of the 3-layer method, the muscles of your shoulders and neck start relaxing. 

How to Make This a Daily Habit

Because it is very easy, the best part about the 3-layer method is that you can do it daily. You do not need a large table or a lot of materials. While taking your tea in the morning, you can do the first layer. After lunch you can do the second layer. And before going to sleep, you can complete the third layer. 

You do not feel like you are doing an artwork, as you divide it into layers. It simply becomes a small part of your day that makes you happy. 

Your sketchbook becomes a memory of your relaxed moments by the time. You will not see the ruined paintings when you look at the pages again. You will only see the beautiful layers of the colors that helped you in feeling good. 

Overcoming the “Inner Critic”

All of us have a voice in our heads that tells us we are not perfect. It is the “Inner Critic”. Whenever we try to make something real, the critic loves to talk. It says things like, “These eyes are not good enough” or “This nose looks bad”. 

The secret weapon against the Inner Critic is the 3-layer method. How is the critic telling you that a droplet is wrong? It cannot. Because there is no right way for the splash of paint to look, so the critic should be silent. 

Remember the time when you were only five years old and love to paint on paper. This method will help you bring that feeling back to you. It will let you play as a kid again. 

Sensory Healing: The Smell and Feel of Art 

Active rest is about all of your senses. It is not just about what you look at. Give yourself some time to experience the enjoyment as you open up your watercolor kit of ArtVibe. Observe the emotion of cool water on the brush. Hear the sound of the gentle scratches of the brush it makes on the thick paper. 

The smell of the paper and the paint can be grounding. Grounding means an action that tells your brain that, “I am safe and I am exactly here at this time”. 

By the use of your senses, this method pulls you out from your head and lets you go back to your body. It is a very important part of wellbeing that most people neglect. 

Digital Detox: Why Paper is Better Than iPad

Most of the people try to make art on their tablets or phones. Maybe that feels enjoyable, but it is not as good as a real sketchbook. 

These screens emit blue light that makes your brain more awake and hooked up. In reality, the internet is always at the distance of just one click. It is very easy to be distressed with only a single notification. 

The no-notification zone is only a real sketchbook. It has no battery. And it also does not have an inbox. It is just you with the paper. This is an analog experience that is best for resetting your brain. It rewards your eyes with a break from the screen time and also provides a healthy break from the digital world. 

Making a “Vibe Station” for Your Sketchbook 

You can make a small Vibe Station at your home, to practice the 3-layer method well. A small basket or a tray is enough. You will not need a room for this. Just keep these things in it, your ArtVibe sketchbook, your water pens and your watercolor kit. 

Add a beautiful stone or maybe a small candle in it. Whenever you see your Vibe Station it will remind you to take a break. Everything is already there so it makes it easy to get a start. 

You do not always have to keep looking for your materials. All you need to do is just sit down and start your first layer. Keeping it simple and easy is the key to making it your hobby. 

Watercolor Kits: The Magic of Portability

Our watercolor kits are small in size and it is one of their best qualities. You can enjoy your 3-layer practice in a coffee shop, or a park, and even travelling by plane. Just think about getting stuck in a boring waiting room or in a long line. You can just take out your sketchbook and make the first layer without getting stressed. 

You can change your emotions completely by making your time creative, in exchange with the time of keep waiting. You will surely start as the creator of your own relaxation and you will no longer be a victim of a slow day. 

This is the reason that we have named our kits as Portable Peace. It does not matter that in what place you are, they just give you the strength to restart your brain. 

The Joy of “Ugly” Art 

We want to grant you the permission to make bad paintings. Your 3-layer page can look a little strange to you sometimes. Your images can look crooked or the colors may become dark and cloudy. It is fine, and in reality, it is excellent.

The main aim of ArtVibe Wellness is not making you a professional artist. The goal is to make you a relaxed and happy person. If that ugly page makes you relaxed for fifteen minutes then it means it is a complete success. You will finally be free, if you stop caring about how your art looks. This freedom is where real wellbeing lives. 

Art as a Way to Process Your Day

We often have those emotions that are very hard to explain by the talk. It is maybe you are worried about the money, or anxious with your friend. You do not always keep writing these in words. You can dump your feelings by using your 3-layer sketchbook. 

For making the first layer, you can use the sad colors like gray or maybe the angry color of dark red. You are getting your emotions out of your body as you put these colors on the paper. This is a very healthy method to handle the feelings. 

You are not just hiding your emotions but turning them into art. To have a strong mind, this is a powerful way. 

Why ArtVibe Wellness is Your Best Partner

There are many art stores out there, but at ArtVibe Wellness, we are not just selling the items. But we sell the “Wellness Tools”. We know that our customers want to feel better but they are busy people. 

This is the reason that we have selected the excellent paper that will not drain and also the best pens that are very easy to use. 

The time you open your box, we want you to experience it as an ideal. It is our belief that everyone is an artist, and everybody should have a clear and relaxed feeling in their brains. Our goal is to make the active rest easy, enjoyable and beautiful for everyone in this world. 

Are you ready to stop stressing and start splashing? Our ArtVibe Wellness Sketchbooks are waiting for your “lazy” layers. Join thousands of others who are using our watercolor kits to find their inner peace. Shop our full collection and enjoy Worldwide Shipping!

Final Thoughts: Your Brain on Color 

Your brain is a very busy place at the end of the day. It does a lot of work for you. It needs a rest that is more than just not working. It deserves to play. To give your brain a gift of the 3-layer sketchbook is an excellent idea. 

You are actually making a relaxed and powerful version of yourself, by making your art layer by layer. You are also learning how to make perfection let go. You are also learning how to focus on small things. 

On the pages of your sketchbook, you are creating a colorful and beautiful world. So, pick up your brush, soak it in the water and make your first splash messy. Your brain will restart at this time. Art is wellness and your ArtVibe is waiting for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do I need to be good at drawing to use a sketchbook?

No, You will not need any of the special skills at all as this method is just about playing with the colors and feeling relaxed, and it is not about making an excellent image. 

2. What makes ArtVibe sketchbooks better for watercolor?

Our sketchbooks have high quality thick paper that can handle lots of water with no wrinkles. It keeps the pages flat and good in shape and also keeps your colors more bright. 

3. How long does it take to finish a 3-layer page?

In just 15 minutes of the time, you can finish a complete page, or you can do only one layer at one time. It is specially designed to fit even in the most busy schedules.