Feed your inner artist this month 🎨

Plenty of playful prompts, inspo, and other invitations to nurture your creativity

What comes up for you when you hear the word “artist?”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always considered myself a creative or a crafter—not an artist. I have abundant creativity, honed-in personal taste, and an eye for design but I don’t necessarily have all of the skills to make some things to the level of beauty and depth that I appreciate and desire. I say that not out of a lack of confidence or recognition of my talents but out of an honest look at the gap in knowledge and experience I have in certain areas.

This isn’t the case in all areas, of course. While writing is my primary “art form” and I am quite confident in my writing abilities, I’m also a pretty decent dancer, baker, musician, and sewist, and I “dabble” in plenty of other crafts.

But an artist? That feels like a stretch.

I wonder, however, how much we might be limiting ourselves by such labels. There are plenty of people who feel that they don’t have a creative bone in their body; you can guess at how they subsequently might fill their time—or maybe, more accurately, how they don’t fill their time.

Conversely, I am a wholehearted believer in the idea that we are all creative and so I actively pursue some sort of creative practice most of the time, and yet…what else might I try if I thought that I also was an artist? How might that shift the way I view myself and my abilities?

It’s easy to get caught up in whether or not we have a particular skill or understanding that makes us good at a specific craft, like having a solid grasp of composition and color theory or the dexterity for clean, hand embroidery stitches or the keen sense of musicality and rhythm for dynamic dancing.

But ultimately, there are more general characteristics that make learning those craft-specific skills possible—things like:

• the willingness to play and explore and make and learn from mistakes

• the commitment to showing up, practicing, and putting in the reps

• the bravery of facing our inner critic and turning down its volume

• the devotion to being in the present moment and noticing both the details and the larger picture

• the knack for making connections between ourselves and the people, places, nature, and ideas around us

• the capacity to make meaning of our experiences, emotions, and relationships

• the audacity to feel

To me, this is what it really means to be an artist (And frankly, what it means to be a human!).

If we believed that we all have an inner artist inside each of us—and I do—how might we cultivate and tend to that artist?

This month, let’s feed our inner artists by activating our senses, getting curious, and making space for play.

Things to Do:

Go on an Artist’s Date

Along with the practice of Morning Pages, Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way hails the Artist’s Date as a non-negotiable in the recovering artist’s toolkit. Essentially, an Artist’s Date is a weekly block of time dedicated to nurturing your creativity, typically through some sort of solo excursion.

Perhaps you take yourself to the museum or an art gallery or on a walk through a different part of town to admire the architecture. Maybe you pick out flowers to arrange, see what sparks interest at the local creative reuse co-op, or stumble across a church choir rehearsal and sit in the back pew.

Not only are you filling your creative tank and giving yourself plenty of inspiration to respond to creatively, but you are also spending quality time with your inner artist and listening for what it has to tell you. You might be surprised by what comes up, including resistance to going on the date in the first place! Stay curious.

Host a Craft Night or an Art-Themed Presentation Party

I like nothing more than a good craft night! Instead of just collecting ideas on Pinterest, you’re actively doing something in a relaxing, low stakes kind of way. Whether you organize a craft that you and your guests do together, or you encourage everyone to bring their own craft they want to work on, it makes for a really enjoyable and playful shared experience. Between everyone, you probably have the majority of supplies for what you need already, too. Put on a playlist, have a few drinks and snacks, and get crafting!

If you’re not feeling a crafting moment but still want to connect with others creatively, another spin on this could be to host a Presentation Party. Put an artistic spin on it and stick to themes like creative hobbies, art movements or modalities, or other related topics, and learn something new about your friends and their preferred art form.

Take a class

When was the last time you learned a skill just for fun (and not with the immediate intention of turning it into a side hustle)? That’s right, I’m calling out all of us Millennials.😅

This past weekend, I took a Wheel 101 pottery class with my forever roomie Ali as part of her birthday present and it was so much fun! Our instructor was…less than ideal, but we still managed to squeak out two pieces each and I can’t wait to see them glazed in a few weeks.

And later this week, I’m taking a musical theater jazz dance class that I’m probably going to be obsessed with once I get over the initial nerves of taking my first dance class in a long time!

A quick google search and you’ll probably find numerous classes available in your city or town between dance, pottery, fiber arts, woodworking, sewing, photography, and more. But if you’d prefer a virtual format, Skillshare is a great option! There’s a class for pretty much everything you can think of. (Even though I’m wildly intimidated by sketching, I think this Urban Sketching Essentials class looks super cool!)

Invest in a Piece of Art (and Frame it!)

If adulthood can be characterized by certain moments and milestones, one of those peak “arrival” moments is when you’ve purchased a piece of “real” art from an actual artist (and yes, prints still very much count in this economy!) and had it framed.

I’ve got a nice little collection going, but the big focal piece in my apartment is this incredible 22x30” landscape by Emily Jeffords that is inspired by the Scottish Highlands, one of my favorite places in the whole world. The colors! Swoon. It wasn’t cheap, but I decided if I was going to go for it, I was going to do it right and I’m so glad I did. I had it printed on canvas with extra margin and varnish and stretched onto a frame through Simply Framed.

Though I’d love to get all of my other pieces framed by Simply Framed or Framebridge, sometimes I can’t pull the trigger on those price points. Frame it Easy is an awesome alternative for non-canvas artwork and photographs with super reasonable prices—and you don’t have to mail in your artwork.

Things to Read:

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

I can’t, in good faith, write a piece about creativity without recommending this book. It’s a resource I know I will revisit again and again throughout my life and one that I cite ideas from often. In this book, Liz talks about how to navigate the stuff that comes up in the pursuit of creativity—the doubts, the fears, the perceived lack of inspiration, the suffering—and offers us a path toward more wonder, play, and joy. What a gift!

Amazon | Bookshop

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

It should be no surprise that I’ve included this book here (after already mentioning it above!), as it’s considered the seminal book on creativity! In full transparency, I haven’t even made it past Chapter Two of this book, but even the introduction alone is required reading in my mind. This book has been a best seller for over 30 years for good reason—and it’s one of the primary reasons our girl Elizabeth Gilbert even became a renowned author in the first place!

The Artist’s Way walks you through a twelve-week journey for healing and nurturing your inner artist, providing practical tools, habits, and exercises along the way. Even if you only implement one practice from this book, I guarantee it will have immense value.

At some point, I’m going to be brave and commit to the whole program! Who’s with me?

Amazon | Bookshop

Things to Listen to/Watch:

“WRITING & ART: When does your real self get to breathe and be seen?”

It takes zero convincing on my end to listen to anything Glennon, Abby, and Amanda put out into the world, but with an episode title like that? I’m IN.

Ep 36 of the We Can Do Hard Things Podcast

“Nurturing Creativity with Larrie King”

You don’t need to be a sewist in order to tune in to this Love to Sew episode with Larrie King, a multi-disciplinary visual designer, fine artist, and crafts enthusiast. I always come away feeling inspired and ready to pick up a new project after listening to this show!

Ep 244 of the Love to Sew Podcast

Blown Away on Netflix

Okay, I didn’t think I would be into a glass blowing competition show, but here we are. This is the perfect show to fill in the gaps between seasons of Queer Eye! Glass blowing is so fascinating to watch because it is such a physically demanding process that results in something so literally fragile and delicate! I’m wildly impressed by these artists and enjoy getting to bear witness to their passion.

Things to Wear:

An Unexpected Pop of Red

Have you heard of the unexpected red theory for interior design? It’s the idea that small pops of this vibrant color can really liven up your space, especially in places where it doesn’t necessarily make sense.

Apply this concept to your personal style through your favorite accessory. I love this handbag (I have it in black and it’s the perfect purse), just added these Mary Jane flats to my closet, and am currently coveting this fun statement belt and these abstract earrings.

Add a Silk Scarf

Play up the Art Teacher (or art critic) aesthetic with a fun silk scarf or bandana! This “third piece” is a great way to bring a look together and add some extra flavor to an otherwise basic look. Depending on the size and shape of the scarf, you can tie it numerous different ways, making it unique to you and your style.

I recommend picking up a fun printed scarf on your travels—I snagged mine in the leather market in Florence—or going vintage at a thrift store or estate sale, but until such an occasion arrives, I’ve rounded up a few of my faves here.

Things to Make:

An Artist’s Apron

Doesn’t wearing an apron make things feel official? Like when the apron goes on, you know you’re about to really get in there and get messy! I paint-splattered a plain apron as part of a last minute Halloween costume a few years ago (paired with a beret and a makeshift paint palette and finger mustache—voila!) and it’s actually perfect because now I can wear it for any project and not worry about ruining it by additional stains!

If you’re a sewist, might I recommend the Sam Apron by Helen’s Closet? This is a great gender neutral apron that would make an amazing gift (for you or anyone on your list)—and it’s FREE.

Macrame Plant Hanger

We all had quarantine hobbies—macrame was one of my very first. It’s a great art form to try because it’s easy, fast, and satisfying, and basically only requires you to tie knots. You don’t even have to know how to do special knots in advance as there are many YouTube videos and tutorials to follow!

I bought my supplies and patterns off of Etsy.

Your Own Reverse Coloring Book

Remember when we Millennials were obsessed with adult coloring books? A fun alternative that stretches your creativity a little more is a fun idea called reverse coloring. It’s taking abstract paintings and watercolors and drawing in your own shapes. Sure, you can buy this kind of coloring book already, but you can just as easily make your own and practice two different styles of art!

Using watercolor paper and either paint or watercolors, create the “base layer” by painting random abstract forms. Then, once dry, go in with a pen or fine-tipped marker and draw shapes and designs from those forms.

Things to Eat and Drink:

Bake a Cake with Wow Factor

Who doesn’t love cutting into a cake and being amazed by what you find inside? Sally’s Baking Addiction has a ton of fun ideas, such as this vertical style, this colorful checkerboard design, and this festive tie dye look.

Gorgeous Garden Focaccia

If you’re into bread making, I’m so inspired by these beautifully decorated garden focaccia! (Just look at this starry night version OMG. )

Whew! What a list! I’m feeling SO excited to try new things and get a little messy. How about you?

Let’s Make Art Together

In that spirit, I’d love to invite you all to join me for a fun (and free!) Artist Hour where we’ll hop on Zoom and spend an hour creating separately…together. No pressure to get on camera or to talk if you don’t want to! Think of it as an excuse to build in a little more play and experimentation into your day with some added accountability (because, as adults, we really like to get in our own way and put off anything that isn’t explicitly “productive,” don’t we?).

Bring whatever art project you want to work on—your next draft, your punch needle canvas, your macrame kit, your sketchbook, your dancing shoes, and any sustenance you may require. We’ll start off with a brief hello and then I’ll send us off to create and play! We’ll come back together after about 50 minutes to share any parting thoughts.

Art Hour will take place on Thursday, April 25th at 6:30 PM EST. You can register by clicking the button below!

May this be a month of connection, joy, and inspiration that we can carry with us into all aspects of life. ✨

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