Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

How long did that take you?

It’s one of the questions I get most often as an artist, but in a way, I think it’s the wrong question. While students are often genuinely curious about the time the work takes, I think there’s often an embedded assumption that they could never make that kind of time for art.

I wanted to chronicle the process of making this page from start to finish. I share some of my tips and tricks for making time for art, so that you can do it too.

Portable Art Kit Supplies

If you are wondering where to find the supplies that I share for my portable art kit, they are here!

Foldable water cup

#0 Round watercolor brush

#10 Round watercolor brush

Cloth for wiping brush

Daniel Smith portable paint set

Lumos Pro fine tip reusable pen – Use code MINDFULARTSTUDIO to save 10%

Handmade 100% cotton watercolor journal – workshop with instructions on demand in my membership

Playful Poppies Art Journal Page workshop – on demand in my membership, The Gathering

Stackable porcelain watercolor dishes

Tips and Tricks for Making Time for Art

• Prep a small portable art kit for travel.
• Be bold and create in public, really everyone is staring at their phone!
• Leave your work out and in process, even the water, with no set up time, you’ll get started quickly.
• Instead of looking at your phone when you need a break, take a few minutes to work on one small part of the page.

Share Your Ideas

How do you make time for art? What’s in your portable art kit? Do you work on your art pieces in bursts over time, or in one or two long sessions?

I can’t wait to hear about your experience.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

Because I host a live slow drawing and slow painting workshop every week, one of the questions students ask most frequently is – What pen are you using?

While the pen doesn’t make me draw better or worse, when you draw a lot of fine line work, you’ll find that you go through disposable pens at a startling pace. I wanted a way to draw without creating a lot of landfill, so I set out in search of my favorite fountain pen.

I’ve narrowed it down to two choices that I’m excited to share with you in this video. Let’s look at the Lamy Safari vs. the Lumos Pro. While Tom’s Studio sent me the Lumos, these are my true opinions after more than a year of use:

Looking for these pens and supplies?

Here’s an affiliate link to the Lumos Pro, and if you use code: MINDFULARTSTUDIO with that link you can save 10%.

Here’s an affiliate link to the Lamy Safari pen, the converter you fill with ink, and the DeAtramentis document ink.

You’ll find my video on How to Refill Your Lamy Safari pen here.

Share Your Comments and Questions About Waterproof Drawing Pens

I’d love to hear about your experience with waterproof fountain pens. Do you prefer the Lamy or the Lumos? Or do you have a favorite I didn’t mention? Or perhaps you haven’t ventured into fountain pens yet. Tell us about it in the comments.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

• Tom’s Studio kindly sent me the Lumos Pro pen many moons ago on my request. I was hopeful that it would be the answer to my refillable pen wishes. For the most part it is, though I still love my Lamy too. I’ve waited to do this review with the affiliate link because I wanted to be sure that the pen worked well with waterproof ink over months and months of use. The Platinum Carbon ink is wonderful in the Lumos. If you decide to purchase the pen with the affiliate code and my MINDFULARTSTUDIO code, you’ll save 10% and I will get a small commission.

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

One of the most important ways to make sure you make more art is to create an art studio space at home. I’ve got my 5 top tips for you today in this video:

Creating an art studio at home really is one of the biggest keys to making sure that you weave art making into your day. There is no right art studio space. A home art studio might be in a closet, a small bin under your bed, a corner of a room, or in a converted garage or on your dining room table. My home art studios were in my bedroom for years, then I graduated to a tiny room, and now I’m lucky enough to have converted our formal living room into my studio.

I would love to hear what works for you for making an art studio in your house. Tell us about it. Do you have an art bin you slide out from under your bed, a corner of the dining room, or have you converted the garage into an art studio? We would love to hear your creative ideas for spaces, storage, inspiration boards – you name it! Tell us about it in the comments.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

P.S. Looking for Products I Mention?

These are affiliate links for some of the key things in my studio.

Lighting: Canvas Lamp – Use code: AMY10 to save 10%

Shelves: Kallax Ikea Shelves

Map Drawer: Safco Flat File

Make Journals Like Mine: Coptic Bound Journal Class: https://mindfulartstudio.com/shop/coptic-bound-journal/

Decoupaged Dresser 👉On the side of the road, then you DIY!

Repurposed Tables, bookshelves, and chairs 👉Your basement, attic, or local thrift shop

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I get a lot of questions about watercolor painting and supplies, so today I’m setting out to make a comprehensive guide to help you on your watercolor journey. Watercolor can be a very technical, precise art form, but lately I love to use it for layering gorgeous abstract swaths of color. One of the things I’m often chatting with folks in my membership about, is the importance of making room for playfulness so that when you are playing with watercolor or any other medium, it’s inviting, not intimidating.

I also use watercolor with my drawings in art journals. You can do so much with the basics.

I find that while it takes practice to get a hang of the basic watercolor techniques, if you don’t have good supplies, it doesn’t matter how much you practice, your results will never be the same as the ones you see in the tutorials. My advice is to buy a little bit of the best supplies you can afford, whatever that means for you.

However, if you already have some paints, just start with what you have and see where that takes you. If you are open to play and experiment, it can take you pretty far, and then if you decide you are really into watercolor, you can buy a nice brush and a few nice paints and pad of cotton paper.

I’ll walk you through what supplies I use, how I economize my materials and make them last a long time, and then teach you some basic techniques. At the end I’ve got a lovely invitation for you too:

Join us for the Watercolor Wonder Retreat on March 20th and 21st. You can learn more here – it’s on early bird sale!

Watercolor Paper

Most often I work on Arches cold press 140lb cotton watercolor paper cut into smaller pieces – sometimes in quarters, or sometimes small enough to fit in my hand. This helps me to experiment and push my ideas by working small. It also helps me feel less precious with the paper.

Cotton paper is more expensive than the wood pulp papers, such as the Strathmore papers I use for slow drawings, but the results for watercolor techniques are far superior using cotton paper. This is a great paper for doing watercolor bleeds and blooms that so many folks want to learn. Dick Blick also makes a pretty good paper for practicing.

Watercolor Brushes

I tend to use round brushes most because I find them versatile and easy to manipulate. I love the Golden Taklon or Utrecht series from Dick Blick.

I also love to paint with bamboo brushes for loopy, loose, organic lines in abstract pieces that I combine with my slow drawing patterns. Don’t worry, while it looks all messy when it’s dry, once you wet it, it gets that beautiful point.

How do I hold my brush?

Many people hold the brush closer than I do – on the ferrule. Experiment and see what feels comfortable for you and how you feel you get the best results.

Generally speaking I hold my brush the way I hold a pen or pencil, but a bit further back – just above the ferrule – the metal part that holds the bristles to the brush. When I’m doing tiny details, sometimes I hold it on the ferrule – closer to the tip.

If I find my hand is unsteady, like if I’m try to use the tip of my brush to make a very fine line, I will sometimes use my other hand to create a tripod of sorts and steady it. This really helps.

If I’m trying to make loose, intuitive lines, I will hold even further back on the brush and with a very light grip – this helps me to let go figuratively and literally and get the inner critic out of the way so that I can paint more freely.

Watercolor Palette

I mix on a big, white ceramic palette so I can see clearly what colors are mixing for me. You can also use white dinner plates or white plastic trays from the thrift store.

I’m hosting a lovely live gathering to teach all about how I create with watercolor on March 20th and 21st live on Zoom. Join us for the Watercolor Wonder Retreat March 20th and 21st. You can learn more here.

Since my palette does not have cups for dabs of watercolor paint, I squeeze my paint blobs onto the edge so that I can pull color into the palette to mix, but only intermingle it with other colors when I want to. This makes sure I have a big space in the middle for mixing colors, which is one of the most fun parts of watercolor painting for me.

Watercolor Paint

You don’t need a ton of watercolor paints. One of the most common misconceptions about watercolor paint is that you need to buy every color under the sun. Instead, buy a few basic colors in the highest quality paint you can afford, and then mix your own color variations. Your colors will be more dynamic and rich.

I love Daniel Smith watercolor paints, the colors are beautiful and intense. The watercolor tubes in the photo above show my entire collection of tubes. The ones I personally use most often shift with each creative project, but I especially love yellow ochre, burnt umber, rose madder permanent, indigo, and lately, quinacrindone burnt orange and phthalo turquiose.

For my projects, I typically only use 2 -3 colors at a time. I mix them liberally and get to understand the range of colors they can produce together. This creates a harmonious palette on my pieces, but also allows me to get to know each color well.

For a beginner, I would suggest purchasing a basic set of 6, such as this one from Daniel Smith. You can mix so many colors with these.

Isn’t watercolor paint expensive?

While each tube of watercolor paint is expensive – I find they last a long time. With acrylic paint, once you squeeze it out, you use it or lose it. Sometimes you might be able to save it a day with plastic wrap, but generally speaking you must use what you dispense and mix in the moment. I use and reuse the paint on my palette – and anything I squeeze out can be used today and on future sessions – you just add water to reactivate it. Also, because I tend to work small and experimental, my paints go a long way.

Water

Water is a really important element in watercolor painting. I love that because I feel like I am collaborating with nature when I paint. I use two water jars – one clean for creating a clear wash on the page when I do wet-on-wet technique, and one for rinsing my brush.

Since I let paint dry on my palette – I use my spray bottle to wet the colors I’m going to mix before I begin. I do this both for the paint blobs and for the mixed colors that have dried in the middle of my palette. I let spray water sit for a few minutes to activate the paint before I begin mixing – this helps me get intense colors.

How do you mix the beautiful colors you use?

I’d love to share with you about how I mix the colors I am using currently.

Let’s dive into this video about my basic watercolor techniques:

One thing I like to always suggest when mixing colors is to use a color test sheet.

If I need to mix more of a color, I can see how close I am to my initial mix and make adjustments. I can also see how my colors look next to one another before I commit to my painting.

Want more guidance and play?

I am hosting a watercolor live Zoom retreat on March 20th and 21st and you are invited to join us. Watercolor Wonder is two creative, luxurious evenings of exploring and dwelling in the flow of watercolor paint. You’ll get to know your paints and brushes through exploratory exercises. You’ll create blooming, bold clouds of color, and gentle washes and marks that will set the stage for your slow drawings and mark-making.

What are your favorite watercolor tips and tricks? Tell us about it in the comments!

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I love creating a yearly list of gifts for artists. I love getting gifts, don’t you? But as time goes by, I feel more and more strongly that it’s important to have a few high quality supplies that we use well, rather than tons of mediocre quality ones. There are a few reasons for that.

• Too many choices of supplies can feel overwhelming. When you’ve got a focus, it’s easier to sit down and begin.
  
• Jumping on every new technique and art supply can lead to perpetual dabbling, and mastery over nothing. I’m a big fan of rotating between techniques, but there is meaning and joy in delving deeply into each one.
• You can’t get the same effects with mediocre supplies. One of the things my students love the most in my work is the way my watercolors bloom with bold color. Frequently the reason they can’t get the same effect is because they are using poor quality paint or paper. Once they make the switch to a quality paper, suddenly they are filled with joy at the results.
• It’s environmentally friendly. And while I am far from perfect from an environmental perspective, (I still fly and wear plastic clothes, etc.) for me it’s feels important to begin weeding out some of the plastics in my art practice and to invite you to do it too if it feels right.

Environmentally Conscious Artist’s Bundle

Daniel Smith Watercolor Tubes

Choose a few key colors and then mix your own variations. I love the following:

Burnt Umber

Olive Green

Rose Madder Permanent

Phthalo Blue

Indigo

Yellow Ochre

Lemon Yellow

Lunar Black

Get The Guide to Creative Self-Care E-Course – Free!

Arches Watercolor Paper

Dick Blick Round Brush Set

Lamy Joy Fountain Pen with Black Document Ink

Draw Yourself Calm: Draw Slow to Stress Less

Mindful Art Studio Gift Certificate

Canvas Lamp

Folks ask me all the time how I film classes and live workshops, and how I photograph my work. They also ask me what light I use for paper cutting, drawing and painting. I’m happy to say that the Canvas lamp is what I use for all of the above. This is the best, brightest light for paper cutting and detailed painting and drawing. It’s also super easy to use for filming and photographing. I would highly recommend it. it is the ONLY product that I am a specific affiliate for, and that’s because I love it so much. It’s a small family-owned company that stands by their product and produces a quality item.

I hope that you found some of my suggestions useful. I’d love to hear what is on your artist wish list for this holiday season in the comments. Happy Holidays!

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I have always had a space dedicated to my art making. For years while living with roommates it was tiny – a container under my bed, or a small desk in my bedroom. Now I’m lucky enough to have an entire room in my house. Whether in a big or small space, I have always prioritized having art space because without it I barely make art, and I need art in my life to stay sane, make meaning, and find joy.

As a kid who lived in a chaotic household, organizing my space was something I could do to bring some order and predictability. Organizing comes easily to me because I can create outer order even when things inside feel hard or chaotic. But I know not everyone is like this. Creating and keeping an organized, uncluttered art space can be a huge challenge. That’s why today I want to share my top tips for organizing your studio.

Categorize and contain

One of the best ways to make sure your art space is organized and ready for you to create is to have your supplies categorized and contained. When you have some markers here, and some markers there, or some paints here, plus the ephemera you were using, your car registration, a to do list, and your coffee mug, it can feel chaotic, and not at all inspiring for making art.

Just even gathering your materials to start creating can be seriously overwhelming. My approach is to categorize and contain.

So in the image above, you can see I have a basket that has all sorts of paints and my paint towels. I contained each type of paint, and then housed everything in the paint category in the same space. This is the basic organizing formula that I follow.

Each set of paints is held in a clear zip pouch so I can easily find what I’m looking for. This way, when I want to paint, I know exactly where to find my watercolor tubes. When I’m done, whether at the end of the day, or perhaps when I’m finished with a project , I put things back where I found them so that my studio stays organized.

I love to use repurpose containers for holding my art supplies as well as art pieces. Here are some of the containers I typically use:

+ Jelly jars for pens, markers, pencils, scissors, brushes, and paint water

+ Jewelry boxes and pretty shipping boxes for holding art pieces, especially small slow drawings and natural treasures

+ Wicker baskets or pretty boxes for holding groups of similar supplies – like mark making materials, stamps and stamp pads, paints, papers, and natural materials.

+ Clear zip pouches for holding watercolor paints, acrylic paints, and oil paints. These, along with my paint towel, sit in a basket on my open shelves or quick access.

Get rid of stuff.

If I could share one top tip for creating an organized art space it’s this: get rid of stuff. When in doubt – get it out! Donate it, recycle or repurpose! Most of us have art spaces that are brimming with art supplies that are dried up, broken, or that we simply don’t use. It weighs us down and gets in the way of creating. If you spend half the time you have for making art just trying to find what you need, you feel defeated and exhausted before you even begin.

Check Out My Class: Studio Space

Make it pretty

I’ve found ways over the years to mix supplies, my own art, and natural materials in a way that speaks to my art process and makes me want to make more art. That’s what an art space should do, right?

Develop Organization Rituals

My final tip is to develop some rituals or habits that help you to clean up and keep things organized. Think about your personality and an organizing ritual that makes sense for you. For some of us, that means letting things get really wild and crazy while we are in the midst of a creative project, but then clearing it all out when it’s complete. For others, it means mostly clearing out our art table at the end of the day, but leaving some creative breadcrumbs to help us pick up where we left off the following day. And some folks will enjoy having a seasonal or yearly ritual of organizing and clearing out.

Comment to Enter The Studio Space Giveaway!

I’d love to hear about what helps you to have an organized space for art making. And, when you comment on this post, you’ll be entered into a random drawing for a free spot in my class:

Studio Space: Design + Create Your Unique Home Art Studio.

I can’t wait to hear about what helps you stay organized in your studio, as well as what feels tricky.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

Each year I compile a list of books that have been important to me and my creative life during the year. I hope you find a few that speak to you here, and that you comment at the bottom to add to the list.

Art + Drawing Books:

Life is Better When You Draw It, Koosje Koene

One of the things I find most important as a teacher is offering invitations, not directives. I want students to feel enticed, delighted, and in love with the process of making – this is exactly what I feel as I read Koene’s book on drawing. In fact, I’m having a hard time making it through, because every few pages I just have to put it down and draw. For anyone looking to develop a drawing habit, this is a must have.

Draw Yourself Calm: Draw Slow to Stress Less, Amy Maricle

It may be a bit cheeky of me to include my own book in this year’s list of my favorites, but I made this book for you, and I want you to have it. I think you’ll love all the step by step nature-inspired patterns and the many, many invitations to make this practice your own. I hope to entice you to draw more, and look for your own patterns in nature everywhere you go.

The Unwinding, And Other Dreamings, Jackie Morris

If you want to be swept away, to be inspired, to be transported into a world a of dreams and possibility, and creative joy, then pick up this book. Jackie Morris’ attention to the details and wonder of the natural world will transport you.

Things to Look Forward To, Sophie Blackall

This is a beautifully illustrated book, which, like mine, was born out of the difficulty of the pandemic. When she felt hopeless and dark in the midst of difficulty, she decided to start listing and drawing simple things she looked forward to each day. I find Blackall’s illustrations and words gorgeous in their celebration of the joy of simple things and experiences.

Painting the Feminine, Connie Solera

Painting the Feminine is a wonderfully inviting art journal full of gorgeous imagery, and you are invited to paint ALL OVER IT. It’s an art journal full of starting places and themes centering around embracing the power of the feminine in all of us. Unfortunately for the moment it looks like pre-ordering is closed, but my guess is if you sign up for her list, you’ll know when the next round might be available.

Creativity:

The Motherhood of Art, Marissa Huber + Heather Kirtland

This is a beautiful, inspiring book made for mothers who are artists, mothers who think perhaps they could dare to make art, and mothers who haven’t dared to create, but wish they could. Real women speak to the difficulties and joys of balancing making and mothering. You’ll be inspired by their spaces and their work, and validated by their words.

Finding One’s Way with Clay, Paulus Berensohn

While I never had the opportunity to meet Paulus, I’ve been touched deeply by his work, and find so many connections between our approaches and beliefs about the creative process. While this book is about working with clay, it’s also very much a work about how to embrace the creative process, and how to create in a mindful, enriching way.

Show Your Work, Austin Kleon

Be validated. Be inspired. If you’ve read Kleon’s other books, you know his bite sized, graphically pleasing presentation will help you move your creative process forward.

The Reset Workbook, Justin Shiels

I’m excited to use this workbook as part of my end of year review. There’s great questions like what makes you feel energized, and what your body needs right now, and assistance on focusing on goals.

Creating with Natural Materials:

Outside of making a few inks and dying some papers, I have not made a lot of my own art making materials just yet. These books are great resources for the artist who would like to make more art and use less plastic.

The Organic Artist: Make Your Own Paint, Paper, Pigments, Prints, and More from Nature, Nick Neddo

Earthen Pigments: Hand-Gathering + Using Natural Colors in Art, Sandy Webster

Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found, Alice Fox.

I find everything Alice Fox does to be incredibly inspiring. This is a wish list item for me.

Nature Books:

Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake

Be prepared to have your mind blown about fungi intelligence and their absolute necessity in our world.

What books are your favorites from this year? What’s on your wish list? Tell us all about it in the comments.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

The post The Mindful Art Studio Book List 2022 appeared first on Mindful Art Studio®.

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

For some of us, it can be hard to make time and space for art making. It’s easier to buy art supplies than to create with them. It’s easier to put the things that need to be dealt with in your art space, than to deal with them.

Some of the issue is not knowing how to organize effectively, but I find a bigger issue is needing to be more intentional about your art space. This is a useful question: Which things in your art space move your art practice forward, and which get in the way of it?

Does all that stuff help you create more?

Do any of these clutter predicaments sound familiar?

There’s no open table space for you to work on. 

You have supplies for types of art you never practice.

Supplies that looked enticing in the store intimidate you at home.

You have too many supplies and can’t find the ones you’d like to use.

Your art work is piling up and you have nowhere to put it. 

Acquiring more supplies, more art classes, and more material things is a bit of a disease in Western culture. It’s no wonder – we look at little screens all day and we are promised again and again that material things will be the balm that calms the anxiety and unrest inside. And while it helps for a bit, it’s short-lived, and like an addict we go back for more.

I’m inviting you to clear the clutter from your studio, not in service of perfectionism or color-coded book shelves (unless you love that), but in order to make space for an open, wild, creative process. I’m inviting you to an art process that is adventurous, and focused on exploration What makes you curious? What would you like to explore further? What are your what if questions?

Join the Studio Clear Out Challenge July 11 – 15, 2022:

I’m inviting you to pare down to the things that truly move your art practice forward, not the distractions that promised a quick fix.

I could see this much more clearly when the world slowed down in 2020. I could no longer go shopping or buy myself a coffee when I felt uneasy.

Instead I went into the woods. I brought my anxieties to the trees, the stream, and the leaves. They listened. It helped. And I brought these inspirations home to my studio. My art listened. It helped. My art evolved because of the deeper conversation I was having with nature, which created a deeper conversation with my art.

As much as we want to make art, as much as we want to develop our practice and our “voice,” it’s scary. There’s a lot of judgment that might fall down on us – the world’s and our own.

There’s a difference between clutter and things that don’t get in the way of your art process, and a good percolation station. Artist Jenny Phillips creates a new wall of natural inspirations each year and allows it to help direct and influence her work.

I love to let different pieces sit and percolate together, and see how they might influence each other or come together.

My goal is to help you have the deepest, most joyful and fulfilling art practice you can. But I believe having a joyful and productive art process means having respect for your art space; making it sacred and bringing things into it in a purposeful way.

This week we are coming together as a community to do a Studio Clear Out Challenge. Each day I will visit your inbox with a written prompt for a category to thin down and clear out of your studio.

It’s not too late to join us, and we would love to have you. You can sign up here:

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

While I tend towards minimalism, I enjoy a new art supply from time to time as much as the next person. But for me this is the key: I buy just a few, high quality supplies so that they work well and keep me having fun. Here are a few of the supplies I’ve really been enjoying this year, that folks ask about the most.

Tracing Paper

If you have taken some of my art journaling classes, you might know that I am obsessed with tracing paper. It’s an amazing substance for adding light, airy layers in your journal or on standalone art pieces. I draw on it, paint on it, and make cut outs from it.

Daniel Smith paints

I love Daniel Smith watercolor paints. They have intense, beautiful color. I often recommend their travel set, pictured below, which I use a lot. But working with the different colors I have in tubes and being able to spread out on a larger palette to mix colors freely is very satisfying.

Watercolor Palette

Speaking of palettes, this palette is a wishlist item for me. (Hello, Santa? Are you listening?) I love the fact that this palette is large and made of porcelain instead of plastic.

Dick Blick Masterstroke Watercolor Brushes

I love these brushes. The bristles keep their shape and stand up to mixing and blending. I would buy these Dick Blick Masterstroke brushes again and again.

Watercolor Paper

When I want to work on something that I hope might be frame worthy, I always reach for my Arches watercolor paper. It’s a beautiful, high quality paper that takes in the color and shows off my work. I love the feel of the textured surface.

Fountain Pen and Ink

As part of my quest to minimize the plastic I’m using in my art practice. I decided to start with the low-hanging fruit: my pens. I am IN LOVE with my Lamy Joy pen (pictured above), and my Sailor fountain pen with fude nib. They are great for doing slow drawing, drawing people and my dogs, or writing my to do list. Find my fountain pens, inks, and re-usable ink cartridges on my favorite supplies page under pens.

Draw Yourself Calm: Draw Slow, Stress Less

One of the things that surprised me at my book signings was how many folks bought multiple copies of my book, Draw Yourself Calm, so that they could enjoy it themselves, but also give it as a gift.

What’s on your wish list this year?

Creatively Yours,

Amy

The post The Best Gifts for Artists 2022 appeared first on Mindful Art Studio®.

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

This year, in the spirit of reducing the amount of stuff that might end up in our oceans or landfills, I’m suggesting some less tangible, but highly valuable gifts. Some of them are completely free, and others are an investment. Each of them is a way for you to make the artist in your life feel loved and supported in their creativity. That, to me, is priceless.

Time

Time is one of the best things you can give the artist in your life. It’s also one of the most supportive. So often artists, especially ones who do not make their living from art, feel guilty spending time on their creative practice. Given Western culture’s obsession with “productivity,” it can feel hard to justify doing something at a non-professional level simply for our enjoyment. You can’t underestimate how supportive it is for your partner to say, “You deserve this, and I’m going to help facilitate it for you.”

Make a Creative Time Gift Certificate.

Make a plan, put it in the calendar, and be specific. “The second Saturday of each month in 2022 is Jenny’s Art Day. This is a day to dedicate to your art practice. You might choose to create, organize your space, or go to a museum, and I will do everything I can to protect this time for you.” (Can I get a few of these please?)

You can download a PDF of the art time gift certificate.

Art Retreats and Getaways – in Person

There are several wonderful artists offering in person art retreats where you can connect with your creative spirit and a group of like minded creatives. I’m super pleased to tell you that I’ll be offering a workshop at Snow Farm Craft this year. It’s located in the foothills of the Berkshires, and I can’t wait to share more details next month.

If you are looking for a relaxing adventure, check out The Traveling Bookbinder, who has book binding retreats on the Isle of Iona in Scotland. (Wouldn’t that be a dream?) And of course, you can travel to Mexico with Connie Solera, and Morocco with Flora Bowley. While this kind of experience is the priciest sort, if you can make it happen, the experience of creating in community gives back for years to come.

Art Retreats – Online

I’ve used my experience as an art therapist and mindful artist to make these experiences my specialty. I adore creating community with a group of folks from across the globe who gather, support one another, and create more than they dreamed possible on their own. Gift Certificates available for upcoming retreats in 2022.

Art Memberships

I got this idea from the lovely gals at the Art Juice podcast. (You can check it out here.) A membership to a local art museum is a wonderful way to give permission for art indulgence and nurturing. Imagine heading out to your favorite exhibit on a whim for only the price of gas or train. And a membership to a local artist’s association is a great way to help build an artist’s connections to their community.

What are your wishes for art gifts this year? Let’s chat about it in the comments.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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