THE BLOG

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

Welcome to MINDFUL ART STUDIO®. I am Amy and I’m here to show you how to paint from your heart and soul and play with art again.

STAY CONNECTED

Join a community of encouraging artists who want to find calm and connection through art.

Trusting Your Ideas

Dear Wonderful Creative You, One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is why...

Fine Line Flower Tutorial

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Over the last six years, presenting roughly 40 different patterns...

Developing Your Artistic Voice

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This quarter in The Gathering, we are focused on developing your...

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Making art consistently takes dedication AND inspiration. Books frequently light my creative fire. They key to gathering inspiration is not not just read, but to let art books spur you into creative action! [bctt tweet="Making art...

10 Artists Who Inspire Me to Make More Art

Oct 22, 2015 | Creative Self-Care

Inspiration is a funny thing, isn't it? Sometimes it seems to come running at you full speed, while at others, it's nowhere to be found. Even when you do feel inspired to write, paint, sew, dance, or make music, sometimes getting started can feel overwhelming....

12 Ways to Make an Art Studio at Home

Oct 8, 2015 | Art Supplies, Favorite

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the things students consistently say gets in the way of making art is not having an art space. I'd like to share some ideas for creating a fun and functional art space you can really use in your home. I've had art studios in all...

Make a Shared Art Journal with Kids

Sep 28, 2015 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care

Over the last few weeks we have been talking about different ways to use your art journal for self-care. (You can find the posts on Simple Drawing Techniques for Anxiety, The DIY Adult Coloring Book, and 10 ways to make your own art journal by clicking the links.)...

The DIY Adult Coloring Book

Sep 24, 2015 | Art Tutorials

DISCLAIMER: This coloring book is a tool you may use as art for self-care. It is not art therapy. If you are experiencing overwhelming emotions, please seek support from a professional in your area. You can find a listing of wonderful art therapists here. [bctt...

Simple Drawing Techniques for Anxiety

Sep 17, 2015 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care, Favorite

Dear Wonderful, Creative You, I don't normally like to engage in "telling secrets," but today I will, because I want to share three artistic secrets with you. Don't tell anyone. Unless you like them. Or find them useful, or fun, or entertaining. Then please tell them...

10 Handmade Art Journals You’ll Want to Make

Aug 31, 2015 | Art Tutorials

Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Handmade art journals inspire me. They offer so much creative control and choice. You can determine the shape, size, and density of your art journal, and whether, and how, it is bound. You may use traditional bookbinding...

How I Find Artistic Inspiration and Beat the Inner Critic

Aug 13, 2015 | Creative Self-Care

My Artistic Journey As a little girl, I always loved to sing and act. I was known as the "ham," (okay, yes, I'm still known as a ham.) For years, I begged my mother to take me on auditions in New York. My parents were not the type to indulge such an expensive,...