Month 7: Mindfulness & Art

JOURNAL

Mindful Creative Moments

Mindfulness at its core is focused awareness on the present moment. Many people come to a mindfulness practice through meditation or perhaps through a yoga practice. When I first started to delve into mindfulness, I really struggled to be in the present moment following my breath. I discovered that art provided a wonderful anchor for me to practice mindfulness in a way that felt authentic to me. I have since learned to tap into mindful moments in more traditional ways as well, but art is still my preferred practice. Creating in a mindful way is a bit different than simply sitting down to create. You first need to embrace an open mindset. You need to allow yourself to be present in the moment and not focused on an end result. This can take practice. It can be very challenging to let go of the end product and to allow your art to simply unfold. Mindful art is about witnessing your creative journey as it flows through you. Below are a few tips to get you started in a mindful art practice.

Creating Art in a Mindful way

Step 1: Release Expectations

Mindfulness in art starts with releasing expectations. This is not the time to have predetermined results in mind. Practice allowing your curiosity to lead the way. What might happen if I were to …? What is next? How do I respond to… ? No judgements. Your art does not need to be beautiful or even make sense at all. Allow it to simply unfold.

Step 2: Tune into your senses

Tuning into your senses is a great way to stay in the present moment. Notice your breath, how does it feel in your body as you create? How does the pencil or paint brush feel in your hand? Listen to the sound of the pencil moving across your page or the paper tearing as you create a collage. Smell the paint you are using or the paper you are drawing on. Watch as the color moves on the page when you drip paint into a puddle of water. Follow your curiosity and see where it takes you.

Step 3: Pause & Notice

Take time to pause and notice. We tend to move through life quickly, and in doing so we miss a lot of small moments. As you create mindfully, I encourage you to pause, move slowly, and notice all of the little things that are easily missed. Notice the textures and the colors around you. Notice the way one paint color blends with its neighbor color, or the patterns that emerge as you create. Slowing down can help you to stay present with the experience of creating.

Month 7 Prompts

Art-Break

Mindful Photo Walk

Take a Mindful Photo Walk. We have done this before in month 5. This time we will add a little twist. Instead of looking for anything that grabs your eye, try focusing on a specific theme. For example texture or shape. Pausing to notice help you stay mindful in the present moment.

Reflect: How did it feel to slow down and notice?

Reflection

Once you have completed your mindful art activity, take a moment to reflect on your experience. What did you notice? How did it feel to create in a mindful way? Were there any challenges that arose? Reflect on what Creative Mindfulness means to you. How could a practice fit into your life?

Support your practice this month:

Related Blog Posts

Tips, Prompts, & Special Offerings

“Creativity requires introspection, self-examination, and a willingness to take risks.”

Eric Maisel