Gentle artist dates to nourish your creative self
when you're tired, going through a tough time, or have other limitations.
Dear all
This week, I took a field trip with my 16 year old who is studying A Level Art History at home online. We went to the National Portrait Gallery in London. I loved all the little stories of artists and inspirational people who were doing things outside of societal norms.
I feel so lucky that we were even doing this considering how I felt this time last year when it became clear that my 16 year old could no longer go to school (Here’s this week’s Woman’s Hour summing up the widespread problems).
This portrait of George Villiers was my favourite. I mean…look at those shoes! This painting is so much bigger and shinier in real life and it gave me so much joy to look at it.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about morning pages, which I have been continuing and enjoying more in the past couple of weeks. It’s half an hour just for me and a way to clear my head and focus for the day. I am also thankful that I can begin the day writing without having to rush to get the kids up for school.
Another of Julia Cameron’s tools from The Artist’s Way is the Artist’s Date, which is a couple of hours a week doing something fun and playful on your own. Although I wasn’t on my own, the trip to The National Gallery reminded me of the importance of filling my creative well. It took me outside of my usual routine and connected me to ideas out of myself.
I have never really built a weekly habit of artist dates, partly because I was busy mothering and working, but also because I live in a village. So the idea of going to art galleries, book shops, antique shops didn’t really resonate with anything that felt possible for me and I didn’t take the time to think about what else I could do. I create fun activities for my creative writing groups every week, but when I give them to myself to do alone, it still feels indulgent and decadent!
Last year, as part of my Moonpause project, I made a collage and a mandala and gave myself other moon-related activities to do. And as this season shifts, I’m feeling that it’s becoming necessary to nourish my creative self. As soon as I schedule something in my diary though, especially if it’s just for me, it feels too much like an obligation and I’m probably not going to do it. I want my time to open up not be boxed in. So if I begin with an intention and then a list of possibilities, it feels kinder.
This is a gentle (could do one day if I feel like it) list of artist date ideas:
take a camping chair outside and stare up at the sky (either at night or in the day)
pick a few wildflowers and display in a vase
take an art tutorial on YouTube
light a candle and sit for a while watching the flame
pick a tarot or other oracle card out of the deck, leave it out so you can see it during your day
create or sort through a button tin
do some colouring in, sketching or any handcraft that slows your mind down
bake a cake or make soup
drive out to a nearby viewpoint with a flask of tea and a few picnic snacks
watch an old film in the afternoon
lie on the sofa and look at a book with more pictures than words
set a timer for five minutes, sit, listen to soothing music and notice your breath
What ideas for gentle artist dates do you have? What would you do with a couple of hours to yourself to replenish your creativity?
Creative Writing Workshops with me (Mel Parks)
Tuesday afternoons on Zoom (2-3pm UK time)
£8 per month or £80 per year with a paid Awen Substack subscription.
You can come to as many as you are able to. The new season began on Tuesday 10 September 2-3pm (UK time) but you can join in at anytime.
If you are not able to subscribe (or don’t want to!), then please email me for alternative ways to join.
Becoming a Writer
Monthly Tuesday evenings in East Grinstead (7-9pm)
A monthly creative writing workshop for beginners. Plenty of fun writing prompts, games and activities to get your creative juices flowing.
Each session costs £30.
The Writer’s Notebook
Weekly Thursday mornings in East Grinstead (10-12noon).
Series of five weeks from 7 November to 5 December. £135 for all five weeks.
Until next time…
I appreciate these gentle suggestions Mel, thank you. I smiled at "sorting buttons" because over the years I've collected enough to stock a small shop - what a lovely way to interact with all those yummy colours and shapes.