connect with art
Art brings our attention to the present moment.
Art making is a weekly newsletter about the practice of making art. I hope to encourage people to start their own practice to give themselves the space to explore, learn, and play…
One of the benefits of making art is that it grounds us and brings our attention to the present moment. This has a calming affect on our nervous system and will help our bodies lean into a rest and relax mode rather than the flight/ go, go, go mode. We can handle a lot, but we are not meant to be constantly on the go with stress weighing us down.
Making art of any kind can help us slow down, shift our thinking to what we are making, and remind our bodies to breathe and rest. Even five minutes of making can be enough for a shift to take place. Often it can produce a noticeable unclenching of the jaw or shoulders along with a deep breath.
It doesn’t matter what kind of art you make or what it looks like. Beautiful isn’t the goal, it’s about focusing on the making, letting go of your running to-do list, and having fun. I like to remind myself that before I can make beautiful art, I have to make a lot of beautiful messes.
When we shift to making mode our eyes and senses have to be alert to possibilities, noticing what calls our attention and engages our imagination. The more we practice making, the stronger our playful skills become. We’re learning to strengthen our creative muscle.
Taking time to make builds a connection between our imagination and our hands. Being able to have an idea and make it come to life is a skill that can be transferred to any area in your life. The more you practice the more ideas you will have, it’s a cycle that will energize you and create momentum.
Even if there’s not time for art supplies, you can play with your phone’s camera to capture details that speak to you. Zoom in close to see details. Allow the camera to open up new ways of seeing the everyday. This can also help you become more in tune with what your attention is naturally drawn to. Is it flowers, pods, graphic lines, bold color?
Giving ourselves the space to connect to art making without focusing on the outcome helps open our hearts to the practice and begins to reiterate how important the process of making truly is. Lean into the pause of creative play and let your mind relax while your heart leads the way… 💛
art making is a weekly publication. You can support this work with a 💛, a comment, a share, or subscribe. Make your art and share it!