Mindfulness and art go hand in hand as creating can be a relaxing and contemplative practice. Whether you sit down and choose to create without intention or simply cast aside the pressures of ‘good art’, there’s loads of ways to get in a mindful headspace. Check out some simple activities to try down below and find your inner artist in peace.
Clay leaf impressions
Spend some time in nature collecting fallen leaves, flowers, twigs, and more for this cute craft. Simply roll out some air dry clay and press your foraged goodies into it. You can cut this clay into shapes and seal it once dry for coasters or simply enjoy being present while creating. This activity is fab for all ages!
Continuous line drawing
Have you heard of continuous line drawings? It’s when you sketch a scene, portrait, or anything really, without lifting your pen from the page. Learn how to do this by checking out the video above – it’s a great way to think differently about art and let your pen guide you across the page.
Paper tear art
This activity has two satisfying components – ripping paper and chromatic ombres. Open up your sketchbook and grab some colourful paper. Rip up the paper into strips and arrange them on your pages in an order that tickles your fancy. This can be the background to a larger artwork or just a fun activity to relieve stress.
Petal painting
Try out this satisfying one-stroke petal technique and let your brush take the lead. Prepare two colours for your flower, dip into both, and then push your brush up and back on itself to taper the petal. Repeat this process until you make a bouquet and stay present with the movement of your brush. Check out the video for an up-close tutorial!
Ink line art
Dive into fluid lines and flowing ink by experimenting with linework. Trust the process, be mindful, and let the ink take the lead! Keep a loose wrist and focus on curved, organic lines for your base, going back in with finer details as you please. You can keep it monochromatic or mix it up with colours depending on your mood and style.
Make a colour chart
Bring it back to the basics and really get to know your colours by making a paint chart. We’ll show you how we do it in the studio, as well as how you can use the chart when creating. Keep your mind focused on the clean lines and colouring, knowing there’s no pressure to be perfect as this is just for fun!
Crystal and clay
If you’ve got some crystals, gems, or stones lying around, why not make them into an artwork that you can display? Pick the ones that you think go well together and push them into air dry clay. You can make shapes with the crystals or just place them wherever you like. Now you can see your fave crystals all at once and hang them on the wall!
Drip painting technique
Explore fluid art and let gravity do the work with drip painting. Colourful artist Poppy Key will walk you through one of her favourite ways to create, using pouring paints in squeezy bottles. Applying the drips in layers, Poppy builds up a design slowly but surely, overlapping harmonious colours along the way.
Creating in nature
Get outdoors to your local park or backyard and set yourself up to create. Breathe in the fresh air and let the colours around you inspire your artwork. Whether you're there for 5min or 5 hours, it's grounding to be present and intuitively create.
If this collection of calming creations inspires you to make something, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what you come up with! You may need some air dry clay, inks, colourful paper, or pouring paints to kick start your mindful moment.
If you want to see more art, browse our Inspo collection. You can sign-up to Creative Connection by popping in your email down below to get stacks of free art projects sent straight to you. We’re here to keep you inspired!
