Jun 19, 2017 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: If you’ve been hanging around in the Mindful Art Studio community for any period of time, you know about my passion for dots. I’ve enjoyed doing simple patterns for some time, but since discovering high flow liquid acrylic... 
May 1, 2017 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: We have been talking this year about creative goals, and at different intervals, I’ve been checking in with you about mine. I’m happy to report that I’ve been pretty faithful to my goals, and I want to share how.... 
Feb 21, 2017 | Creative Self-Care, Spirituality
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Honestly, there is so much that can get in the way of a creative life. Creative endeavors are an extra, right? A bonus for those who have time. A benefit for the rich. Unless you are an artist, creative projects are for retired people who... 
Jan 31, 2017 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Let’s make time to make art. It’s time to clear out the emotional cobwebs, and find the joy in creation and connection. You deserve creative self-care. Let’s get started with some concrete ways you can make more art.... 
Dec 5, 2016 | Art Supplies, Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful Creative You: I frequently get questions about what to give creative people and art journalists. Most artists I know get pretty darn excited about supplies, and I like to make it easy for their loved ones to wow them with inspiring goodies in a little... 
Nov 18, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Today is the last day in the Creative Self-Care interview series, and in a way, I’ve saved the most powerful story for last. Joy Simon is an artist who I’ve known through the Mindful Art Studio community for a few years now.... 
Nov 17, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Today’s interview is with Barbara Shelton, an amazing artist who has used art through recovery from a serious injury to her body and soul. I think her relationship with art, the inner critic, and her need to create will resonate... 
Nov 16, 2016 | Creative Self-Care, Spirituality
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: We have arrived at day three of our interview series and I’m thrilled to introduce you to Vanessa Oliver-Lloyd. I met Vanessa several months ago when she took my online class, Freeing the Muse. Her passion for art and the courage... 
Nov 15, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This is part of an interview series on members of the Mindful Art Studio community who have used art as self-care. You can find all the interviews in this series: Day 1: Finding the Courage to Create with Guylaine Morin Day 2: Using... 
Nov 14, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Each day this week I’ll be bringing you an interview with an artist from the Mindful Art Studio community. These women are just like you. They will share how, despite the voices of self-doubt, they use paint, words, photography,... 
Oct 24, 2016 | Creative Self-Care, Spirituality
Hello Wonderful, Creative You: I recently picked up Big Magic* by Elizabeth Gilbert. (Did you catch her podcast interview with Krista Tippet at On Being?) I was excited to hear her talking about how to get inspired to create, and the connections between her... 
Oct 3, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
The Beauty of Imperfection Dear Wonderful, Creative You: In today’s edition of the You Are an Artist Podcast, I’m thrilled to be talking with fiddler, step dancer, singer-songwriter virtuoso: April Verch. We are talking about the beauty of... 
Jul 27, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Today I have a the honor of doing a guest post on Tinkerlab about how our kids can teach us creative self-care. Have you been on Tinkerlab with Rachelle Doorley yet? It’s an amazing art education site. Rachelle focuses on art education for kids and... 
Jul 20, 2016 | Creative Self-Care, Favorite, Mindfulness, Spirituality
I’ve been trying to find the words to describe why working abstract, with no plan, and letting go of the outcome is such a mindful, exciting, and yet calming experience all at once. It’s one of my main forms of creative self-care these days, and... 
Jul 8, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
At the end of the day, you’re tired, you’re stressed, and it’s too easy to reach for a glass of wine, watch tv, or get caught up for hours on social media. While brainless activity is sometimes important for letting go, when it’s your only... Jun 20, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: If you’ve hung out here at Mindful Art Studio you know that creative self-care is what I’m about – how to use simple art techniques to express your feelings in a playful, joyful way. As someone who tends toward the more... 
Jun 3, 2016 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care
[bctt tweet=”Children ALL express their feelings through art. You can too. #artjournaling”] Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Even non-artists can learn to express and explore their inner worlds and release stress through some simple art techniques, it’s... 
May 16, 2016 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care, Mindfulness
[bctt tweet=”It’s amazing how making a tiny art piece can help you with such big feelings. “] The BIG power of working small is that it gives you permission to experiment. If you’d like to learn more about working this way and finding your... 
Apr 8, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
[bctt tweet=”This is the crazytown, badass, bitchin’ interview with Roxanne Coble – @bybun.”] Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Can you tell I’m super excited to share this post with you? I always say I’m more excited about my... 
Mar 11, 2016 | Creative Self-Care, Mindfulness
(If the Soundcloud app pops up asking you to download, you can just “X” out of it and continue playing the podcast here.) You can now access the replay from Art Journaling Freedom. I’ve created a classed called, Freeing the Muse. You... 
Jan 20, 2016 | Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I am waaay excited to be sharing this free online class with you! A while back I did a post focused on embracing the imperfections in your art. I showed you my “ugly” art journal pages, and you spoke loudly about how seeing... 
Jan 4, 2016 | Creative Self-Care
This is Your Year of Creative YES. Yes, your year. Yes is such a powerful word. Artists and thinkers of all kinds have written about the power of YES, from SARK, to business leaders, to ABC executive producer and writer, Shonda Rhimes in her book, Year of Yes. When we... 
Dec 2, 2015 | Art Supplies, Creative Self-Care
Whether you looking for the best gifts for the artist in your life, or you are an artist hoping to pass on a wish list, I’m sharing some of my favorite art supplies, online classes, and inspiring art retreats. I’m hoping this list will have something for... Nov 12, 2015 | Creative Self-Care
Create Because You Must I want you to believe in your art. No matter what others might say, or how much self-doubt you might feel, you ARE an artist. If you are reading this blog, chances are, whether you indulge this feeling or not, you feel the need to create in... 
Oct 30, 2015 | Creative Self-Care
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... 
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... 
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.)... 
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... 
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... 
Aug 7, 2015 | Creative Self-Care, Wellness
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: It’s the last day of the challenge! How has your week been? I have been loving the connection, engagement, and stories that you have shared. I’m always so inspired by you during these challenges. Today’s challenge is to... 