Achieving Mind-Zen with Creative Reflection
Creative reflection, whether through art or writing, has always been a grounding force in my life. Journaling with words helps because when I put my thoughts and feelings down on paper, it is almost as if I have physically moved those thoughts from my head and to a safe place I know can easily return to later. I give myself permission to move on, knowing I can always come back to them at a future time when I am ready to deal with them more fully or, if the thoughts are negative and self-defeating, get rid of them altogether.
Art Journaling
Journal art (more specifically, art I make on the pages of a journal as opposed to art I intend to share or display) also has a therapeutic effect, even though the process is a bit different. Because the art I put in my journal is solely for me, I don’t worry about the way it will turn out. Also, the art in my journal is usually either very simplistic, things like tangled lines and mandalas, or sketches and studies meant to document my art explorations or just to be a snapshot in time. Activities like this always help me to ease from my left brain, analytical thinking mode, into my creative right brain state of mind. It gives me a chance to process my thoughts and ultimately helps to quiet the noisy chatter in my head. For more on the benefits of art journaling, click here.
For those just beginning to explore their creativity, graphic art and illustrative techniques are the perfect way to get started. The simplified shapes and patterns make this art style easy to create and non-intimidating. And as an added benefit, the techniques you learn now will continue to be a great help later if you decide to continue on to develop your expressive art skills (and encourage your “soul-zen”, the third piece of the wellness balance).
Mandalas and Tangled Lines
I consider mandala-making and tangled line art (my version of “Zentangling”, except without any of the rules) a “gateway art form”. It is perfect for anyone just starting out because it’s non-intimidating; There is a simple formula, you don’t need any special drawing skills, and you’ll be amazed at the beautiful results you can achieve doing something so simple. Plus, you can make these using practically any art medium.
- You can stick to basic black and white design using pencil or pen
- You can grab a pan of watercolors and use it as a warm-up activity to ease you into your right brain mentality
- Or gather a few round stamping tools and some craft paint and make a colorful dot mandalas and line designs
For more information, check out my mandala article here, and my Dot Mandala YouTube video here.
Botanical Illustrations
To me, this is a simplified application of Mandalas and Tangled Lines where the theme is Leaves, Petals and Vines. They can run in series along a line or curve, or they can be grouped to form individual clippings or plants. They can stand alone, or be used to make frames and accessory art for your journal pages. More on this coming soon!
Creative Writing & Lettering
Words are powerful. Whether you are documenting your creative journey with an Artist’s Log, maintaining a gratitude journal, or embellishing an Expressive Art Journal, creative lettering techniques can help you to incorporate your words as a beautiful and meaningful design element. I stumbled across an amazing YouTube video in which an artist demonstrates how to create these beautiful zentangle patterned monograms and I just had to share it. If you are looking for a beautiful way to embellish your words and pages, check this out: Joanne Fink’s Zenspirations video.
Journal Making & Handmade Books
I love filling the pages of a journal with my art, but it’s even more enjoyable and inspiring when I am filling the pages of a journal that I designed and constructed myself. Handmade journals can be any size, can be filled with any kind or combination of papers, and can be as elaborate or simple as you want. They can even be made with inexpensive or free recycled materials, which makes them not only environmentally friendly but a great way to ditch the fear and guilt you might feel about “messing up” the pages of a pricey, purchased journal. To learn more about how to make your own handmade journals, click here.