You may be thinking I’m not an artist. I can’t draw. If you can pick up a crayon or my favorite, a paintbrush, and make marks, then you are creating art.

Making things is good for my soul. I want to share the powerful lessons on how art helps me grow.

Art Helps Me Relax and Not Take Myself Too Seriously

.Oh, I love Austin Kleon’s book Don’t Call It Art. As a kid, I loved making a mess and making anything. I always had a big curiosity, still do. Then came the days when I thought too much about what art is supposed to be. Real artists have a canvas. The more I create, the more I can make art, and these days, the more imperfect the better my art seems to be. Life is so much better when you just be! A great example of this is when I had the idea to paint with ornaments.

Art Is Peace

A big problem is worry. Do you worry about what others think or how you’ll measure up? Or worry about other areas in your life. The more I paint, the more optimistic I become. I can honestly say that these days, I am too busy doing my own thing and loving it. This has become my frame of reference. Whatever negative thought I was feeling, I let it go. It just goes, and you have an immense peace. Just make art! Then comes the problem of wait this was so easy. Is this really art? Yes, I have thought about that. I paint these random doodles, and I feel like that is some of my best work. I doubt it because all I did was pick up the paintbrush and make marks.

Art Unifies Us All

I spread the following words throughout my website. There is room for all of us! I have painted with artists of all ages. I have been fortunate to observe what happens when curiosity opens the door to freedom. It is always grown-ups who say I am no artist. I can’t draw. I have grown since then. Once you pick up the brush and begin painting, magic happens after a while. The key is to allow yourself that time and let go. My heart is with my youngest artists. They always have wonderful ideas because they have no preconceived notion of what art is. They are simply curious and want to make a mess.

Fun Project Idea

What is your favorite store? Browse online or in store, your choice. What flowers call your attention? Maybe it’s a pattern? Then, with that idea on your mind, paint. Mix up a color you observed in the store. Or use your favorite color. Then start making marks. Encourage yourself to keep going. Use copy paper so you can use multiple sheets if need be.

Bonus idea

Grab a piece of copy paper and a pencil? With your eyes closed, put your pencil on the paper and draw a line. Keep that line going and make marks on the page. Do loops. Try to fill the page. Then open your eyes and observe the shapes. What do you notice? What do the shapes look like? Animals, letters, Flowers, Leaves? It’s your call.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed these ideas. If you try them, let me know. Maybe you have your own idea. Wonderful!