Mamas! This is for you! Have you been feeling the stress and the strain of being in quarantine? Have you been wanting to take some time for yourself, to relax and unwind, but end up scrolling through your phone and feeling more stressed instead? Or maybe you get the supplies for an art project, but shove them in a closet when you realize you won’t actually use them. Or maybe, you are working from home while juggling childcare, and you fall asleep just about as soon as your head hits the pillow at night!
Well, whichever of those scenarios describes you, you can still find time for even just a few minutes of art, to unwind and relax. By the end of this article, you are going to be able to tap into your creative self, and start to regularly unwind with a little art, even if you only have 5 minutes! I know because I am a (mostly happily) busy mama of 2 little boys. For the past several months, I have been finding ways to fit in art (for myself, not for anyone else!!), and I have been loving it. If I have 5 minutes, 30 minutes, I have been doing quick doodles and drawings of fall animals. I am working really hard not to judge what I create, but just to enjoy the process. I encourage you to do the same.
So, here are my top tips for getting started with a fun, creative drawing and painting practice:
- Remember this is PRACTICE, and you do not need to make anything perfect.
- If you are feeling low energy, go with doodling, or maybe a mandala. Doodling is great if you are with your kids and want a quick art pick-me-up. That way, if your kids decide to draw on your page too, it’s no big whoop.
- Add a little watercolor into your doodles! Adding watercolor isn’t necessary, but can be very relaxing as well.
- Keep a sketchbook made for wet media, pencils, erasers, ultra fine tip sharpie, and watercolor close by!!
- Set a timer, draw/paint, and then give yourself a pat on the back for making this bit of time for yourself. Even if you don’t do much in a single day, if you make the time regularly, you will see growth and progress in your artwork.
So, as my son Drew says, “I double D dog dare you” to take 5 minutes, now, and start a doodle!! Please share this with a friend who might enjoy it. Let me know how it goes!
Photo by Matthieu Jungfer on Unsplash