Don't Make New Year's Goals. Make Habits.
An Hour for Art
Reflect
2020 might not have been what you expected. But take comfort in that if you're reading this right now, 2020 didn't knock you down. You persevered in a year that never ran short on challenges. You grew through a year that forced you to slow down. You stood tall and strong and came out on the other side. GO YOU.
We don't know what the next year will bring, but we have resources to help you approach it with a can't-break-me attitude. We'll do our part, but you'll have to do yours to make this work. Be deliberate, prioritize your mental health, and make time for the things that are good for your soul—like art.
What that looks like
Make an "Art Hour"
As a team every Monday afternoon, the Let's Make Art crew sets aside one hour to work on anything creative. Whether it's painting with watercolor, playing an instrument, or simply trying something new, we prioritize this time because we know that even just one hour of creative freedom sets us up for success for the rest of the week. It reminds us why we do what we do, boosts our energy, and collectively makes us more productive.
If we can do it, you can, too! Maybe for you that hour is spent during your lunch, on the weekend, or maybe it's not even an hour at all! Maybe you only have time to squeeze in 15 minutes, and you know what? That's okay! What matters isn't how long you spend doing it, but just that you do it.
Find what you love
Art Hour should be something you look forward to. Find something that makes you excited. It might take some trial and error at first, but once you find the thing that really clicks with you, you'll never want to stop! You might start out just doodling, researching, or even organizing, but wherever you start, whenever you're ready, we have some awesome, free resources for you to use like art tutorials, digital downloads, and of course, our blog, for you to use.
How it works
Pick your inspiration
If you decide to join us on this journey of fostering your creativity, we have lots of options for you to choose from!
Step 1: Pick your medium.
We currently offer watercolor, lettering, art journaling, acrylic, and even projects for kids!
Step 2: Pick your project.
On our website, you can filter projects by medium or theme. Simply hover over Shop at the top of the page, then select either the theme or the medium you wish to browse.
Step 3: Gather supplies.
Don't feel pressure to use all the same supplies we use, but if you need supplies, we're here for you! Use whatever you have on hand or use our product suggestions under the button that says "View Project Details" when you click on any kit. If any outline is used, you can also download and print it off from that page!
Step 4: Create!
After you click the "View Project Details" button, you'll see a video right at the top. This is your free tutorial! Click play and follow along with your personal instructor. You can also find these free tutorials by going straight to our YouTube channel under Let's Make Art!
To kick off the New Year, we have a gift for you!
Click on any of the images below to save them and set as your phone or tablet wallpaper!
Please make “Don’t be precious about it” into a t-shirt! 😁
Why is it so hard to “grant” myself time?
Everybody else gets time… work, aging parent, neighbors, dog…. and there are always chores to do.
any tips on allowing myself the liberty of an hour/week?
Great inspiration!! This year I am going to try and focus on seeing myself as an actual artist. Even though I have dabbled all my life, I never really considered myself an artist. (I have a degree in art history and so this may be why I put too much pressure on myself)
Thank you so much for this wonderful and motivational message. What a great and positive way to start the new year !
So many posts are:
1) posting a painting noting all the flaws
Or
2) posting that the artist is giving up after a try or two, or tearing up the painting
Or
3) sharing that that kits were purchased but the person is too afraid or doesn’t have time to paint.
More blog posts like this!!!! Should help. All well said.