Creativity & Art Practice

How two simple practices — the artist’s date and morning pages — can nurture your creative side, in any season of life.

I have been reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron on and off for some years. The reason I haven’t raced through it is simple: it isn’t just a book — it’s a process. A guide for artists of any discipline, particularly those who feel stuck or blocked creatively. Working through it properly means completing each recommended step, and allowing genuine growth to happen along the way.

But — you know how it is. Alongside making art, there’s a business to run, a family to feed, a school and church community to contribute to. Completing Julia’s steps can easily become just another item in an ever-growing to-do pile.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe, though: prioritising these practices doesn’t require a dramatic life overhaul. They can be woven into the life you already have — and they’re worth it.

The artist’s date: taking your creative side out to play

One of Julia’s key recommendations is to take your inner artist on a “date.” It doesn’t need to be grand — spending time in a local gallery, noticing colour on a nature walk, or simply playing with children’s colouring pencils all count. The point is to set aside a little time to focus on creativity for its own sake.

I’m currently sitting on the train back from London, having just had what I can only describe as one big, extended artist’s date. The original purpose of the trip was to see Arcadia as part of my husband Andi’s Christmas present — I’d highly recommend it, by the way — but the whole experience ended up feeding my creative side in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

While Andi engaged in a little street photography, I had an entire day to myself. No agenda, nowhere to be, no one requiring anything of me. This is almost unheard of in my life, and the effect was immediate: I slowed down. I processed thoughts at my own pace. After some wandering through the city, I returned to the hotel room and started playing with materials I’d brought — a little watercolour paint, some collage papers, ink.

What I produced was awful. I kind of knew it would be. But I was able to hold that lightly, reminding myself that this was a time for experimentation — and therefore a time for mistakes. And I was genuinely at peace with that.

Morning pages: getting the dross out so creativity can breathe

The second practice Julia recommends is morning pages: three pages of writing, every day, of whatever comes into your head. The purpose is to decompress loud thoughts and clear mental clutter — making space for your inner artist to surface.

I had my journal with me in London, and after my disastrous afternoon in the sketchbook, I sat down and wrote through every mistake. It became one of the most useful creative exercises I’ve done in a while.

Here’s what I learned:

• Adding watercolour on top of tissue paper does not produce the result I was after.
• Before launching into a painting, I should sit with the subject for a while — noticing intricate details, deciding what to include and what to leave out.
• Not every colour in the palette needs to be used at once. The fact that I see Instagram posts of artists filling sketchbooks with bold, impactful colour doesn’t mean I have to.
• Most importantly: I need to lean into my own personality and creative instincts.

I haven’t made any physical progress that can be seen yet — no finished piece to show. However, I’m returning from this trip with a clearer sense of direction, and a feeling that my inner artist is quietly pleased.

You don’t need a trip to London

I’m aware that not everyone has the luxury of two days away. But I genuinely believe we can all be more intentional about setting aside a little time to nurture our creative side — without turning it into another overwhelming obligation.

If you’re a spiritual person, try morning pages as a form of prayer or meditation. Even if not, they’re a wonderful way to declutter your mind and invite new ideas in.

Perhaps if you have children or grandchildren, can you sit beside them while they colour or build with blocks — colouring yourself, arranging shapes, or talking about the patterns and textures you notice in the garden? Or take yourself to a park and quietly observe the colour combinations that catch your eye. These small moments feed the creative subconscious, and your inner artist will flourish because of them.

What will your artist’s date be this week? It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours. Treat yourself.