Thanks for doing this series! I am enjoying it very much. My morning pages are quite often afternoon or evening pages, so I just call the exercise "Pages" and find it is the first approach that has ever worked to help get me writing. I'm working towards the 90 days!
For my weekly artist dates, I enjoy going to a local garden/sculpture park and focusing on a section that I may not be as familiar with. There are many pretty trails to walk. Last week, I took advantage of a walking tour of learning about tree-related sculptures. It was wonderful! Another idea I have is to explore our local downtown area. I have a book that gives ideas for individual walking tours. I might try browsing a fabric store for color and texture.
Another great check-in episode! Thanks for sharing. I definitely share that same observation you both mentioned about looking forward to morning pages and needing them as a part of my day. I find in general, having done morning pages makes me think about creative pursuits more often throughout the day and with much more motivation than before.
As for artist dates, I have determined that mine are most successful if I have a standing appointment with myself at the same time each week. (For me it is the last 90 minutes before I have to pick up my daughter from her class day, since I’m already alone and I have to be out and about to pick her up anyway - I just leave home earlier!) This week I made a choice to do something else at that time, thinking I’d fit in the artist date on another day, and then it was extra challenging to make it happen. So, moving forward, I’m going to aim to keep that time slot reserved for the artist.
Artist dates have also taken an interesting shape in that I find myself only wanting to explore things in my city that are distinctly different from those I would normally do: a new art supply store, a Japanese garden, a bench on a hilltop with a beautiful view. This week I started searching on Google and Instagram to excavate some of the hidden gems my city has to offer. Now I’m looking forward to a free string ensemble concert at a local university, a small art exhibit at the local performing arts center, an adorable coffee shop in an unfamiliar part of town, and a neighborhood craft fair. There’s a treasure trove of inspiration at my doorstep if I just get a little direction on where to look...
I’ve been aware of Morning Pages for at least a decade. I’m just getting back into it now and find my hand gets numb after two pages so I just call it good. It’s more than I’ve been doing in years. Now onto artist dates. Maybe I can squeeze one in tomorrow. I’ve been in a slump lately with activities this past year. This is just the boost I need and happy you’re on this journey.
I have had some personal stuff intervene in my time and energy for the last couple of weeks, so I’m a bit behind and only did my morning pages 3 times. I resonated with Joy’s pondering on being grumpy and not doing the morning pages while thinking about the possibility of being grumpy because she didn’t do the morning pages. Lol.
For my artist date, I processed a bunch of apples into sauce and butter, and it was so cathartic and inspiring that I decided to call it my artist date. Maybe strange, but it worked for me.
I started a week or 2 after you and am finally caught up to you. Thanks for letting me listen in on your checkins- They’ve been so fun!
I think I did them most days but I have been strict about ripping them out and putting them in an envelope where I won’t look at them, so I don’t have an exact count. I have been listening to Joy’s fall playlist while I do them to really complete the experience. I’m always happy when “Morning Pages” by Mina comes on while I’m writing them. I find they help me muddle though all my random thoughts and get to a better mindset for the day.
One artist date was just sitting in an apple orchard. I often run or walk through it and think about how lovely it would be to have a picnic or read there, but I never do… so for my artist date, I sat at the base of one of the apple trees and enjoyed how great of a spot it was. For my week 5 artist date, I kind of chose the same as Joy’s. I took a walk at golden hour on a glorious fall day and enjoying the beauty. I tried to focus on the details of what made it so beautiful. “it is the attention to detail that stays with us. The singular image is what haunts us, and becomes art. Even in the midst of pain, this singular image brings delight.” I played “This is what autumn feels like” by JVKE on repeat while I walked and made a reel of my snippets with that song. It makes me happy to re-watch. That is something that I would do normally, but I think that the difference of making an official artist date is at I hold myself accountable to focus on it not let myself get distracted by other things. I end up enjoying it a whole lot more that way in the end and feel like I savor it more.
In my creative recovery, I feel like I’m less worried about what people will think when I do something out of the ordinary. I’m becoming more confident in seeing the parts of me that are a gift from God and something to grow and use, not something about me that’s silly or immature. Some cute older ladies at church invited me to check out their “Prime Time” senior Bible study sometime and so I went with them! They said I can be an “honorary retiree” (I’m 33) and I had an amazing time! My heart was full, I felt encouraged, and it was a blessing. I was happy that I didn’t feel worried that people might think I’m weird/silly/don’t-belong and let that keep me from trying something new like I usually would have.
Because you asked, my other artist date ideas that I’ve come up with are:
tour somewhere inspiring
listen to a short biography of someone i find interesting/inspiring
watch a fun DIY video of something interesting
bake and decorate something
make a new Pinterest board
go to a store and admire the displays
go to the monthly city art walk.
I had to make bullet points of my artist date goals and that helped come up with concrete ideas
-taking time and care to cultivate creativity
-increasing my capacity for creative good work
-attention to detail, the singular image
-think magic, delight, fun
-think a mystery that draws me in
Thank you so much for letting me join in the Artist Way journey with you :)
Thanks for doing this series! I am enjoying it very much. My morning pages are quite often afternoon or evening pages, so I just call the exercise "Pages" and find it is the first approach that has ever worked to help get me writing. I'm working towards the 90 days!
For my weekly artist dates, I enjoy going to a local garden/sculpture park and focusing on a section that I may not be as familiar with. There are many pretty trails to walk. Last week, I took advantage of a walking tour of learning about tree-related sculptures. It was wonderful! Another idea I have is to explore our local downtown area. I have a book that gives ideas for individual walking tours. I might try browsing a fabric store for color and texture.
Another great check-in episode! Thanks for sharing. I definitely share that same observation you both mentioned about looking forward to morning pages and needing them as a part of my day. I find in general, having done morning pages makes me think about creative pursuits more often throughout the day and with much more motivation than before.
As for artist dates, I have determined that mine are most successful if I have a standing appointment with myself at the same time each week. (For me it is the last 90 minutes before I have to pick up my daughter from her class day, since I’m already alone and I have to be out and about to pick her up anyway - I just leave home earlier!) This week I made a choice to do something else at that time, thinking I’d fit in the artist date on another day, and then it was extra challenging to make it happen. So, moving forward, I’m going to aim to keep that time slot reserved for the artist.
Artist dates have also taken an interesting shape in that I find myself only wanting to explore things in my city that are distinctly different from those I would normally do: a new art supply store, a Japanese garden, a bench on a hilltop with a beautiful view. This week I started searching on Google and Instagram to excavate some of the hidden gems my city has to offer. Now I’m looking forward to a free string ensemble concert at a local university, a small art exhibit at the local performing arts center, an adorable coffee shop in an unfamiliar part of town, and a neighborhood craft fair. There’s a treasure trove of inspiration at my doorstep if I just get a little direction on where to look...
I am really enjoying this series! The banter and creative talk is so inspiring. Thanks!
I’ve been aware of Morning Pages for at least a decade. I’m just getting back into it now and find my hand gets numb after two pages so I just call it good. It’s more than I’ve been doing in years. Now onto artist dates. Maybe I can squeeze one in tomorrow. I’ve been in a slump lately with activities this past year. This is just the boost I need and happy you’re on this journey.
Hey guys!
I have had some personal stuff intervene in my time and energy for the last couple of weeks, so I’m a bit behind and only did my morning pages 3 times. I resonated with Joy’s pondering on being grumpy and not doing the morning pages while thinking about the possibility of being grumpy because she didn’t do the morning pages. Lol.
For my artist date, I processed a bunch of apples into sauce and butter, and it was so cathartic and inspiring that I decided to call it my artist date. Maybe strange, but it worked for me.
Thanks for the check in!
Hi Elena and Joy!
I started a week or 2 after you and am finally caught up to you. Thanks for letting me listen in on your checkins- They’ve been so fun!
I think I did them most days but I have been strict about ripping them out and putting them in an envelope where I won’t look at them, so I don’t have an exact count. I have been listening to Joy’s fall playlist while I do them to really complete the experience. I’m always happy when “Morning Pages” by Mina comes on while I’m writing them. I find they help me muddle though all my random thoughts and get to a better mindset for the day.
One artist date was just sitting in an apple orchard. I often run or walk through it and think about how lovely it would be to have a picnic or read there, but I never do… so for my artist date, I sat at the base of one of the apple trees and enjoyed how great of a spot it was. For my week 5 artist date, I kind of chose the same as Joy’s. I took a walk at golden hour on a glorious fall day and enjoying the beauty. I tried to focus on the details of what made it so beautiful. “it is the attention to detail that stays with us. The singular image is what haunts us, and becomes art. Even in the midst of pain, this singular image brings delight.” I played “This is what autumn feels like” by JVKE on repeat while I walked and made a reel of my snippets with that song. It makes me happy to re-watch. That is something that I would do normally, but I think that the difference of making an official artist date is at I hold myself accountable to focus on it not let myself get distracted by other things. I end up enjoying it a whole lot more that way in the end and feel like I savor it more.
In my creative recovery, I feel like I’m less worried about what people will think when I do something out of the ordinary. I’m becoming more confident in seeing the parts of me that are a gift from God and something to grow and use, not something about me that’s silly or immature. Some cute older ladies at church invited me to check out their “Prime Time” senior Bible study sometime and so I went with them! They said I can be an “honorary retiree” (I’m 33) and I had an amazing time! My heart was full, I felt encouraged, and it was a blessing. I was happy that I didn’t feel worried that people might think I’m weird/silly/don’t-belong and let that keep me from trying something new like I usually would have.
Because you asked, my other artist date ideas that I’ve come up with are:
tour somewhere inspiring
listen to a short biography of someone i find interesting/inspiring
watch a fun DIY video of something interesting
bake and decorate something
make a new Pinterest board
go to a store and admire the displays
go to the monthly city art walk.
I had to make bullet points of my artist date goals and that helped come up with concrete ideas
-taking time and care to cultivate creativity
-increasing my capacity for creative good work
-attention to detail, the singular image
-think magic, delight, fun
-think a mystery that draws me in
Thank you so much for letting me join in the Artist Way journey with you :)