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Art Room: Create Yours Today
Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by Tracey McGrath
An art room where you can create in a dedicated space is so important for your creative habit. By setting aside a space where your supplies are at-the-ready you set yourself up for a consistent practice. And by making creativity a habit you can reap all the benefits it brings!
An Art Room Makes Creating As Easy As Possible
In order for a habit to stick you want to make it as easy as possible. In BJ Fogg’s book, Tiny Habits, he recommends picking a tiny habit because it’s achievable. You are more likely to be successful, which builds confidence.
Creating a creative habit that is easy helps you to actually do it daily. For example, saying I will draw for 2 minutes or I will doodle one picture of an animal seems doable. And that’s all you have to do to be successful at your practice. Check out my article Healthiest Habits for more information on creating your habits! Or grab a FREE Healthy Habits workbook too!
Setting your art room up with easy access to your supplies is so important too. Planning for easy cleanup will help remove any barriers to your practice. Sometimes we stop ourselves before we even get started because we’re thinking about the cleanup.
Now let’s talk about the most important pieces you need for your art room.
Essentials for Your Art Room
First of all, you need a dedicated space. This doesn’t have to be an entire room but at least a tiny corner of a room that is all yours. A table or desk is an essential item. You’ll need a chair or stool that is comfortable. Just like in meditation, comfort is critical to stick to your practice. If you’re uncomfortable when you create, you’ll be less likely to stick with your practice.
Make sure your space is well lit either with natural light or a lamp. You want to be able to see your creations! And this is especially important if you start your practice early in the morning or late at night.
You’ll need your supplies. Pencils in easily accessible cups. This pencil set is a great starter set. You’ll want to have different types of papers on hand. I like drawing and watercolor paper best. A sketchbook like this one is great for drawing with pencils or ink. Or this journal holds up great with watercolors. You can even remove the pages while you work!
Paintbrushes, watercolor paints, and a jar for water are good to have on hand as well. Watercolors are great for adding to journal doodles or ink pen sketches. And watercolors are easily cleaned up too. This is a great watercolor starter set that has every color you could possibly want. And this is a great brush set that allows for detailed work and playing with different methods of application.
Paper towels are also handy to have nearby for blotting off excess water or cleaning up. Scissors are helpful too especially for collaging. Keep glue sticks and old magazines nearby too. Check out my post on Therapeutic Art for 3 simple art projects you can do in less than 20 minutes!
You can, of course, choose to have an easel, oil paints, pastels, or whatever art supplies your heart desires! I love Blick Art for all my art supplies. They have a great selection of high-quality papers and paints.
But if you’re new to a creative practice, I recommend keeping it as simple and easy as possible. The less you’re worried about clean up or time involved the more likely you will be to engage in the activity daily.
“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.”
– John Updike
Choosing A Time To Create
I recommend choosing the same time to create every day. This may be morning, afternoon or evening. Whatever works for you is best. And you may need to experiment with which times work with your schedule. By choosing the same time you’re more likely to get in the habit of actually doing it. Then it just becomes part of your normal routine.
In James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, he recommends habit stacking. This is where you link your new habit to something you already do. Say you make coffee every morning, while it’s brewing you can doodle or draw for 5 minutes.
Or if you meditate in the morning, try art journaling immediately following. This is especially helpful if you use guided imagery meditations. You can draw what you envision during the meditation. Grab a FREE guided meditation to try out this creative practice today!
Making Your Art Room a Creative Habit
By making your own art room you’ll have a dedicated space to create. As you walk into your art room you will trigger your brain that it’s time to create. This is so helpful for making and maintaining your creative habit. The benefits of a creative habit are
By making your own art room you’ll have a dedicated space to create. As you walk into your art room you will trigger your brain that it’s time to create. This is so helpful for making and maintaining your creative habit. A creative habit can help you to reduce stress. And you may even feel more confident and productive.1,2,3,4,5 It is also a great way to practice mindfulness.
Check out my article on Art Prompts for more information on the benefits of a creative habit!
Let’s Connect!
If you’d like support creating a mindful art practice, then book a session with me here! Or check out my digital course, Becoming Blissful with Mindful Art, for a complete system created to help you have more mindful moments!
Frequently Asked Questions about Creating An Art Room
By creating a dedicated space for your art room you set yourself up for a successful creative habit and all of its benefits.
You need either a room, closet or corner of a room that is your dedicated space. You need a desk or table and a comfortable chair. You need either natural or soft artificial light. And art supplies that will suit your practice. A timer is also helpful to keep you on track and build confidence in your habit.
The possibilities are endless! I recommend choosing one art activity like doodling or drawing for 5 minutes each day to get yourself used to being in the space. You could also start a more time-intensive project and work on it for just a few minutes a day. Or you could simply retreat to the space to get inspired, read or relax.
Reduce stress hormone levels, helps you feel more productive, build confidence, enhance focus, decrease ruminating thoughts, and may help reduce anxiety and depression.
References:
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/study-says-making-art-reduces-stress_n_576183ece4b09c926cfdccac
- https://reset.me/study/study-creativity-can-reduce-stress-and-become-a-habit/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832?journalCode=uart20#.V2GKm-YrI6g
- https://grapeseed.com/us/blog/creativity-boosts-the-brain-and-promotes-learning/#:~:text=Creativity%20involves%20critical%20thinking%2C%20planning,look%20at%20or%20do%20something.
- https://diversushealth.org/the-mental-health-benefits-of-creativity/
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.
Tracey McGrath is an artist and pharmacist. She is on a journey to share how mindful art can help women with their mental health. She is a certified mindful art teacher by the International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance and a certified meditation teacher by UnPlug Meditation Studio. She is also a Duke Health & Well-Being Usui Reiki Level 3 Master Practitioner as well as a Certified Strategic Life Coach and Certified EFT Practitioner by Priority Academy. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2004.