At the time of writing, this morning was the monthly paint out on a cold, windy and drizzly morning.  It would have been oh, so easy to snuggle up in bed and not venture out into the Melbourne Autumn weather. Yet, eight of us rugged up, packed up art supplies and made our way to the park and gathered under the rotunda.  We all came with varying degrees of art kits, chairs, cushions and layers. For some it was the first time to paint en plein air, for others, it was a familiar way to spend a Saturday. 
We were all there for the enjoyment of spending some time to indulge in our love of creating, being outdoors and most importantly connecting with like-minded creatives.  The monthly paint out sessions is not about who makes the prettiest work, the best kit or has the best skills, it is about the enjoyment of connection, and the people, it is about painting and creating too.  I believe the biggest benefit of the monthly paint out is putting ourselves in the priority seat. 
It's great to take two hours once a month on a weekend to say hey everyone “I’m not available on this morning, this is my morning of meeting up and doing what I enjoy.”   The pleasure that is derived from being in the fresh air, chatting with familiar friendly faces and losing yourself on the page of the sketchbook is so fulfilling.  Sharing ideas, tips, and stories and finding out more about each other is building a new group of people to enjoy.
As we pack up and finish our hot drinks, the chatter reaches a crescendo of last-minute info and well wishes until the next time we meet. We all head off back to our various tasks for the day, helping each other to take our bits and bobs to the car, and then off we go.  And that is what meeting monthly and painting outdoors is all about, painting, people and priorities.
 
Do you want to join us?  It’s free and everyone is welcome.  Visit here to register for the next one.

As much as I would love to have hours and hours to sit and paint, the reality is, it just doesn't happen very often.
Like many of us, to be able to paint for several hours in one go is a luxury and one that doesn't happen as often as I would like.

With running art classes and an impending house renovation calling for attention, I manage to carve some time into my week to play in the sketchbook and lately creating mini landscapes. 

These landscapes are half an A4 size paper,or some are 20cm x 20cm.  The paper has a luxurious feel as it is 100% cotton watercolour paper and is a pleasure to work on.  Allowing myself an hour or so to work on a landscape or finish one off means I am still able to create for my art business. Most importantly, I continue to keep that creative muscle working.   

The joy of time carved out of a busy schedule helps to calm my mind, taking time to forget about what is happening around me, my to do list or anything else that pops up.  

Growing up, I had no idea my grandmother my dad's side was an artist.  It wasn't until recent years I found out she worked with charcoals and watercolour.  I now sit and wonder if this was her stress release from her busy life of being a nurse, mother and living on a poultry farm.

Besides the escapism, the joy of honing my skills with watercolour and gouache on small works. 

You can see some of my current mini landscapes created during these times. 

​Please feel free to leave a comment below. 
 
    

I love painting, I love sketching and I love spending time in my art shed.  As soon as hubby heads off for golf with his buddy's, I have whipped open the door of the studio before he has even reached the end of the driveway.  There is something about having no one around, no distractions, no noise, nothing for me to even think about. 

I open my sketchbook and lose myself in the pages.  sometimes I decide to use watercolour, other times acrylics or there are times I delve into the art supplies and enjoy the freedom of mixed media. There is no rhyme or reason to what medium I choose.  Sometimes, I flit between sketchbooks,  Just the other day, I went from sketchbook watercolour (the photo is the end result of my sketch book watercolour) to a canvas using bold vibrant colours with impasto medium.  As one part dried I worked on the other.
  
Can you believe three hours had passed by without me even knowing it. There is something said about immersing yourself in art.  For me I go to a place where worries, sadness, hurt, frustration and negative thoughts don't live.  This is a place that is void of negativity and a place where time stands still. This is a place that time forgot and peace exudes. 
Does art give you a happy place?  Does art give you a sense of peace that can reinvigorate you and send you back into the world refreshed and positive?

​Leave your comments below and let me know what art does for you and if you can relate,  

I once knew a lady who spent so much time talking about how little time she had that she never actually got anything done.  We all have the same mount of time in our day 1440 minutes to be precise.   It is how we choose to use those minutes which makes a difference. 

Personally, I am a paper diary gal, I write everything in it and schedule time for particular tasks. Yes, I schedule medical appointments, classes I run, business tasks, cleaning the house and also studio or painting time. I also have non-negotiable times which often my painting or studio time falls into that category.  Non-negotiable means it must be something super important for me to schedule over that time.

If your hobby of art is important to you, you will schedule in time to spend pursuing it.  It may be as little as  30 or 40  minutes a day. The first step is giving ourselves permission to take the time to enjoy our hobby,  I don't know about you, as I was growing up the fun stuff could only be done when the work was finished.  Our brains have been programmed to allow ourselves pleasurable pursuits after the work, chores and responsibilities have been completed. Guess what?  They never end, they never are completed so we don't end up enjoying our hobby, art, painting, knitting or any other hobby.

Think about the last time you "indulged" in your hobby or a pleasurable pursuit. How did it make you feel? Did you feel calmer, less stressed and revitalised?  If like me, the answer is yes, this is the time to grab that diary, planner, phone and schedule in the time to enjoy your hobby.  You are no good to anyone else or yourself if you are frazzled, stressed or feeling down.  

Making our art or hobby a priority is helping ourselves to a better, less stressed and more rounded life.

Leave a comment below on how you prioritise your time to pursue your hobby or what you plan to do now.  I would love to see your ideas. 
​

Can creativity positively effect your mental wellbeing?  Well, in my humble opinion, yes it can.  I have talked about this before in classes and on the socials, how returning to creativity helped me through the COVID lockdowns.  For those in Melbourne, you would understand what it was like to live through the lockdowns, as one of the most lockdown cities in the world. 
I rediscovered art during this time and found I lent on it to relax me and take my mind off what was going on.

In the art classes I run, often there are comments such as, "where did that 2 hours go?", "I got lost in the painting.", or "This is my happy place, I forget what is happening in my life." "This is my me time to relax and enjoy some quiet time."

Just 40 minutes of art can help to reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in your body. There is a fabulous book, Your Brain on Art; How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross which goes into great depth.  It is well worth a read. You can check out the link under my favourite tools. 
​Art therapy is now found more in mainstream mental health services as the benefits of art and creativity on wellbeing is being highlighted more and more. 

I have found when I run an evening art class, I sleep better that night, participants of the night programs have also commented they have the same restful night's sleep.

If I have had a particularly busy day or really have been under the pump, I take some time out for 20 minutes to half an hour to sketch or dip into some watercolour, it can have a profound effect on my mind, mood and wellbeing.   Sometimes, taking a short amount  of time can be all you need to shift your mood with a simple sketchbook or a simple watercolour palette, a few brushes and an art book.   
Have you found art has helped your wellbeing in anyway?  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.  
​