Freebie: Mini Creative Retreat Ideas

In as little as 5 to 20 minutes, you can infuse your day with creativity.
Get the 24 Mini Creative Retreat Ideas as a FREE downloadable PDF. 

Looking for ways to infuse your days with the energy of creativity? Trying to fit a little time for creative pursuits into your busy schedule? Don’t feel like you have the time and opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your artistic passion?

These mini creative retreats provide brief interludes for stepping away from your must’s and to-do’s. The act of stepping into a creative space, can have a powerful impact on your overall well-being and sense of fulfillment. Whether you have just five minutes to spare or can carve out a more substantial block of time, these mini retreats can be a valuable tool for fostering your creativity and nurturing your soul.

Click the button for the downloadable PDF.

Finding Inspiration in the Majestic Presence of Trees

Trees are a magnificent presence in our world, standing strong and tall, lifting their branches towards the heavens, growing their roots down into the earth in order to support their height and breadth and to feed the tree with nourishment. They are able to bend with the winds, withstand the storms, and in the case of our local redwood trees, are even able to survive the fires. 

With their remarkable longevity, I have often reflected on the history they have witnessed and the environmental changes they have experienced through the years. The intricate shapes and textures on the bark of a tree tell the story of its personal history of growth and resilience. And these beautiful formations, sculpted by nature, become visual inspiration for those who take a moment to observe this artistry.

Years ago, I used to spend time in a peaceful forest behind a museum. With each visit, I would sit under the canopy of leaves and limbs, asking the question, “What lesson do you have for me today?” And I always received one. The lessons had to do with concepts like: flexibility, balance, or growth. 

Now, in considering the lessons in the ridges, nooks, and crannies of a tree trunk, we are reminded of how we are able to thrive and grow through life’s challenging moments. Just like the textured bark, our own journeys are marked by experiences that shape us into the unique individuals we are today.

Trees offer many lessons… such as the importance of staying grounded and drawing strength from the foundations we create for ourselves. They teach us about the beauty of flowing with the natural rhythms of our lives. As a tree changes with each season, it becomes an ideal symbol of gracefully accepting life’s natural cycles.

In these final days of summer (and beyond), as you walk out among the trees, may you find inspiration and wisdom in their presence, their resilience, and their beauty.

Art Podcast Interviews

Recently, I was a guest on two different art podcasts. Here, you will find a bit of information on each, along with links to access the interviews.

PODCAST: BEHIND THE ART INSPIRATION PODCAST
EPISODE: MAY 4, 2023

I had a thoroughly enjoyable experience, connecting with Caroline Karp on the Behind the Art Inspiration Podcast. This 20 minute episode began with a focus on my chapter in the Amazon best seller, The Creative Lifebook. I shared some of the background behind the process I wrote about, “Charting a New Path,” in my section of the book.

You have a choice of listening to our conversation on Spotify or watching it on YouTube. I feel like we covered a lot of ground in these 20 minutes.

PODCAST: ART infused Life PODCAST
EPISODE: 14

It was a joy to chat with Dawn Bove and Lynn Mazzoleni for the Art Infused Life Podcast. During this hour long conversation, I shared many details about my painting process, what inspires me, and how I get the ideas and concepts that make their way onto the canvas.

You can listen to the full chat, (Episode 14) on Spotify and Apple podcasts. In case you need to know the date the episode became available, it was on April 20th.

2021 Reflections

Cropped images from the concertina sketchbook pages

As I write this, the new year is just hours away. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been reflecting on all that happened (and didn’t happen) in 2021… and considering potential plans and intentions for 2022.

Simplicity pages with ink, papers, cloth, and acrylic on paper.

Last year, I entered 2021 with several ideas for the creative projects I was excited to delve into. 2020 had felt like a slow, never ending experience. And although I had lots to show for it, after spending an abundance of time immersed in exploration, I longed to get back to “my artwork” and the materials and paintings that fed my soul. I had an idea of what that looked like and what that meant. What I didn’t anticipate was another year of exploration and a concertina sketchbook experience that would change the trajectory of my year in art.

I may set artistic intentions, but I learned long ago that my greatest intention is to go with the natural flow of my creative spirit. I know that one artistic adventure leads to the next and they each become stepping stones to all that’s created in the future. Allowing that flow is probably at the foundation of all of my work. It’s like being carried forward with limited vision of where I am headed but also infused with ideas and imagination. The most important place to be is in the here and now, fully immersed in the painting project of the moment… because what I’m doing now is a building block for what will emerge next… and next… and next.

Cropped images of the Elements series.

So, the process of exploring the pages of the concertina sketchbook project carried me into a whole new world of exploration. And although I will enter 2022 with a list of potential painting projects, I am excited to see where the creative flow will lead and what will unfold within the next 12 months in the studio.

Wishing you a Happy New Year
and a fabulous
life adventure that
unfolds in beautiful ways
for you in the coming year.

You may also be interested in:
Concertina Sketchbook Project
Inspired by Concertina Sketchbook Pages
Inspired by Concertina Sketchbook Pages - Part 2
Series of Transition

Inspired by Concertina Sketchbook Pages

When I completed the Concertina Sketchbook project, my head was filled with ideas for two new painting series that delighted my heart. I expected to dive right into the new work. Instead, I continued to play with the images that came together on the pages of that concertina. In the past couple of months, my focus has been on inviting inspiration from that sketchbook before moving forward into the new projects. My intention was to gain greater comfort and flow with the concertina processes in order to combine my old methods with the new.

First, I played with similar materials and techniques on paper and completed four studies. I chose a few of the sketchbook pages for reference and began laying down similar marks, elements, and collage pieces, followed by paint.

2nd of four works on paper

3rd of four works on paper

4th of four works on paper

“Renewal” Acrylic, paper, pencils, and cloth on canvas. 11” x 14”

Then I moved onto canvas and began a small series of paintings, called Elements, to explore similar marks, shapes, and materials. Currently, four have been completed with the 5th in process. I’m not sure how much further I will take this series since I haven’t made a real commitment to it. I’m just taking one step at a time.

I’m thrilled to be working on canvas once again (after spending so much time on the sketchbook and the above works on paper).

Sometime soon, I will move on to play with the larger body of work that’s been waiting in the wings. It’s been waking me up each morning with images and ideas. But at the moment, I’m willing to see what develops from here.

“Dichotomy” Acrylic, ink, paper, pencils, and cloth on canvas. 11” x 14”

“Levels” Acrylic, ink, paper, pencils, and cloth on canvas. 11” x 14”

“Synchronicity” Acrylic, ink, paper, pencils, and cloth on canvas. 11” x 14”

You may also be interested in: Series of Transition

My Interview: Turning Point Project

Back in February (when our world was so much different than it has become), I had the joy and privilege of sharing my turning point story with the fabulous Helen Rebello on the Turning Point Project podcast. And I’m excited to share that the interview is available to listen to! In this episode, I talk about the turning points that helped shape my life journey and how these steps set a new course within me, within my art, and within my creative expression. I'd love you to listen in and let me know what personal insights it sparks in you about your own turning points.

To listen: CLICK HERE to go directly to the interview page, and then scroll down. OR find it on one of these podcast apps... APPLE ... SPOTIFY ... STITCHER. (April 20th episode, Becoming a Blank Canvas)

And check out the many other episodes on the Turning Point Project. Helen has put together a great collection of interviews. It’s easy to see how much heart, insights, and passion she puts into her podcast and into everything she does. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to meet her, to share our stories with one another, and to be able to reflect on the many turning points in my life.

Inspiration: To Spark Creativity

We come into the world with the desire and ability to create. It’s apparent in our imaginations, daydreams, ability to problem solve, and in our sense of play. Creativity is an innate force. Just watch the way children become immersed in their personal fantasies, dragging every nearby friend and inanimate object into their story. The foundation for this has been set before we take shape in a body. It’s natural for us to crave a connection with our creative spirit.

Mixed media painting in process.

Creativity can be expressed in every aspect of our lives not just in an artistic endeavor. As individuals, we choose whether to cultivate that creativity and how we do so.

However you choose to exercise your creativity, you can use the list below to spark ideas for a personal creative adventure. Dance or move, paint, draw, or collage, vocalize or compose music, garden or landscape, cook or bake, sculpt or build, sew or embroider.

Inspiration can be found everywhere, at any time, and in any form. You don’t know when or where inspiration will present itself. All that’s needed is to be open to the gifts that present themselves...in any moment. Anything can spark a creative idea. Anything can inspire creative exploration… a word, a single leaf, the flight of a bird, the colors of the trees against a clear blue sky, the light of a full moon shining on the landscape.

I hope the list below will help generate ideas as prompts for your creativity:

1. I’ll start with the simplest of all… Day Dream. Let your imagination run wild. See where it leads you.

Shadows are a great source of creative inspiration.

2. Notice the shadows, lines, shapes and colors right outside your front door or wherever you look.

3. Patterns found in nature. If you can’t find this outside your home then search for images online.

4. As you walk down the street, notice the way the angles of the buildings show up against the sky, may trigger an idea.

5. An interesting sentence or phrase, in a song or conversation, could stand out and inspire an entire short story, novel, or painting.

6. Idioms are wonderful creative triggers. Choose one that strikes your fancy and let it inspire you. Here are just a few to get you started: Water under the Bridge, The Ball is in Your Court, It’s a Small World, Keep an Eye on Him, Go Out on a Limb. The link above has a long list of idioms in alphabetical order.

7. Song titles can be very descriptive and offer a spark of inspiration. You could search for song lists on a specific subject, or top 100 songs in any given year. In writing this post I stumbled upon a list of songs with ridiculous titles. (They are actual songs!!)

8. Whenever you would like a creative boost, read a poem you resonate with… either from a book of poetry you have at home or from an online search. You might consider reading one poem each day for inspiration. With poetry, you enter the mind of the poet and see the world through their eyes.

9. Do people listen to radios anymore? This used to be one of my favorite ways to collect bits and pieces that might fit together in an interesting way. By turning the dial on your radio, you hear brief moments of broadcasting on each station. One or more of those snippets of music, lyrics, and conversation may become puzzle pieces to inspire a creative project. Now-a-days, it’s more likely that changing the TV channels would be more effective.

Creative inspiration can be found wherever you are. This was an exterior wall to an old weathered building. Looks like abstract art.

10. Search online for visual or written creative triggers by typing any word, phrase, or sentence into the search field. You never know what you might find. Don’t just rely on the first browser page that comes up. Check out what’s on the third page.

11. Visit a site like CreativityPortal.com which posts daily images with text, as prompts to inspire writing, art, and creative projects. You may choose to visit their site every day for a new prompt — 365 days a year. And they have an Imagination Prompt Generator with a line of text as a story starter or creative spark. Don’t like the prompt that shows up? Then refresh the page and a new one pops up.

12. Pinterest is a wealth of images on any subject. But be warned, it’s easy to lose track of time when you’re exploring that site. And while you are there, check out my WendyArtsStudio at Pinterest account.

13. Children’s picture books can be a great way to spark your creative flow. Check out my blog post - Inspiration: Children’s Books.

14. And keep a notebook or journal to record the abundance of creative sparks you come across during the day. Record the words, thoughts, quotes, poems, phrases, images, and more that zing you and are likely to motivate you to create.

JUST Create!!! Keep tools and materials easily accessible so you can play and explore. No need to hold back. This experience is for you. Create anything at any time for the pure joy of creating. Have fun!!

Note: This list was written with the understanding that the majority of people are currently sheltered at home. So I have left out a number of creative resources like the library which is one of my favorite places for developing new ideas. Once we are out and about I will plan to add another post.

Inspiration: Children's Books

Children’s books are a great source of inspiration. They offer the beauty of ideas, a creative flow of words, and artwork that’s a feast of colors and imagery. As adults, our minds are so cluttered with grownup tasks, pressures, expectations and personal business. I highly recommend taking a short holiday and explore the wonderful world of picture books.

You might choose a beloved favorite that brings you back to your own childhood or a new delightful find that enables you to connect with your inner child. Reading children’s picture books can soften the heart, put a smile on your face, and allow you to slow down your breathing. This is the perfect inner space to begin your own creative explorations.

These precious packages have the ability to transport us to a belief in ourselves and in the thought that anything is possible.

Years ago, I lived about 3 minutes away from a huge, new, and absolutely fabulous Barnes & Noble store, which happened to be open til midnight. Although I am not a late night person, I loved knowing that I could stop in anytime. Often, and with much delight, I would wander in for a mini creative vacation and spend time in the children's book section. I felt like a sponge, absorbing the colors, lines, and illustrations in these captivating parcels. My eyes would dance from cover to cover taking in all the artwork and titles. And best of all, they had ample seating for me to comfortably spend time with the picks of the night.

So, consider spending some time in the world of children's books and see if they inspire you. And with libraries closed during these quarantine days, if you don’t have any picture books at home, you can become immersed in the pages of books found at online bookstores.

The books appearing in the above image:

• The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

• The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

• The Further Adventures of the Little Mouse Trapped in a Book by Monique Felix

• Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming

• Coyote and the Magic Words by Phyllis Root

• Giving Thanks by Chief Jake Swamp

This is a revision of a post originally published in 2013.