“The past no longer is, the future is not yet here; there is only one moment in which life is available, and that is the present moment.” Thich Nhat Hanh This word really called out to me when I was picking our last (!) prompt of 2024! I see three different ways to use it: present as in a gift, present as a verb, and being in the present moment. I feel like it captures this time of year, the holiday season, the end of a cycle, a new beginning on the horizons. What does present bring up for you and how would you like to interpret this last prompt? Below are some ideas to help you get started! |
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- Exercises to help you be present and grounded Try one or a few of these before you get started on your sketchbook page. Pause, reset, and clear your mind before beginning.
- 5-4-3-2-1 List five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste. This helps oyu reset and check in with all your senses
- 3 Minute Breathing Space
- The first minute is spent on answering the question “how am I doing right now?” while focusing on the feelings, thoughts, and sensations that arise, and trying to give these words and phrases.
- The second minute is spent on keeping awareness of the breath.
- The last minute is used for an expansion of attention outward from the breath, feeling the ways in which your breathing affects the rest of the body.
- Shift any thoughts that form in your mind from “what if” to “what is”
- Embrace your gift The way you express your ideas visually and sharing them with the world is a gift. What is your specialty? Is it words, is it the way you use colors, the boldness in the way you try new things, not being afraid to embrace mistakes, the way you show emotion through your creativity? Create a piece centered around this and celebrate your gift!
- Past, present, future
- Take a look back at the sketchbook pages and art you've created this past year. Is there a piece that stands out? That you want to expand on? That you want to try again or create another version of?
- What are you interested in right now? What colors and techniques? What are you inspired by, watching, listening to, seeing, experiencing?
- Considering what you created this year, what does the new year look like for you? Where to next? What do you want to continuing working on, what do you want to leave behind? Is there something new when it comes to art that you want to try?
- Which of these time frames do you usually gravitate towards? I challenge you to pick one you don't normally focus on.
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- Use your presents Karen from our community did this for her birthday and I loved this idea! Save bits and pieces of paper goods that you receive from the holidays: cards, gift wrap, washi tape, postage stamps. Use them to create a collage. Thank you for the eco-friendly inspiration, Karen!
- Then vs Now Look at the first piece you created this year. Create it again in the present moment. What has stayed the same? What has changed?
- Playlist The Nights by Avicii, 7 Years by Lukas Graham, Beautiful Day by U2, Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield, Younger by Seinabo Sey (Kygo remix)
- Recap Create a piece using elements from every single piece you've created this year so far! This can be something very abstract with different strokes and techniques layered together. You can also try making copies or printing out pictures of your pieces and using them to make a collage. I cut photos into strips and wove them together last year.
- What do you present to the world? Create a collage that answers this question. I look at it as a take on a self portrait of everything you share with the world. It can also be examining what you present to the world vs who you are when nobody is around.
- Our very first prompt Look at our very first prompt, DREAM, with new eyes. What do you want to create with it now? What inspiration speaks to you?
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And one more idea to try outside of your sketchbook - create your own wrapping paper if you have some gifts to share (or save it to use in the future)! Try lettering, doodling, painting, and have fun with it! I can't believe this is the final prompt! There is just one check in left and I'll also be sending one last email to wrap everything up and share more details on what's next. Thank you SO much for being a part of this community, for creating with me, and for motivating and inspiring me! Talk to you soon, |
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