Uncovering Hidden Creativity: Exploring Art Through Backgrounds

Uncovering Hidden Creativity: Exploring Art Through Backgrounds

One of my favorite creative exercises is exploring mixed media art backgrounds.  If you have watched any of the projects on Patreon you will see how I create and searching for hidden shapes and figures within them. It’s a process of discovery—letting the background guide the direction of the artwork rather than forcing a specific idea.

This approach brings a sense of playfulness to my work, allowing unexpected elements to emerge. I’ve found it especially rewarding with my digital art floral background pages, as they offer endless possibilities for layering, highlighting, and transforming abstract patterns into something entirely new.

If you’re looking for a way to spark fresh ideas and deepen your creative practice, here are some ways you can experiment with background exploration:

Creative Activities Using Digital Art Floral Backgrounds

Shape Discovery – Print out your background and study it for a few moments. Do you see faces, animals, or abstract figures? Lightly sketch around the shapes you find, then enhance them with paint, ink, or stitching.

Cut & Rearrange – Print your background and cut it into different shapes. Rearrange the pieces into a collage or use them to build layers in an art journal. Try mixing different floral backgrounds for a dynamic effect.

Layer with Mixed Media – Use your floral background as a base for stamping, stenciling, or mark-making. Acrylics, watercolors, and even embroidery can add beautiful depth to the design.

Interactive Journaling – Glue a background page into your art journal and write or doodle over it. The soft floral elements create a unique backdrop for personal reflections or poetry.

Highlighting Hidden Elements – Use a fine liner or white gel pen to outline patterns that stand out to you. Maybe a petal looks like a bird’s wing, or a swirl resembles a dancer in motion—enhance what you see and let the artwork evolve.

Embracing the Creative Process

Letting go of strict expectations and simply exploring what appears on the page can be incredibly freeing. Sometimes, the most intriguing discoveries happen when we step back and allow the art to reveal itself.

If you try any of these techniques, I’d love to see what you create! Share your work or let me know what hidden gems you find in your backgrounds.

What unexpected shapes or patterns have you uncovered in your art? Leave a comment below!

This practice can lead to unexpected and intriguing discoveries, adding another layer of fun to the creative process.  Most of my work now takes on this form especially with the digital art papers I create.

You can access the papers for Free on my Patreon - Check them out HERE