Mark Making - Filling the Creative Well Blog Series

 

Today we are going to look at ‘mark making’ – It is slightly similar to doodling but you are using additional tools, lids, bottle tops or any other recycled or natural materials. It is a good idea to experiment with some of your tools to see what kind of marks you can get. There’s a special kind of freedom in intuitive mark making, you don’t have the pressure of making “art.” It is creative play and expression.

Check out my journal above to see how I create in my journal.

You can also check out this 'Mark making Tools video HERE where I share some of the tools that I use.

What You can Try

We are not thinking about drawing something specific, but we are going to make marks.  Choose a tool: a lid, a stick dipped in ink, a brush, a crayon, a piece of string – whatever you have and start to make marks on the paper. Try other things like using your non-dominant hand or put on music and respond to it with marks on the surface.

These marks don’t need to “be” anything. They can be scribbles, slashes, scratches, dots, or loops. Fill a page - or several.

 

Intuitive mark making is like your voice before you have the words. It side steps the need to be perfect and you just have fun.  You learn to value the moment and express what you have no words for.  You can do it anytime and with any supply.

Once you have a moment you can add to your marks, color them in, cut them up and use in collage, or build a library of patterns and textures that you can return to.

Takeaway Nuggets:

• Intuitive marks are expressions of energy, not outcome.

• The body often knows what the mind hasn’t said yet, let it speak.

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important.

Handmade Backgrounds - Filling The Creative Well - Blog Series

Handmade Backgrounds

A blank page can be intimidating whether in a journal or a canvas and can often put a stop to your creative flow. There are many ways in which you can set up your surface to avoid feeling fearful and jump straight into enjoying your creative process.

I prepare my pages beforehand and the way I do that is by using up excess paint that I am using in a project on these journal pages.  Over time you build up these layers without even thinking about it as you are only using up excess paint.  There is no judgement of these pages as they are just the foundation.  When you are then ready to work on the surface you already have a stepping stone to work from gorgeous layers of paint or collage, inviting you to play.

Check out the video of my process for creating backgrounds.  If you put 'backgrounds in the search, it will also pull up some of the other videos I have created.

What can you try?

Next time you are working on a piece do not discard your excess paint, but find another canvas or papers, or art journal that you can apply the excess to the surface.

If you want to create a background from scratch you can also start by gathering your favorite materials: paints, old papers, tissue, glue, stamps, and stencils. Consider using unusual tools—cardboard, a sponge, or the edge of a credit card. There are no rules here, just layers.

Creating Backgrounds 

• Begin with paint washes or collage pieces. Let the layers dry between steps so you can keep building. Add text, stamps, or rub-on transfers. Try using a braye in the paint, scratching into wet layers, or applying gesso to tone things down and then reintroducing bold marks.
• There’s something meditative about creating backgrounds. You’re not trying to “finish” a piece—you’re setting a mood. This frees you up to experiment.
• Keep a stack of these pages ready. They’ll become the foundations for journaling, focal images, affirmations, or quotes. Think of them as planted seeds—creative soil waiting to bloom.
• Sometimes, backgrounds become the main event. If you love how a page looks, leave it, you could also photocopy the page for further use.
• Let go of needing each page to become something right away. Let the joy of creating be enough.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Backgrounds create momentum and break creative blocks.
2. Every layer you add is a whisper of your voice.

 

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Gratitude Pages - Filling The Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Gratitude Pages

Gratitude has the power to change our perspective. When we pause to notice what we’re thankful for, we shift from a lack mindset to one of appreciation and satisfaction.  It is a great idea to start a gratitude journal where you can list and reflect on what you are grateful for.

A few years ago I created a ‘Gratitude and Celebration’ Journal and on a regular basis wrote about the things that I was grateful for and created a journal page with an image.  You can check out the video where I do a flip through.

What can you try?

Create a gratitude page. You might begin with a list, a sketch, a series of symbols or images that reflect what you’re grateful for today. Think of the small things that often go unnoticed -  your morning cup of tea, a bird’s song, a cool breeze and so much more.

Use colors, collage and add textures to express the gratitude, or frame your words with decorative borders, look at what you have and don’t hold back.

Return to your gratitude pages often. Over time, they are great reminders that will take you out of a slump on those rough days.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Gratitude nurtures joy and strengthens creativity.
2. Documenting appreciation deepens its impact.

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Found Words - Filling the Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Words are powerful, the ones we say to ourselves, or those we allow in from other sources.  We can also stumble upon them unexpectedly and we can look for ways to find those words that speak to our lives.  We can challenge ourselves to make a poem or journal page using found words and cut them out from magazines, books, or even junk mail.

You can make a start by collecting these words that speak to you. Don’t overthink it, if you are leafing through a magazine and come across a word trust your instinct and put it aside to use it in your journal and that time when you are ready to play.

Check out the video on creating word plaques - you can add these to your art journal pages or creative projects.

What else can you do?

Arrange the words into a sentence or poem. Let the words surprise you. You may find a theme emerging or it might be something that your heart wants to say. You can glue them onto a painted background, write around them, or turn them into mini word plaques.

Found word poetry can also a form of collage, combining meaning and language. It is a great way to incorporate text into your art.  It is another activity that you can do to kickstart a mood or inspire you.

This can also be a way to sidestep writer’s block or deepen your journaling. Found words become journal prompts, and even affirmations. They remind us that language is everywhere—and that meaning can be playful.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Found words can give voice to what you didn’t know you needed to say.
2. Poetry lives in the unexpected when you look closely.

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Experiment Freely - Filling the Creative Well Series - Blog Series

How often do you try something different in your creative practice? Maybe today is the day to follow a new idea, to use a supply you’ve ignored, and I know I have quite a few of the supplies that have been neglected and that need to be rescued.

The fantastic thing about experimenting is that it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and learning.  Can you give yourself the time and space to experiment on a daily or weekly basis?

What have you been curious about? That ink that’s still sealed? That stencil you bought but never used? Pick something that feels unknown and let it guide your creative play.

In this video I experiment with fabric

Where do you start?

•      Choose four materials you’ve never combined before—perhaps gesso, watercolor, tissue paper, and stitching. Or try drawing with your non-dominant hand. Or swap your brushes for sponges, twigs, or old toothbrushes, think outside the box.
•      The goal isn’t to make a masterpiece, it is to spark curiosity. You might discover a favorite texture, or combination of supplies that you want to try on a bigger scale.
•      Document what you learned, there are no failures.  Every step outside your comfort zone helps you to become a more confident artist.
• ·    As you will be doing this on a regular basis, why not dedicate a journal to experiments. Make it a space where you don’t judge yourself. Let it hold your trials, errors, and surprises.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Every experiment is a teacher - even the messy ones.
2. Curiosity is more important judgement - don’t hold back.

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Doodling - Filling the Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Doodle Daily

Doodling might seem simple; it is something we often do without really thinking. When I used to have to sit in work meetings, I would have my note pad making marks in the margin. I also found myself doodling if on the phone to a friend - having a pen in your hand and a scrap of paper enables you to not only make the necessary notes for your understanding of what is being said, it can also help you process some of the thoughts that maybe going through your mind using mark-making.

Check out the video below for more examples

Doodling it holds amazing creative power. I now set aside time just to doodle or ‘mark making’ and in each of my art pieces there are aspects of doodling in the work.

What can you Try?

Start today with a pen and paper. Don’t worry about what you’ll draw. Begin with one line, then another. Let your pen dance freely. Make patterns, spirals, simple faces, or abstract textures. Doodling isn’t about the end result—it’s about the process.

Set a timer for five or ten minutes. Let yourself get lost in the motion. You might find that your mind relaxes, and your breathing slows, and you get totally caught up in the process.

Over time, regular doodling builds visual vocabulary. You’ll find motifs emerging that you can later use in larger work. Flowers, dots, arrows, waves—all unique to you.

Try doodling during a phone call or while you are listening to a podcast. Doodle in the margins of your journal. Let it become part of your daily practice. Don’t underestimate the power of something so small – it has a meditative feel about it that you can embrace.  Once you have mastered doodling on paper, try other material.  Below I doodle with fabric paints and stitching.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Doodling is a mindfulness practice disguised as play.
2. Tiny repeated acts of creativity build long-term confidence.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Collage Play - Filling the Creative Well - Blog Series

Whether you are using fabric or paper Collage can be one of the most joyful and freeing practices in the creative toolkit and is a great way to revive yourself if you are feeling off or need a pick me up.  You can get yourself moving with your supplies fairly quickly - you probably have most of them close to hand.  You will need some paper ephemera, magazines, a few paper scraps, a pair of scissors, glue and you can get so much from a session.  (If you are working with fabric then take out your fabric scraps and other supplies.  There is no pressure to create a masterpiece, or expectations for realism. Instead, let your instinct lead and have fun.

I sometimes use collage as a way to settle myself before starting my work, I will use it as a filler if I only have a limited amount of creative time, sometimes just laying paper down on my art journal is all I will have time for. I will dig out some of my handmade paper and work on a journal page.  I also have the option of being more focused and working on a specific collage piece if I have more time.

Check out the following video and see one of the ways I approach collage in my art journal.

There are some other Collage Videos for Inspiration, and you can check them out here:

Review - Fabric Art Collage - Check it out HERE 

Collage Unleashed Review - Check it out HERE

What Can you Try?

Today, explore collage and play with some of your supplies. Raid your recycling bin, pull out magazines, used envelopes, maps, or even receipts. Look for textures and shapes that intrigue you – and see how they fit together.

Once you have your pieces, begin arranging them. Don’t glue anything down right away. Instead, move them around, overlap papers and see what story might be emerging on the page.

Collage also teaches us that nothing is wasted. Every scrap has a second story to tell. You can also use the opportunity to explore visual storytelling. Create a page that feels like a dream, write between the layers, add figures you have cut out – go with the flow of the piece and see what you can combine together.  Remember to have fun and see where it takes you.  Let this page be loose and do not judge. You don’t need to explain it to anyone not even yourself.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Collage transforms everyday scraps into artful meaning.
2. Trusting your intuition opens up wonderful creative surprises.

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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Brave Beginnings - Filling The Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Day 2: B – Brave Beginnings

Bravery in creativity doesn’t look like perfection. It is about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it, taking those small and consistent steps. Brave beginnings can look messy especially at the start, but you have to keep moving forward.  They are often the marks we make before we know what we’re creating.

Today is about beginning something new and taking that step, even if you don’t feel confident. Try and pick up a supply you have rarely used or one that is totally new to you, or that you haven't used at all.  Get comfortable in the uncomfortable.  

When you try something new doubt has a way of showing up, but that is okay.  Sometimes when we address whatever the fear might be it helps us stretch and grow in our practice, which is a vital part of the creative process.

Bravery can also be about gentleness and giving yourself permission to create without judgement or criticism.

What Can We Do?

Start your page by writing an encouraging sentence to yourself. “I am brave because .............”  Then allow yourself to create marks on the page.  

You might try scribbling or drawing with your non-dominant hand. Or closing your eyes and choosing three supplies randomly. Bravery can look like play.

Check out my Non-dominant hand painting, it was really freeing to create.

 

Over time, brave beginnings build creative resilience. The more often you start, the less precious “starting” becomes.

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Bravery is showing up to create even when you're uncertain.
2. Every new beginning builds creative confidence and resilience.

 Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey 

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Digital Art Papers - July - Patreon

 

Here are the selection of papers for July's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier.   If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.

  

We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.   

Free Tier Papers 

 

$10 Tier Papers

The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.

$15 Tier Papers  

It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.

The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.

Find out more HERE

Art Journals - Filling Your Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Art Journaling Adventures

Welcome to Day 1 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge that will be taking place for the month of July.  Over the next 31 days I am going to be sharing different ways to encourage yourself to be more creative and I will share the different ways being creative has encouraged and inspired me.  If you give them a try they may encourage and inspire you too!

Today we look at Art Journaling - which can come in a variety of forms and everyone has their own style.  Essentially art journaling is a great way to express your creative thoughts and emotions or just have a play with your art supplies. In your art journal you can add color, layers and find ways to represent how you feel on paper.

I love creating my own Art Journals and work in a variety of ways in them.  Sometimes I might not be able to articulate what is on my mind, so I start with color on the page and create a series of backgrounds.  I might also do some mark-making adding shapes and patterns, and will also use stamps and stencils.  Spending time on the activity helps relax me and enables me to process my thoughts.

In this video I share an example of art journals I created using recycled materials

Where do you start?

You are going to start from where you are.  Look at your supplies, and start there, and of course if you have a wide selection of supplies don’t try and use everything.  An example of some of the things you can use are paints, paper ephemera, magazines, markers, glue, or fabric scraps - whatever you feel like playing with. There are no rules. It is not about creating “beautiful” pages, but about making space for expression and experimentation.

Start by creating a background. You can use washes of color, collage pieces, or even scribbles. From there, follow your instinct. Perhaps a word or phrase comes to you. Maybe you draw a shape that reflects how you feel. You might choose to layer materials or textures that tell a silent story. You can also write a sentence on the page: “Today I feel…” Then start to build color, shape, or texture around that feeling. Layer over it if you want.

Art Journal Variety

Art journaling offers a daily creative check-in. Even ten minutes can help you reconnect. Your journal is a creative playground that you can tap into whenever the mood takes you.  Over time you might even get the urge to create your own journals.  Allow yourself to go with the flow and see what your needs are at the time.

Remember: your art journal is your well. You can use it to refill, restore and reflect 

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Art journaling invites you to blend emotion, imagery, and reflection into your creative practice. 
2. There are no rules - go at your own pace!

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .