Hello lovely artist,

Have you ever felt like you just needed to slow down for a little while?

I think we all need that sometimes.

A little time away from the usual rhythm. A chance to step away from the computer screen, clear our heads, take a breath, and simply have a bit of space.

Normally, I love writing to you and sharing what's happening in my studio, but sometimes our mind and body ask us to step away for a moment. And I believe it's important to listen.

Over the past few months, I've been reminded of just how important that can be.

Room to rest and breathe

After the upheaval of last year, including divorce, moving house, becoming a single mom, reorganizing my business and welcoming a new team, I've been carrying a lot.

My health hasn't been great either, and I've been dealing with anxiety, depression and severe fatigue. I have the support I need now, but between medication, perimenopause and the monthly heatwaves we've endured since last spring, something in me has been saying very clearly:

Stop. Shut down. Rest. And so that's what I need to do.

It isn't always easy to step away, especially when there is always something waiting for us.

Something to paint. Something to learn. Something to finish.

Another idea appearing just as we're trying to complete the last one.

And even when we're tired, that little voice can start telling us that we should keep going. That we should be making progress, catching up, being productive.

But our creativity needs time and space too.

Space to daydream. Space to let ideas emerge. Space to notice things again. Space to become curious.

Sometimes, doing nothing is the best gift we can give ourselves.

Accepting our fragility and vulnerability isn't weakness. It's an act of self-love.

When we let go and surrender, we create space for new energy, ideas and possibilities to find us eventually. There's no rush, and perhaps we don't always need to know what comes next.

What if you gave yourself permission to pause?

When was the last time you really stepped away?

Not because you'd finished everything. Not because your to-do list was finally empty. But simply because you felt you needed to?

I wonder what would happen if we allowed ourselves to stop before everything was finished.

There will always be another email, another task, another idea, another thing we could be doing.

We don't have to earn our rest by completing them all first.

Sometimes we can simply stop for a little while and see what happens.

A little creative pause

Before you move on with the rest of your day, try this. Put down whatever you're doing. Take a slow breath. Look outside, or close your eyes for a moment.

Then ask yourself:

Would it feel good to slow down right now?

Is there something I need a little space from?

What does my body need?

What is my spirit longing for?

You don't need to find the perfect answer. Just notice what comes up.

Creative self-care can look different every day

For some of us, taking a break means stepping away from creativity completely.

And for others, sitting down with a little paper, paint and time to ourselves can be exactly what we need. Both are okay.

I've always loved art journaling because it can become a space where we reconnect with ourselves without needing to produce anything for anyone else. We can follow a thought, an image, a color or a feeling and simply see where it leads.

Layer by layer, a page can grow from whatever we're thinking and feeling in the moment.

There is no need to make something impressive. No need to finish. No need to know where the page is going.

You can simply open the journal, put paint on the page, tear a piece of paper, add a word or a mark, and let yourself play.

Sometimes that creative time becomes a form of rest in itself.

An invitation to slow down with art

If making something is your way of slowing down, I'd love to invite you into my newest course, Art Journal Dreams.

It's a beginner-friendly introduction to art journaling as a soulful practice of creative self-care.

Together, we'll paint, collage and play without worrying about getting everything perfect. As we fill a beautiful page, we'll take time to breathe, dream, write and remember our wings.

You don't need to know how to draw, and you don't need hours of free time.

You simply need a page, a few art supplies and a little curiosity.

Then you can see where it takes you.

Come spend some creative time with me in Art Journal Dreams.

Learn more

Perhaps this is the permission you needed today:

You don't have to keep going simply because you can. You don't have to finish everything before you rest. You don't have to be productive every moment. Your creative life doesn't disappear when you take a break.

In fact, sometimes stepping away gives creativity the space it needs to breathe.

Ideas can continue unfolding while you're walking, resting, looking out the window or doing absolutely nothing.

And when you return to your art table, you may see everything with fresh eyes.

Continue your creative journey

If you'd like to explore more ways to make art a nourishing part of your life, I invite you to explore my free art-journaling resources and online mixed media classes.

Whether you have five minutes or an entire afternoon, there is always a way to make a little room for creativity.

And if you're ready to spend some time painting, collaging and dreaming with me, Art Journal Dreams is a lovely place to begin.

I'd love to see you in the studio.