How to Start Making Art
Sitting down to make art when you don’t have a clear idea or a burst of energy can feel daunting. It’s hard to give ourselves permission to start an art habit when we’re worried the result might look ugly or weird. But that’s the secret: letting yourself play and get lost in the process, without thinking about whether it’s good, bad, or even finished.
If you’re wondering how to start making art, it helps to stop thinking of it as a product. Making art doesn’t have to be about the end result. The magic lives in letting go. When you approach art with curiosity and freedom, you open the door to something deeper and more meaningful.
Starting an art practice isn’t always easy. Carving out time every day to make something that won’t be “productive” can feel indulgent or unimportant. It doesn’t come with a checkbox or a gold star. And when you're not feeling particularly inspired, it’s tempting to skip it altogether.
But here's the truth: even just 20 minutes a day of creative play can build a powerful art habit. One that leads to beautiful, unexpected things over time. You’ll miss some days. You’ll fall off track. But the key is to come back. To start again. That’s how to keep making art—and keep enjoying it.
>>> Sidenote, it’s also a way to improve brain health according to Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, authors of Your Brain On Art.
This photo is from my studio this morning. It had been a few days since I painted, and I felt that little dopamine hit just from showing up and playing with color. That’s the reward. That’s the practice.