I have recently integrated Morning Pages into my routine, and it’s freeing up so much of my “mental block” when it comes to making art.
For those of you who don’t know, Morning Pages is stream-of-consciousness journalling practice designed by Julia Cameron, author of the The Artist’s Way (which I just started reading).
Small spoiler: it gets into somewhat spiritual territory which may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s usually not mine. But Cameron is very clear about the fact that she’s not trying to prescribe any religious or spiritual views; rather, for the sake of the journey she’s trying to take you on, you need to imagine some kind of way to relinquish control over your creativity. So it’s up to you whether you call this executive force “God” or “the universe” or something else.
Back to Morning Pages:
The only rule is that there is NO RULE, and you can write whatever you want to write about. I have been thinking of it as “taking out the mental trash” from my brain. I suppose you used to just call this “journalling” but the emphasis on “do whatever you want” is such a helpful premise.
In recent years my creative practice has felt much more like a duty which I need to force myself through, while self-critical thoughts attack my brain. Sometimes it’s ok to feel like art is your duty, and to also be critical — especially if it’s your career and you want to improve — but that shouldn’t be a constant state, you know?
It sounds inflationary but the effect Morning Pages have had on me has been immediate. I feel much lighter, much more glee when I make my art now.
It’s not that my art is necessarily better as a result of journalling — just that on the inside, I feel much more relaxed and curious. Perhaps that is more important to prioritise right now, and maybe, just maybe, inner emotional peace can result in better art?
Some morning doodles – I asked my friends to send me their outfits
I’m so enamoured by this new discovery that I’ve now extended the practice to Morning Doodles — not writing, but drawing whatever comes to mind. My inner gentle reminder when doing this is always that whatever I draw first thing in the day is always going to be sh*t, but not to stress about it! We are just taking out the mental trash.
And how can I forget to mention: having friends and loved ones who support your creativity by birthday-gifting you deluxe art materials also takes off some of the mental load. Thank you forever.
a much prized birthday gift from my friends
Lil bonus aside overshare: Minimum and maximum creative time by Carolyn Yoo, a practice helping me feel more in touch with my creative side, even with a “normal” side-job.