When I first started painting in an art studio, I was always the one with paint on my forehead, on my fingertips, even in my hair.
I looked around and saw others somehow staying clean and composed. So I tried to stay tidy too—more focused, more contained. But the moment I dipped into the flow, I forgot everything. Even my coffee sat untouched, cooling beside me.
It turns out, mess is my language. I love when colors spill, when textures surprise, when the canvas on the floor becomes a playground of instinct and intuition.
Even now, though I’ve never had a space where I could leave things messy, I still crave that freedom. I bet you do too.
This Week’s Theme: Permission to Be Messy
Messiness isn’t failure—it’s movement. It’s a mark of being alive in your process, of trusting your hand more than your plan.
Creative Practices to Loosen Up:
🎨 1. Continuous Line Drawing
Choose a subject (your hand, a cup, a flower) and draw it without lifting your pen. Let it be imperfect, expressive, and full of energy.
✋ 2. Non-Dominant Hand Drawing
Switch hands and let go of control. See what surprises emerge.
⏳ 3. Timed Mark-Making
Set a timer for 2 minutes. Make lines, swirls, textures—fast and free. Don't stop.
Reflections on Imperfection:
Kintsugi teaches us that brokenness can be mended with gold. That flaws make things more beautiful, not less.
Your journal is the same. Each crossed-out word, each smudge, each torn edge is a part of your story.
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen
Memoirs, paintings, even the best poems hold raw edges. That’s why they move us. Perfection doesn’t make us connect—honesty does.
Literature Thought:
"The continual effort to be perfect is a recipe for stagnation. Let yourself be imperfectly alive." —from How to Be an Imperfectionist
Journal Prompts:
When was the last time I felt free to create without worrying about the outcome?
What do I try to “clean up” in my creative work or in life? Why?
If I could give myself full permission to be messy, what would I create?
💌 Closing Words:
This week, let the paint drip. Let your handwriting wobble. Let the words come out half-finished and human.
