Unwind with Simple Creative Mark-Making

Discover how intuitive mark-making can be your new go-to for stress relief and mindfulness. Unwind with simple shapes and lines today.

Motherhood is a beautiful journey, and “Self-Care for Moms” is something we can’t ignore. That’s why today, I want to share a fantastic creative outlet with you—intuitive mark-making. This exercise fits right into your busy schedule and is all about following your instincts to simply create and enjoy.

What is Intuitive Mark-Making?

Intuitive mark-making is an artistic approach where you let go of preconceived ideas and judgment. It’s a form of art therapy where you’re the therapist! You start in one corner of your paper and let your hands draw shapes, lines, and marks as they please. The focus isn’t on creating a perfect piece of art but on the journey of self-discovery and relaxation it brings.

Benefits of Intuitive Mark-Making

• Stress Relief: The act of creating without any specific goal is incredibly freeing and can relieve stress.
• Fosters Mindfulness: It pulls you into the moment, helping you focus on the here and now rather than worrying about the never-ending to-do list.
• Overcoming Perfectionism: With no right or wrong way to do it, this exercise helps you break free from the shackles of perfectionism.
• Encourages Creativity: Sometimes, letting your intuition guide you can result in surprising and beautiful outcomes.

Have fun with this mindful mark-making exercise! Please let me know if you’ve tried this one; I would love to see it.

You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown

Supplies used:

Bristol paper (Winsor & Newton), alcohol markers (ohuhu), fineliner 0.3 (Ohuhu), fineliner 0.03 (Edding), white gelly roll pen (Sakura).

Alternative supply suggestions:

You can use any material for this exercise, such as colored pencils, crayons, or a pencil. 

Instructions:

Step 1 – Start in the corner

Before you start, slowly breathe in and out a few times to clear your head. Then, bring yourself to the present, away from all the day-to-day stress.

Choose a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed. Put your phone on silent and take a few deep breaths.

Lay out your paper and choose your first drawing tool. Pick a corner of the paper and make your first mark. It can be a dot, a line, or even a small doodle.

Step 2 – Follow your intuition

Don’t overthink it. Let your hand move freely across the paper, creating lines, shapes, and marks.

Step 3 – Switch it up

Feel free to switch colors or tools. Add some vibrancy with colored pencils, or depth with markers.

Step 4 – Fill your page

Continue this process until you’ve filled the entire page. Allow the shapes and lines to overlap, intertwine, or even stand alone.

Once your page is full, take a step back and look at your creation. Reflecting on this piece offers valuable insights into your emotional well-being. How do you feel? What does this piece say about your current state?

Intuitive mark-making is just one of the simple creative exercises we’ll explore here. Stay tuned for more! Remember, it’s not about the end result but the journey that takes you there.

Take good care, and happy creating!