What is Mindful Painting?

So, what is Mindful painting?

Mindful Painting is a unique approach to art that focuses on mindset over artistic outcomes. It's about connecting with oneself, staying present, and cultivating self-love throughout the creative process.

At Artanda, we blend meditation techniques with watercolour methods, creating a calming Seven-Stage Mindful Painting Practice. Let's explore these stages:

What is Mindful Painting? Candles in an art studio: A relaxing and peaceful environment is a great way to start a Mindful Painting Practice

Stage One : Preparing for your practice.

Create a peaceful environment. Set up a dedicated space, choose a subject you connect with, and centre yourself with meditation or intention-setting.

Watercolours at a Mindful Painting practice

Stage Two: Contemplation Colour and Light (Palettes)

Once you’ve chosen your subject or photograph, really take time to look closely, noticing the colours, light and shadows of your subject before choosing your palette and colour mixing.

What is a Mindful Painting Practice? An Artanda approach to drawing, mindfully.

Stage Three: Drawing (noticing without judgment)

At Artanda, I teach very specific methods for drawing. My Mindful Painting method is about Calmly moving forward, maintaining rhythm, and noticing mistakes without judgment.

Stage Four : Allowing Chaos

Embrace the unpredictability of watercolor. Trust the process and sit with the chaos, understanding it's a necessary part of your practice.

An unfinished dog painting at an Artanda Mindful Painting class

An dog painted at an Artanda Mindful Painting art class

Stage Five: Conversations with watercolour (balance)

Here, we're focused on getting the balance right with our watercolors.

Think of it as a dialogue with the paint. Adding firmer lines and darker areas can bring order to our artwork, but only when there's a give-and-take in our conversation. If we get too heavy-handed and dominate the discussion, our watercolour can end up looking too fussy and overworked.

Artanda Members painting during a Mindful Painting practice

Stage Six: Accents and restraint

To wrap up our painting, we introduce black and white ink for subtle accents. These bold pigments give us more control, but we must use restraint so as not to overpower the intrinsic quality of the watercolour.

A journal - a gratitude practice is a fantastic way to complete a Mindful Painting practice.

Stage Seven: Gratitude

Close with a gratitude practice. Regardless of the artwork's outcome, every practice has value, from the positive impact on cognitive function to simply helping us carve out a little time for creativity.

I'll be sharing more Mindful Painting content here and across my social media and I invite you to explore my in-person, on-line and 1-1 classes at artanda.co.uk