+52 Artist Date Ideas For The Whole Year (The Artist’s Way)
Artist's Dates are one of the basic tools from The Artist's Way and they're completely essential in your creative recovery.
What is an Artist Date?
Julia Cameron described Artist Dates in her book The Artist's Way and also made a very short and concise video about it on her website.
The purpose of Artist Dates is to have fun, they're not meant to be work. Julia often explains that when she introduces the tools of The Artist's Way, people expect work. But this is a play tool.
The importance of play lies in it being nourishment for your inner artist. When you start unlocking your creativity, creative energy begins to flow from within you. There might even be days when you're brimming with tons of inspiration.
However, it's normal to have other days when you feel dry and completely devoid of ideas and inspiration. That's because you've been giving without replenishing. Artist Dates are what you give back so that the energy keeps flowing through you.
When we're in creative recovery, we often self-sabotage by neglecting our Artist Dates because "They're play time anyway, we don't need that. There are other important things to do". We're too caught up in work and all the other daily obligations we encounter. Yet, this is an enormous block, and if you're committed to your creative recovery, you must go on those Artist Dates no matter what.
To turn your Artist Dates ideas into a reality, you need to schedule them. Set aside your time for fun, mark a date in the week, and stick to it, as if it were your little child's end-of-year presentation. You can't miss it for anything in the world. That's why I've created an exclusive calendar to help you schedule your Artist Dates and make the most of your enjoyment.
Complexity is the enemy of execution, I learned that from Tony Robbins. Let's get rid of all excuses by previously brainstorming on many ideas for what you could do on your Artist Date. You'll find here over 52 ideas to inspire you and fulfill them throughout the year. You'll find that many of them serve as a starting point for even better ideas that will come to you.
Nature Date Ideas
1. Go on a Botanical Garden Adventure: Maybe let yourself lose in the unique shapes of some exotic plants, maybe journal to jot down your thoughts are do some drawings of them.
2. Plan a Park Picnic: Head over to your favorite park or some nice green area and take a picnic basket with your favorite snacks, a cozy blanket and a good book with you.
3. Birdwatching: Maybe get some new binoculars. It can be so much fun to have a peaceful time while exploring the avian world around you.
4. Go on a scenic bike ride: Hop on your trusty bike to go discover some hidden gems. Don't remember to let yourself feel the wind in your hair ;).
5. Mountain Hiking: Challenge yourself with a mountain hike. Pack some essentials and get ready to see some breathtaking views at the summit.
6. Watch the Stars: Find a spot to lay back on a comfy blanket and marvel at the constellations. Maybe make a wish upon a shooting star...
7. Visit a Local Farmer's Market: Enjoy the nice atmosphere of some fresh fruits, vegetables, and artisanal goods.
8. Go Boating: If there's a lake or river nearby, go boating for a while. It can either be a rowboat, kayak, or paddle board to spend your day on the water.
9. A Day of Nature Photography: No need to use a professional camera to capture the beauty of landscapes or some flowers and animals along the way, use your phone's camera, that will be good too. Let it be your creative journey through the natural world.
Artsy Dates
10. Visit an Art Museum: This can be very inspiring for your artist. I've personally found that when you're on a creative recovery, art seems to touch you much deeper. Find a Museum near you on Google Maps.
11. Go see a Local Band: Time for discovery, it doesn't always have to be the same bands you listen to. This Artist Date can be the opportunity to let the magic of some live music captivate your artist.
12. Read some Poetry: Julia Cameron has some poetry on her website that I totally resonate with. My favorites are Remembering and Come to me. When you allow yourself to feel, poetry really speaks to your soul.
13. Explore a Craft Store: Visiting a craft store with colorful supplies and materials is very nourishing for your artist. You can let your imagination run wild with crafting possibilities. Your artist might as well be super excited for the next creative project.
14. Photography Workshop: It doesn't have to be a big thing, maybe watch 10-20 minutes of "Photography Basics" video on YouTube and then go put into practice everything you learned.
15. Local Art Fair: Find a local Art Fair to discover some artists near your area.
16. Painting Class: Maybe also watch some Youtube video on painting and express your emotions through color in your own way.
17. Watch a Movie: Just a movie that you'd love to watch. If you're like me and don't really like to watch movies, try to watch a documentary on something you love. My favorite documentary ever is Kedi: Cats of Istanbul. It's lovely and I highly recommend it.
18. Street Art Hunt: Find some hidden murals, graffiti, and urban art. Maybe try to find what story each one of those is telling.
19. DIY Home Decor Project: Infuse your home with a touch of your personal creativity. Maybe a handmade candle, a custom wall hanging, a photo collage wall... possibilities are endless.
21. Dancing: No need to go to a class at all. You can play some music and let it flow. Dance like no one's watching when no one is actually watching.
Foodie Dates
20. Cooking Class: Maybe have a cooking day focusing on a specific cuisine like Thai, Italian, or French.
21. Explore a New Cuisine: Explore a cuisine you've never tried, maybe Moroccan, Korean, Ethiopian...
22. Homemade Ice Cream: Make your own Ice Cream Flavors. Experiment with some unique combinations of ingredients. Is it possible a croissant Ice Cream? ;).
23. Taste Wine and Cheese: Feel some French vibes by having a wine and cheese tasting. Find your favorite combinations of them.
24. Brewery Tour: If you're passionate about beer then you can let yourself discover the art of craft beer.
25. Make your own Chocolates: Mold, dip, and decorate your own chocolate creations. You'll have fun and delicious results.
26. Tea tasting: Sample a range of teas, there are literally tons of teas for you to taste like chamomile, jasmine, peppermint, rooibos, chai, oolong...
27. Food Photography: Style and photograph something awesome and post it on instagram.
Fitness Dates
28. Rock Climbing: It can be either at an indoor climbing gym or a natural outdoor rock face.
29. Pilates Class: Let your artist find balance and harmony. This is awesome to enhance not only your flexibility and strength but also mindfulness.
30. Martial Arts Lesson: It can be karate, judo, taekwondo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu for example. You'll learn some self-defense skills.
31. Hula Hooping: Just get a hoop and simply enjoy dancing with it.
32. Go to a Trampoline Park: Have a blast leaping into foam pits and getting the most out of your acrobatic skills.
33. Surfing: If you're near a beach, connect with the sea through surfing a little bit, or a lot if you're an expert.
34. Skiing or Snowboarding: If it's winter, plan a snowy adventure. Or maybe build a snowman.
Soulful Moments
35. Journaling: Explore your inner words, and remember, this is not work. Print some pictures for your journal and add some new stories.
36. Relaxing Bath: Set the mood in your bathroom, light some candles, play some music, use oil diffusers, and even add a bottle of wine, a book, and some snacks ;).
37. Spa Day: You can go somewhere to get a massage and some rejuvenating treatments or you can transform your home into a mini spa. Put on some scrubs and masks.
38. Letter to your Future Self: Write a letter to your future self, what were your fears today? What were you happy about? What is it that you'd like your future self to remember or to know?
39. Aromatherapy Session: Create your own blends, aromatic oils have some powerful and calming effects on your overall wellbeing.
40. Mindful Coloring: Coloring is therapeutic and your inner child probably loves doing it.
41. Walking Meditation: No music, no dogs. This is for you to focus on each step and breath because this is your walk, not your dog's walk or your favorite band's walk. (That's what Julia Cameron says).
42. Make a homemade treatment: You can even have two dates in a week, one where you craft your homemade spa treatments such as face masks, scrubs, or bath bombs, and then another one where you actually use them.
43. View the Sunset or Sunrise: Go view a sunset or a sunrise.
44. Gardening: The idea would be to cultivate life. You can plant flowers or nurture houseplants.
The Artist's Date Book Ideas
The Artist's Date Book by Julia Cameron is ALL full of Artist Date ideas for each day of the year. Here are some of my favorites, but you can certainly get the book and be fully inspired by all of them. Read more on The Artist's Date Book Review.
45. Make a dollhouse
46. Write a song for children
47. Draw your pet
48. Decorate a backpack
49. Decorate your pet's dinner dish
50. Make a stuffed animal
51. Make a book of quotes from your friends
52. Make a photo album
53. Write a children's story
54. Go pet a horse
55. Collage your creative dream
56. Make an artist's altar
57. Go to the library and look at art books
58. Collect flowers to dry
I certainly did number 47 and drew my cat, and guess what? It was just the beginning of me drawing cats as a journey! (Watch here)
Artist's Dates are a commitment, so make sure you schedule them and maybe journal a little on them to get the most out of them. You can join my Creative Sketch Sunday Newsletter where I send you an Art Journaling prompt that can help you on your creative journey :) I made it especially for people like you who are extremely committed to their creative recovery.
Click Here To Join Creative Sketch Sunday
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