How to Create an Art Nest to Keep Creativity Alive During Challenging Times

[@liz-anna2365]

I find your voice on these videos to be very natural and pleasant to listen to. You do a great job on your videos and you inspire me to use my sketchbooks. Thank you!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thanks so much! I love hearing that my videos inspire others. That is the best complement I could receive. 🙏💕

[@mrwiggiewoo]

Wonderful! You're the Mary Poppins of the art world. I can't believe all the Wonderful things you can put in and take out of this one bag! Endless 😅

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I LOVE that!!!! Thanks for the smile 😂

[@Julie-vy3oz]

Oh this made me smile. I have a basket on a chair by my dining room table. I sit there and watch KZbin’s or something online and paint away!

[@Julie-vy3oz]

And sorry you’re not feeling well.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I love it! If your on Instagram post a photo and tag me in it. I LOVE to see peoples “Art Nests”

[@missdeesaccount]

I think your Art Nest is a wonderful idea!! I am bedbound and I have many bad days due to chronic illnesses and I struggle with being creative. My Mom has to help me with all my supplies and then she says C'mon hurry up, I've got lots to do!! She has no patience what so ever and expects me to instantaneously come up with a list of things I need and she loses her temper at me if I don't know. I love my Mom but I get tired of her fighting with me every time I say I want to do some art. I'm not sure what to do in this case because I can't go and get it myself. Sometimes she can be somewhat abusive. Thank you for your kindness in answering another comment I left, directing me to this video! You're a great artist!!! Take care!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I’m so sorry, that sounds like a very difficult situation. May I suggest taking a few days or even a week to write down a list of things that you would like to include in your own “Art Nest”. Then have your Mom gather them for you and put them in a basket, box or even diaper bag. If you work with paints keep a gallon jug of water nearby too. That way when you want to create you will have everything you need right next to your bed and you can take as long as you like to create.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Having a portable art nest is key. My videos on creating an art nest and portable art supplies tend to be favorites with my viewers. It’s so helpful in coping with our chronic illness/pain.

[@lednugenna]

This is exactly what I needed today!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I’m so glad that it was helpful! Thanks for watching 💕🙏

[@michaelag736]

I came here from the intuitive messenger video where the art nest was mentioned. This is such a great idea! I am dealing with chronic back pain and I think I will make an art nest next to my zero gravity chair. Linda you are amazing and hope your health keeps improving

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thanks so much for watching and for letting me know that you found the video inspiring! I’m excited that you’re going to create an art nest. 🙏💕🪺

[@Crystal_Seeker71]

I love this idea

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I am so glad that it inspired you!

[@juststartingover2735]

Thank you for such great ideas!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Glad you like them! 💕

[@sheilasinghal2922]

Love this. Thank you.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thank you for watching and letting me know that you enjoyed it!

[@bellap2570]

So helpful….❤ Thank you…

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I’m so glad to hear that. I have a few other videos on my channel showing different variations of my art nest. 🖍

[@michelleoconnor3023]

I SO enjoyed this video! Wonderful products too!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Michelle! I am so glad that you enjoyed the video! Thanks so very much for letting me know.🌷

[@Mouthfulofsuns]

Thank you so so much! I'm 18 years old and I have chronic pain so drawing can be hard sometimes,this inspired me to make a little artnest for myself which I can take to my doctors appointments & also draw in my bed & everything! This was very helpful!!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I’m so glad to hear that the video left you feeling inspired. What a shame that you have to experience chronic pain at the young age of 18. I have some other videos showing different versions of my art nest so I hope you will continue to be inspired to create in any way that you are able as a way to cope with your chronic pain. Wishing you well! 🙏💕

[@Mouthfulofsuns]

@Linda Marcille, Beginner’s Mind - Art Mind thank you! I will definitely check the videos out ✨️🩵 Probably gonna try to update my art nest a bit since my favourite medium is watercolor so I need to find a few more ways to include it 😄

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

@Kenny McCormick It's funny because as soon as I think my art nest is perfect I fall in love with a new medium and end up switching things all around. As a matter of fact I just switched it up again yesterday 😀

[@sueheads8882]

This was really helpful, thank you so much😊

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Sue, I am so happy that you fond the video helpful! I wish you many happy, healing, creative hours in you own "Art Nest" .

[@sueheads8882]

@@BeginnersMind-ArtMind I've ordered myself a bag to put a selection of art supplies in that I can take with me to the living room or bedroom, depending on how poorly I am. Such a good idea, I'm very grateful to you dear. 😊

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

@@sueheads8882 Oh I am so happy to hear that! I pray you have many healing hours of creativity with your new set up 💞

[@paint_freckles]

Thank you I love this kind of video I have chronic pain and illness and need this kind of information

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Angie, I’m so glad that you found the video helpful! Sorry that you struggle with chronic illness and pain too.

[@jackieojeda6101]

Gosh lady beautiful young lady!! You are so awesome, I certainly agree that art can help me to heal. I lost my Mondo on the 7th of March after 21 years 😢 and if it weren't for my art I may have done something stupid. I painted a picture of us from a picture I had and to me it is a work of art! So thank you for being here, it is so strange I feel as if we are friends! God bless and thank you for your creativity too!!😊👍🙏👋💝

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Jackie, First off anyone that calls me a “Beautiful young lady” is my new best friend since I’m almost 60! I am so sorry for your loss, grief is so paralyzing and exhausting to navigate! The creative process is a magical and blessed thing and I’m so grateful we have that 💕

[@catherinedouglas8049]

Loved this video and the whole idea of an art nest. Thank you so very much for sharing, Linda. You have inspired me!!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I'm so glad! I have other videos that show variations on my Art Nest too. It’s always evolving 😉

[@juliegrossman3733]

What a great idea, to create an art nest! And I appreciated the encouragement to use a variety of materials, with a focus on the process. That sounds very healing in itself. I can see this practice in the evening as a way to calm before bed. I like the free writing, covering with acrylic, etc. One think I love to use to calm and create (usually with kids) is playdoh with stamping tools! I think I would tuck that in my bag! Could also add various materials for texture creation in acrylic/watercolor...that's soothing also. Thanks for the great video!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I’m really glad you enjoyed it! I love that your coming up with ideas to make it your own. I have other videos on KZbin that show different evolutions of my “Art Nest”. I have also been posting about it on my new Patreon account too.

[@margaretspringer9197]

Thanks, Linda! This is a great video, especially for artists like me with chronic pain or illness. I loved the landscape where you said you needed to lighten the sky (I didn't think so) and the portrait of your husband with the dogs in his lap (he looks like a sweet guy). I love the idea of art healing, too -- it does so many things -- gives meaning to our lives.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Margaret, I’m so blessed that you enjoyed the video! Thanks so much for letting me know, that makes me really happy. I don’t know what I would do without my healing art practice. I talked about that some more in the video I will be publishing tomorrow around 4 pm Eastern US time.

[@mildredrodriguez-wys3564]

Hello Linda 💕 I started my ugly scribbles in my comfy chair because of my anxiety. Never imagine that those ugly scribbles will help me and developed me in creating more and more into what it’s called art. At the beginning I was not confortable are sharing my ugly notebook. Never in a million years I would thought oils pastel and notebook will help me. Thanks so much for sharing this 💕 please continue talking and sharing more with us! After all, that’s the reason I love 💕 your videos PS: glad your feeling better 🥰

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

I am so glad you are easing your anxiety through creating! I’m so blessed that you are enjoying my videos 💕🌷

[@debsmith7050]

TY. You are very generous to share. Great ideas. I have Fibromyalgia; some days/hours are better than others and I am blessed that many days also are good! My supplies are very minimal; just right for me :) but I guess I was doing a version of this intuitively

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Deb, sorry to hear that you have Fibromyalgia. That is one of my diagnoses too. I think there is much wisdom in keeping one’s art nest minimal because when we are in pain it’s so easy to become overwhelmed by too many choices. I’m so glad that you have been intuitively using you creativity in this way 💕

[@creativespark7371]

Yes! Thank you for sharing this! Sometimes my illness/disability causes me so much pain that I’m stuck in bed for hours and I’ve been trying to find out ways I can create art while stuck in bed. This is such a great idea! Thanks so much!

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hey Creative Spark! I can deeply sympathize with your situation but I am so glad that you are seeking ways to remain creative when illness drags you down. Keep your creative spark ignited!😉💞

[@sharontrueman3221]

Very giving video. Thank you for sharing.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thanks so much for your kind words 💕

[@Athanais157]

I am so glad that I found your channel. It’s exactly what I need at the moment 💜🤗

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thanks so much for letting me know that you are enjoying my videos! That means a lot to me. 🤗🙏💕

[@Athanais157]

@@BeginnersMind-ArtMind I really enjoyed your videos. I am definitely a new sub.🤗 I Hope you are well!🍀

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

@@Athanais157 Welcome to this amazing community of creatives! I hope that it brings you lots of creative inspiration and joy 🤗

[@impish22]

Love your videos.. thanks for sharing

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Thanks so much for letting me know. I’m really happy that you are enjoying them 💕

[@jcookie9448]

My art nest is not as exciting, I have some my art supplies all over my sofa table 😅 I will snap a photo of it once I've cleaned up a bit. I don't think the world is ready to see last night's dinner plate that close to my "dirty-water-jar". I picked up painting again not too long ago and I find it sooo difficult to paint loosely or just loosen up in general. I don't know if it has anything to do with my neurodivergent traits but I often get stuck in the details haha. It's surprisingly hard to paint loosely although those are the painting I've the most fun in. I think it will get easier with time as I get more confident, I still consider myself a beginner since I've never practiced colour mixing so there's just a lot of trial-and-error that disrupts the flow. I will hopefully get there eventually! And I will definitely try the paper-cut-shape-animals-thingy when I'm brave enough! Thanks again sharing and showing us your art nest. Watching your videos have helped me a lot with my own journey.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Cookie, I would love to see your art nest! Remember creative spaces don’t have to be neat, sometimes the messier they are the more they suggest creative genius lol. I mean you saw my dining room table in this weeks video. Painting loose has been incredibly hard for me too. I think there’s a few different reasons. Getting caught up in the details during a painting session is fun and it lengthens the painting session. We get immersed in our painting and we just don’t want to stop painting. Painting loose also looks different to us while we’re painting compared to after the painting is completed and we step back. Sometimes when I place a really loose mark I think to myself oh that looks awful but if I saw that mark on someone else’s painting I would think it was a beautifully rendered mark. So step back from your loose paintings and give it time before you add any more to it. Always stop just before you think you’re done. The other aspect is, at least for a lot of us, we fear lack of approval on our art. We don’t want people to judge us and think we’re creating ugly art. That is a very real fear that is reinforced by social media these days. Truly the best way to loosen up is to have a designated art journal where you just do things that force you to be loose like contour drawings, painting and drawing with your nondominant hand, concentrating on painting the large shapes that you see instead of the subject that you see. For example instead of saying “I’m going to paint that red flower”, think, “that is a red oval shape with green oval shapes protruding from the line (stem) below it.” Hard to explain it in writing but you probably already know what I mean. I will try to remember to talk about some simple color mixing in an upcoming video. Thanks for opening up and sharing you experience 💕

[@jcookie9448]

@Linda Marcille, Beginners mind - Art mind That's very sweet of you! I think that my biggest insecurity is to take up 'space' in general while simultaneously wanting to share my stuff with others to get *some* kind sense of community. which isn't the most effective combo. I think it's fairly common for a lot of artists. I've seen other artists draw with their non-dominant hands but I've never dared to do it myself (or just forget). Thank you for reminding me of it, I will gather some strength and finally get to it later today. Regarding my colour mixing... you don't have to create an entire video just for little me 🙈 I think it's mainly because I'm not having enough patience. I usually not clean my (only brush since I'm too lazy to fetch a new one from the cabinet) brush enough in-between... And I don't switch water as often as I should. So i only have myself to blame. It will probably get easier when I get more used to the process. I just simply need more experience 🤗

[@johannaohgren-bohman7017]

Love your video, I’m a new subscriber and I just love your art and the ideas you share. Thank you❣️

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Johanna, welcome to my channel and thanks for subscribing! I’m so happy that you are enjoying the content!

[@hannemarielorenzen3428]

Questions: when using posca pens, it looks like you move the color around with water and brush?!? That's New to me. From your dining room painting: is it gouache or gesso you lighten the sky with?? You give soo much inspiration, I'm so happy to have found you here on KZbin. Thank you, from Denmark.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Hi Hanne Marie, Yes I move the Posca paint around with a damp brush. I lightened the sky with gesso but you could certainly use gouache with good results!

[@hannemarielorenzen7553]

Thank you very much. Happy Easter.

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

@@hannemarielorenzen7553 Happy Easter to you as well!

[@barbibarnum]

When I was going through a season of grief someone showed me slow stitching and it saved me. I wish I had thought of making an art nest like this. Can you tell me about the stand that was holding your sketchbook in your dining room?

[@BeginnersMind-ArtMind]

Years ago, I took a few slow stitching workshops with Jude Hill. I really enjoyed it but now, years later, my arthritis makes it uncomfortable. I went and rewatched the video and it was my Alla Prima Pochade box that I had my sketchbook set on. It is a Plein Air pochade but is often used in artists studios too. Ben makes these pochade boxes in Minnesota. They come in different sizes and are beautifully handcrafted, truly heirloom pieces.