The Artist's Way: Round 2

An illustrated guide to the 12 week course

It’s amazing to reflect on how so much has improved for me in the 2 years since I first worked through the creative recovery course book The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. The book inspired me to journal more often, make more time for creative play, set healthier boundaries around my time and energy, listen to my Censor (inner critic) less, and trust myself more. It also helped me to take more fun & creative risks, like starting this blog last fall with a letter to my Inner Artist:

A New Beginning

I first started the book because of my therapist. I had felt so burned out and creatively blocked, so she recommended I give this famous self help book a try. She also thought it would be good practice for recovering from my perfectionism issues since it’s impossible to do the book perfectly. She challenged me to embrace that. So, I decided if I completed my assignment to do the book imperfectly, then I would still get an A+! Nailed it. 😉

I have sensed recently that I need an Artist’s Way refresher. Work and life have been stressful the last year and I know I can use the creative kick in the ass that this course provides. I also have a deeper understanding of myself now too, from the ADHD diagnosis I finally sought out last summer. With an ADHD brain, it’s common to struggle with perfectionism, extreme sensitivity to rejection, and decision paralysis from a hyperactive mind constantly swirling with tasks, ideas, and goals that all feel equally important and overwhelming¹. Having better language and tools for managing what I’ve always experienced in my buzzing brain has been a deeply healing process. I’m excited to dig into that even more through the exercises in this book and with a wonderful “Creative Cluster” of 10 others each week! I am so grateful to have a group for accountability and inspiration this time.

“Progress, not perfection, is what we should be asking of ourselves. Creative recovery is like marathon training. We want to log ten slow miles for every one fast mile. This can go against the ego’s grain. We want to be great immediately, but that is not how recovery works.”
- Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

Week 0, Round 2

Before beginning Week 1 on Thursday, I reread the introduction pages to prepare and reflect. I could already feel my inner artist bouncing with excitement to deepen our connection more. My first go-around, I pictured my child self, my inner artist child, and that was a beautiful exercise. Perhaps I have been listening to Ireland’s bop of the summer too much, but this time The Artist’s Way’s descriptions of creative energy brought to mind an image of a spark or a little glowing flame.

I immediately sketched some character ideas:

Concept sketches of my Creative Spark & a Fire Bucket as the Censor

I loved the metaphor of fire, but not enough to want to draw it repeatedly.
So I let the idea run for another cycle in my mind: Spark. Sparky.
Puppy? Corgi puppy in a beret named Sparky? Yes!

A Quick Guide to The Artist’s Way

I made this for myself to print out as a fun visual reminder of living The Artist’s Way. Feel free to save it for your reference too.

The 4 Basic Steps to following the Artist's Way

For those who are curious but too busy to take on a 12-week course, know that you do not need to read the book to start using the basic tools of the Artist’s Way. Julia is very generous on her website with instructions and tips on how to incorporate these into your life without the book. Click the titles below for links.

1. Morning Pages: Out²
   3 pages, handwritten each morning in a stream of consciousness. The writing can be messy and “bad”. It’s a tool, not meant to be art. It helps to clear your mind by emptying out all of the stress, overwhelm, boredom, or angst of the early morning brain onto the page. I love doing these and I’m so happy to pick the habit back up again! The only rules are: do not share the pages with anyone and do not reread them yourself until after you complete the course.

2. Artist Date: In³
   A weekly block of time alone to refill your soul. Julia suggests 2 hours, but it can be any chunk of time, any place, and any activity that calls to you. It helps you practice listening to yourself and protecting essential self-nurturing time. The only rule is: do not invite anyone else to go with you (no partner, child, friend). Being alone helps you focus on your inner artist child’s need to play. I struggled with this one the most last time, so I am determined to prioritize it better this session!

3. Check-In: Pause
   Time reviewing weekly reflection questions at the end of each chapter in the book alone or with your group. Each chapter has a different theme with exercises to try too. Aim for at least a few of the exercises that call out to you the most. You won’t have time to do all of the many suggested exercises, but you can always go back later. I might try the same ones I chose last time to compare, or maybe I will try different ones to stretch myself more.

4. Trust the Process: I added this one since it’s not an official step, but I think it goes along with the whole theme of the book and something I definitely need a constant reminder of when things get too hard: Keep going, trust yourself, and be kind to your mind. Unleash your playful inner puppy in the fenced yard of your life & have some fun!

Creative Playtime

Inspired by Sparky, I updated this blog a bit with a new icon and color scheme to match. This week, I also joined in on the “Human Intelligence Badge Draw This In Your Style” challenge by

Beth Spencer

of Introvert Drawing Club! Such a fun idea! It’s amazing to see everyone’s different badge creations to celebrate art created by real humans (not A.I.) Thanks for the inspiration and community, Beth!

Question for your Inner Artist Sparky!

• How do you picture your inner creative energy? How can you spend time nurturing that part of you this week?

1. Disclaimer that I am not a mental health professional, so if you relate to anything I have shared about my ADHD experience, please reach out to a professional or reference resources from experts like Inflow.

2. Julia describes the 2 basic tools as a two-step, two-directional process: out and then in. “Doing your morning pages, you are sending [out]—notifying yourself and the universe of your dreams, dissatisfaction, hopes.”

3. "Doing your artist date, you are receiving [in]—opening yourself to insight, inspiration, guidance.” This give and take, this out and then in, is the way to balance a creative life.