What is Process Art?

Creating Art For Process: A portal to inner Wisdom

What exactly is “process art”?

Simply put, process art is creating from the inside out. It’s a powerful tool for mindfulness, self-discovery, liberation, and inner alchemy… it can even be a form of spiritual practice. As it relates to visual art-making, process art is all about tuning into yourself and putting marks on paper without needing to understand it or control the results. There are no mistakes and no prior art experience is necessary.

Something magical happens when we decide to create just for the sake of creating. Because there is no pressure to make something pretty or have it mean anything, the brain gets busy playing and this drops us into our heart space, making way for other things to arrive. Whatever shows up for us – stuck energies to transmute , a message from our deeply held wisdom or an image – something shifts when we get out of our own way. Our unique expressions emerge naturally when we show up to ourselves and tap our creativity in this way.

Benefits of Process Art:

  • Learn to meet and work with feelings

  • Explore a tool for active mindfulness

  • Awaken to creative flow

  • Develop self-acceptance

  • Feel the synergy of creating in sacred community

  • Develop confidence by working through blocks

  • Awaken childlike spontaneity

  • Develop an inner stillness and focus

  • Learn to express yourself without judgment

  • Embody creativity without analysis or critique

  • Come alive through play

What art materials do you need?

Process art making can happen with any materials, from elaborate paints to simply a pen and paper. In workshop setups we often use tempera paint on paper, but you can use any materials you desire! Some people like to work with collage, or to integrate mixed media drawing tools like oil pastels, markers, or ink pens. You can use impermanent materials or found objects, such as elements in nature. You can even work three-dimensionally with materials like polymer clay. The materials are not as important as the intention to tune into yourself and engage with your creative flow. In fact, process art goes beyond just visual image making and can include writing, movement, sound, or any form of creative expression.

Process Art Helps Navigate Transitions

Engaging in art for process can provide us relief from the side effects of change by allowing us to tune in deeply and work with feelings like grief, anger and confusion in our own unique way. This can look like singing and crying in the shower, writing it out unedited in a journal, scribbling red on a piece of paper or dancing when no one is watching. Process art-making has therapeutic qualities and helps us transmute what is no longer healthy for us to carry in our bodies and calms our minds.

Listen to the podcast Episode: What is Process Art?

Process Art Support

So you want to be more creative and playful but don’t know where to start? Creating art for process is easier (and more fun) to engage with in community. We’d love to support your journey and create together!

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