How to Practice Creative Self-Care on a Dime… with a Penny

LINES AND CIRCLES AND COLORS, OH MY

This week’s art is something new, thanks to a penny. Want to see how a small coin can help you loosen up control and relax into some creative self-care art-making? Grab your art journal or paper, a fine-point permanent marker like a Sharpie, a finer marker pen, and, yes, a penny, for some fun and relaxing line-making. You’ll also need some color. Colored pencils or crayons are perfect. Markers can do. Watercolors would change the project, but could be gorgeous.

Don’t have a penny? Try a button, or soda or water bottle cap.

Welcome to BETTER WITH ART! I’m Melinda and I’m here to encourage you to reclaim your creativity and practice creative self-care with weekly small-art prompts (Writing prompts are back for good, too!) that can be done in the privacy of an art journal or on paper if you don’t have one.

If you’d like an art journal that’s ideal for my simple form of art journaling that uses various mediums, the paper is important. It needs to be a heavy weight and preferably hot-press because although I love the texture of cold-press it’s really hard on markers and pens. Click here for the mixed-media one I use in my videos and the art journaling groups at the library where I work is 140lb/300gsm. It stands up to all my dry, wet, and layered applications. Sold in a three-pack, it also remains the best regular-price value that I’ve found.

I also used a black SHARPIE and a TWOHANDS fineliner art pen (with a $2 coupon at time of typing this)

If you use any of my Amazon product links and make a qualifying purchase, I could, at no cost to you, earn a commission. So thanks if you do!

You can find more of the products that I use and recommend on Amazon in my slowly growing Storefront.

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The art in the reel that inspired this is called Fractured Pumpkin Spice. Click here to watch it on Instagram.

Speaking of Instagram, you can find my BETTER WITH ART content here. And more of my art-making, mini art tutorials, and creative inspiration here.

Let’s make some art! It’s not a waste of time.