What is mindful art, you might be thinking. It will mean different things to different people, depending on our perceptions and experiences of both mindfulness and art.

However, if we look at some definitions: according to the American Psychological Association, “mindfulness is the psychological process of intentionally bringing one’s attention to present-moment experiences, including thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, with an open, non-judgemental attitude. It involves observing experiences rather than reacting to them, fostering calm, increased focus, and reduced stress.”

Wikipedia defines art as “a diverse range of human activities and products that use creative imagination and technical skill to express ideas, emotions, or beauty. It acts as a form of communication that evokes aesthetic or conceptual experiences, encompassing forms like painting, music, literature, and performance.”

So, one could say that both art and mindfulness are in the eye of the beholder.

Purely through the act of putting pencil or pen to paper and focusing on what you are creating, your attention is immediately drawn into the present moment. The thoughts and noise that constantly run on repeat can suddenly become quiet as we engage in this practice.

Incorporating both mindfulness and art into the rhythm of your life has the potential to offer many benefits to your overall mental health and wellbeing, especially if you are experiencing stress or overwhelm. Graham and Lewis (2023) quote Patterson in Mindfulness as Art Education, Self-Inquiry, and Artmaking, stating that “artmaking may mirror mindfulness or meditation, which can enhance students’ capacity for self-regulation of attention, impulse, and emotions” (p. 78).

This practice is not outcome-driven; it is about the journey and the process. Often, as people, we can become critical and judgemental about the things we create—I am especially guilty of this. If we focus on learning about mindfulness and holding this as the goal, it can potentially reduce the fear or anxiety we have around being creative. I hope you read this feeling encouraged and hopeful. There is no judgement when we give ourselves permission to be creative and explore how practicing mindful art can help make space for us to breathe.