from upcoming book Creative Awakening: Journal and Workbook

Making Art With Love

I found a way to connect with my people during lockdown this year while doing what I call Art with Love. I would think of them in my mind as I was creating homemade cards for them while filling myself with gratitude for their presence in my life, even though we were separated physically. Who doesn’t love a handmade card instead of a text or hallmark one? They all loved their little “loving hands at home” offerings, and they also said they could feel my love and appreciation while holding the card in their hand. I found this exercise to be incredibly relaxing for me, not to mention it feels good to be immersed with gratitude for the people you love. I always felt better when I finished. You do not have to be an expert at drawing or painting. You can use images from the internet and print them out. Think of this as making a collage card with many images and words that represent your friend.

What you will need:

Blank card stock paper or blank watercolor notecards with envelopes
(Strathmore Creative Cards work well)
Acrylic, watercolor, or gouache paints
Brushes
Scissors
Small foam brushes
(you can get these at any hardware store)
Paper Plate for glue
Glue for affixing images and for a top protective coat
(I recommend Golden Regular Gel Semi-Gloss, flat or Gloss. It is a translucent heavy body acrylic medium)

Here are the basics of the art with love exercise:

THINK ABOUT YOUR PERSON.

Think about what you appreciate about them. Let yourself swell up with love and appreciation for them.

FIND A BASIC IMAGE:

NATURE:
Is there an image from nature that reminds you of your person?
i.e., Butterfly, bird, fish, tree, flower, plant, vegetable, dog, horse, lion, etc.

ICON:

Is there a sacred or iconic image that this person represents for you?
i.e., a queen, an angel, a warrior, a clown, a saint, a teacher, etc.

OBJECTS OF COMMON INTERESTS:
Is there an object that represents things you have shared?
i.e., coffee cup, wine glass, phone, hiking boots, paintbrush, tennis shoes, golf club, books, cooking objects, video games, a camera, a heart, etc.

Sketch and paint or search images from Google images and print them out. Or, you can use a photograph.
Glue to the card.

FIND QUOTES OR PIECES OF A POEM:

Write out on a separate piece of paper, or print a message you’d like to add to the card and glue part or all of it to your card. It doesn’t have to be linear and straight. Remember, this is more like a collage. Just have fun. Glue the words and messages to your card. You can keep layering with this glue, so just keep adding things.

DECORATE:

To add texture and dimension to the card, here are some ideas for decorations:

Find old images or unfinished watercolor paintings and cut them into strips to line the outside of the card as borders.

Use string or twine to make borders.
Use beads, buttons, ribbons, feathers, strips of old fabric, or lace to add texture and dimension to the card.
Use torn pages of old books or cookbooks.

KEEP ADDING UNTIL YOU ARE SATISFIED.

Have fun. Don’t try to be perfect. Keep thinking of your appreciation and love as you work – the card will reflect that, and your person will feel it.

*When you are ready to send it, put on more postage than usual. The glue and additions will add weight.

Making Art With Love Exercise