Earlier this year, I completed my 100 Days of 10-Minute Art. Every day, I showed up at my table for just ten minutes — sometimes more, sometimes less, but always enough. Those daily sessions taught me the power of consistency, how even the smallest window of time can grow into something much larger. I discovered that showing up each day built energy, confidence, and momentum. It proved that creativity doesn’t need hours of space — just presence.
But now, I feel a shift.
Slowing the Rhythm
Where my 100-day project was about movement, energy, and the discipline of showing up, I’m now craving stillness and depth. Instead of rushing through quick bursts, I’m lingering. I’m staying with a single colour palette longer, exploring muted tones that whisper instead of shout. I’m repeating marks and patterns until they reveal new layers of meaning.
This slower rhythm feels less about productivity and more about presence. It’s about pausing between layers, letting silence guide the next move, and noticing what happens in the in-between.
The Neurological Benefits of Slowing Down
What fascinates me most is how deeply this slower approach affects not just the art, but the brain and body. When we linger with colour, pattern, and collage:
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Our nervous system calms — slowing down engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which restores balance and presence.
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New neural pathways form — repetition and variation teach the brain to see nuance and possibility.
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Flow and play release dopamine — creating without expectation brings joy and curiosity.
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Symbols and words deepen meaning — integrating handwriting, imagery, and metaphor activates memory and association, helping us uncover hidden truths.
Art, in this way, becomes more than just expression. It becomes a tool for neurological growth, emotional regulation, and soulful discovery.
Discovering the Artist Waiting Inside
The shift from quick daily bursts to slowing down has revealed something important: it’s not just about the act of creating — it’s about discovering the artist who’s been waiting inside all along.
That’s the journey I’ll be sharing with you in the weeks ahead. Each Sunday, I’ll explore muted palettes, simple marks, intentional collage, and the quiet power of words and symbols. Together, these elements form an inner rhythm — a rhythm that connects us to our authentic voice as artists.
An Invitation
If you followed along with my 100 Days of 10-Minute Art, I invite you to join me now in this slower, deeper practice. Each Sunday, I’ll be sharing a new video exploring colour, rhythm, and presence in the journal.
It’s not about rushing. It’s not about perfection. It’s about connection, exploration, and the art of slowing down.
Because sometimes, when we pause long enough, the art we’ve been searching for reveals itself.
“This is the first in a series of reflections I’ll be sharing as I prepare for a new season of teaching and creating. Each week, I’ll explore a different aspect of slowing down with colour, pattern, words, and collage — all as part of discovering the inner rhythm that guides our most authentic art.”