Artist Dates Ideas: Independent Activities to Spark Creativity

Following along with the amazing book, The Artist's Way has its perks. It has been the most transformative book I've ever read. Maybe that's because much of the contents of the book are about action. The Artist's Way is really about inspiring change, it outlines activities and steps that push you towards creativity. 

Every week for 12 weeks, someone participating in this book is supposed to go on an artist date. As I described in my previous post, artist dates are solo adventures that you plan in order to nourish your artistic self. They are supposed to help you find inspiration and clarity--and they must be done absolutely alone, no exceptions!

I have definitely found myself searching for ideas on Google in order to stay away from the scary idea of having an artist date that feels flat and repetitive. That would sort of defeat the entire purpose of an artist date--how can you feel that grand sense of adventure if you're going to the same place or doing the same thing? 

Here are a few ideas that I have come up with:

Expedition Main Street

  •  Exploring a main street town: pop in and out of shops, maybe grab a decadent coffee drink, absorb the contrast between your independent adventuring and others who are not exploring alone
Wall of decorations and signs inside a store

Go the Extra Mile

  • Take a long walk or a hike. But really, make it a long adventure, partially use this time to think and reflect and partially use it to relish in the quiet of nature.

The Road Less Traveled

  • Drive around on roads you don't usually embark on. Stop at a few locations and take pictures of unique things. Look around and take-in the new-to-you sights, even if its just a couple of new houses down the road. 

Camera Companion 

  • Take your camera on a date. See the world through a new lens--a creative one. I broke out my Instax camera to carefully snap a few photos around town
Instax photos of nature laying in grass

Sounds like a Plan

  • Listen to an artistic podcast or a new genre of music or a new music station

Beach Bum

  • Have yourself a solo beach day. Bring a book or a journal to join you as you relax with the sound of the waves

Many of these ideas can be combined with one another. For example, if you're driving to a destination date, use the car ride to play around with new music. Or, take your camera when hiking on a long trail. Artist dates might seem like a revolutionary idea to some people, but really at their root, they're all about having fun by yourself. 


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