After a full-on few weeks of client work, tech glitches and the like, I went on an extended Artist Date, a full day out by myself (with no headphones, which feels very alien to me), and it felt like one of the most nourishing things I've done for my inner artist in a long time.
If you’ve never heard of an Artist Date, here is how Julia Cameron, the writer of The Artist’s Way, describes them:
“The Artist Date is a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly “artistic” — think mischief more than mastery. Artist Dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play. Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration.”
It reminded me of how, when I was in my late teens, I would be out of the house nearly every weekend exploring an area in London—sometimes the same places on repeat—that don't even exist anymore, including the likes of Trocadero, HMV (which is now back), Virgin Megastore, the guitar shops on Denmark Street, the alternative clothing stores in Camden, etc.
But for the past few months, I’ve struggled SO much with the idea of going out and “exploring”, as London has felt so one-dimensional and uninspiring (plus there’s a definite hangover from the COVID lockdowns, and I’m not a person that particularly enjoys Winter 🫠).
I never considered how that struggle affected my desire to fill my creative cup. It's like I've been unintentionally starving my inner artist, but wasn't fully aware of that pattern. However, since committing to The Artist's Way, I've become more aware of that and want to do something about it.
So for my extended Artist Date, I decided to try to prove myself wrong about London being this one-dimensional city I’m bored of.
And boy, did I!
Activities included:
Visiting the Cute exhibition at Somerset House (quick review: some cool stuff featured, but overall not my favourite exhibition)
Sugar top-up at Ole and Steen
A walk through Covent Garden and the London Graphic Centre
A quick peek at a fancy tea shop in Leicester Square I didn’t even realise existed
Japan Centre for Onigiri and a browse
A quick pit stop near Regent Street, wondering why people were stopping to take photos and realising there was a massive tree blooming they were taking pics of
K. Minamoto for baumkuchen (rediscovering one of the best sponge cakes I had while in Japan)
A late lunch at Atis (my fave bowls atm for hearty healthy food)
(Before you ask, yes, food was a big part of my artist’s date, don’t judge me 😆)
A walk around Waterstones (I always forget how cool it is to walk around a massive bookstore)
And to top off the day, I went to a talk, journalling and meditation workshop based on Slow Living and reconnecting with joy by Giselle La Pompe-Moore at Re:Mind Studio
Suffice it to say my inner artist was sufficiently nourished, and my cup refilled.
Apart from about three or four places on that list, everywhere else was a new place I hadn’t visited previously. I was quite surprised at how much I'd been limiting my explorations in the past, and it obviously explains why I've felt stifled in my creativity within this city—I haven't explored deeply enough and opened my world up to more than what’s already familiar.
It was truly a relearning of relaxing, being fully present and NOTICING.
The talk with Giselle LPM really solidified that thinking for me. Her perspective on slow living and how truly noticing the small joys around you can help you find true peace and purpose in life resonated with me. I always feel so much more at ease when I remember to look up and take in how I'm feeling in the moment rather than constantly charging through life, wondering where the time goes.
Now that Spring is on the horizon, I want to commit to more artist dates like this and get out of the bubble that is blocking those moments of filling my creative cup.
It’s even more important to do so during and after intense working periods to get stuff done.
Even robots need to rest and refuel, so why can't I?