Sometimes you need to refuel your creativity well, and an easy way to do that is go on an Artist’s Date with yourself. If you aren’t familiar with this idea, it comes from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way. The idea is to get out by yourself and experience the world around you, and in return, your creative juices will flow. This is not only good for working artists, writers, and other creatives, but I would say this is also a good idea for anyone needing a source of inspiration for work as well. Innovation comes from creativity and inspiration, and you don’t get that from staring at a screen full of email in your office or on your phone.
The hard part of this is that you are not allowed to bring your partner, family, or friends with you. You have to do it alone. Now I know I have been railing in person about getting away from “bowling alone”, however, in this case, especially for those of us who spend a lot of time caring for family, an Artist’s Date alone can be a godsend and a way to recapture a “room of one’s own.”
Not sure what to do for an Artist’s Date? Here is a list of ideas for the Greater Seattle and Eastside area.
- Visit the Luke Wing Museum.
- Stroll through Uwajimaya in the International District.
- Enjoy the sunset at Kerry Park, Alki Beach or Marina Beach Park.
- Go to Pike Place Market and buy a bouquet of flowers.
- Walk your neighborhood park.
- Sketch in the park.
- Find an urban trail at Washington Trails Association.
- Visit a new library branch or the downtown branch.
- Walk through an art gallery with an imaginary budget.
- Sit in your favorite coffee shop.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Visit the Seattle Art Museum.
- Get on a bus ride and see where you end up.
- Stop at a local farmer’s market or a fruit stand with a nursery.
- Window shop at Molbak’s nursery.
- Go to lunch by yourself at your favorite restaurant.
- Take a picnic to the park or beach with a blanket.
- Listen to an author give a talk at your favorite independent bookstore.
- Find a speaker you really want to see at Seattle Town Hall.
- Buy a last-minute cheap ticket to a play.
- Go to an afternoon matinee.
- Browse an antique shop or flea market.
- Read a magazine or newspaper at a coffee shop or library.
- Walk on the ferry to Bainbridge and then back.
- Visit a local historical museum.
- Visit the Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds.
- Go to the dog park with or without a dog.
- Visit a quilt shop like Gathering Fabric in Woodinville and then do a wine tasting.
- Visit an arts supply store.
- Hit the food courts and watch people at Third Place Commons or the Crossroads
- Shopping Center.
- Visit the Bellevue Arts Museum.
- Walk around the Olympic Sculpture Park.
- Walk across the 520 Bridge.
- Listen to a choir performance.
- Ride up to the top of the Smith Tower.
- Watch a glassblowing demo at Glasshouse Studio.
- Visit the Chihuly Garden.
- Visit the Woodland Park Zoo or Cougar Mountain Zoo on a drizzly day.
- Act like a tourist and take a walking or bus tour of Seattle.
- Ride the Ducks.
- Watch the boats go through the Chittenden Locks.
- Take a tour of Folio: The Seattle Anthenaeum in Pike Place Market
- Set a timer for one hour and work on the art or writing you’ve been putting off.
- Plant a plant outside or repot your indoor plants.
- Shop for a gift for friend.
- Write a letter to an old friend.
- Locate the nearest Little Free Library in your area and trade in a book.
- Invite your friends to meet you for Happy Hour, but show up an hour early to read, sketch, or people watch.
- Visit the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.
Any ideas to add this list? Have you done any of these as an Artist’s Date? Leave a comment below.
I’ll be facilitating an Artist’s Way workshop at the Cloud 9 Art School in Bothell this fall.
AULDHOUSE 