These prompts focus on self-expression and exploration, not perfection.

They’ll help you loosen up and start creating with curiosity and joy.

Here are creative prompts to help you get started, embrace imperfection, and spark your imagination:

For Drawing or Painting:

1. Mood on Canvas: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think about how you’re feeling right now. Use colors, lines, or shapes to express that feeling—no words, just pure emotion.

2. Draw Without Looking: Choose an object near you (like a cup or a plant) and sketch it without looking at the paper. Let it be messy and fun!

3. Your Favorite Song: Listen to a favorite song and create art inspired by the music. Focus on how it makes you feel rather than how it looks.

For Writing or Journaling:

1. If I Were a Color: Write about which color represents you today and why. Expand it into a short poem or story if inspiration strikes.

2. A Memory in Five Minutes: Set a timer and describe a vivid memory using sensory details—what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched.

3. Word Doodles: Choose 5 random words (e.g., moon, coffee, chaos, rain, bloom) and weave them into a short story, poem, or abstract free-write.

For Mixed Media or Collage:

1. Rip & Recreate: Grab old magazines, newspapers, or even junk mail. Rip out anything that catches your eye and arrange them into a collage. Don’t overthink—just let it flow.

2. Self-Portrait Collage: Gather materials (photos, text, fabric, etc.) and create a piece that represents you—abstractly or literally.

3. Texture Exploration: Combine different materials like paper, fabric, dried flowers, or paint to explore how textures interact on the same canvas.

For Photography or Digital Art:

1. A Day in Details: Take photos of small details around you that you’d normally overlook—textures, shadows, or patterns.

2. Mood Series: Capture or create 3 images that represent different emotions (e.g., joy, sadness, calm).

3. Play With Perspective: Photograph something ordinary from an unusual angle—close-up, upside down, or through a filter like sunglasses or plastic wrap.

For Playful Experimentation:

1. Draw With Your Non-Dominant Hand: Create a simple image or write your name using your non-dominant hand—let it be wonky and fun!

2. Paint to Music: Choose a song and let the rhythm guide your brushstrokes or marks. Don’t worry about shapes—just go with the flow.

3. Art With Nature: Collect leaves, rocks, or twigs and use them as tools to create patterns or textures in your art.