Flip the page
Art Prompt: Open any book, and flip to a random page. Choose whatever word or phrase that stands out to you. Create an image that represents how the word or phrase relates to your life.
Materials: Micron pens, watercolor, watercolor pad 5x7, paint brushes - but you can really use any materials for this prompt!
This is a great prompt to get your creative juices flowing. You don’t have to think about what you want to create, you allow the book to spark a thought. Flip the pages until something stands out. Once something calls to you, you can create imagery comes up. How that word or phrase impacts you in this moment or a way you have connected with that word or phrase in the past. You can create an image that represents a feeling relating to that word or phrase or the imagery that came up when you read that line in the book. You can simply just create and see if the connection to the word or phrase organically forms itself through the creative process. You can use the word or phrase as a jumping point to a poem or a mix of thoughts.
When I flipped through one of my psychological thrillers that had been sitting on the shelf for years, I flipped through and found a phrase that stood out to me. I did not know why it stood out initially, but I sat with it and thought about how that phrase relates to my life at this time: “the boat heaved up and down a wave…” I thought about the lack of stability or consistent change and wanted to create that image. As I created, I thought about how the image represents different aspects of my life at this time. The image conveys the rolling waves and the feeling of it not changing anytime soon. I purposely kept the image without a silver lining or glimpse of light so that it conveyed the emotions that I felt were important to this piece.
Journal prompts for further exploration of the directive and/or image:
Flip through the book and make a list of all of the words or phrases that stand out to you. Choose one to journal about. Why is popped out at you, and how it relates to your life in the past, now or in the future.
After creating your image, explore more deeply on what the image means to you.
Create a poem or start a journal entry using a word or phrase that you found in your book.
Tips:
I am vague in my description of my image for two reasons: A.) this is an example to help people see the progression and thought behind the process, B.) so that my image and description does not stifle your own creative exploration within this prompt.
Do not overthink the art directive. Jump into creating with your first thought and allow the image to form itself.
Explore the artwork when you’re completed and see what you notice in your colors, method, imagery. Sometimes you’ll have new insights once you’re finished creating.
Materials will be suggested, use whatever you have access to or materials you’d prefer.
Work as little or as long as you’d like.
Don’t create thinking of a product, focus solely on the process. This may not be something you’d like to hang on the wall and that is perfectly fine and often preferred 🙂
You may not always be able to reflect on your image and understand what it means. Sometimes just simply engaging in the art process is therapeutic enough.
While these directives are designed for deeper exploration of self, sometimes they may cause one to feel overwhelmed. These prompts should not replace therapy. If any of these prompts bring up unsafe emotions and you feel you are a danger to yourself or others, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital.
