Have you heard of flow? The concept of “flow” describes a state of consciousness where you feel deep enjoyment and are totally immersed in what you are doing. You’re lost in the process, and your brain is all the way in it, with no judgement, no stress, no worries about your to do list. These flow experiences are what helps us feel fulfilled in life, that we are doing something meaningful and inherently “us.” We can get there while making art, playing sports, or gardening.

The flow state can be hard to come by. Your brain - as it tries to protect you from mistakes or criticism- brings up thoughts of doubt, wondering if you should even be trying to make art, when there are so many people doing it so much better than you. As your mind remains in judgement mode, you are unable to full dive into the paint, the clay, the moment of creation. But have no fear, there are ways around this conundrum. And it’s much easier - and much more boring - than you think.

The shortcut to finding flow faster? Have a system, and stick to it. Let’s investigate.

Flow became famous by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who studied this topic for decades and then wrote a bestseller on it in1990, when I was 12. I learned about it 7 years later, in college as an occupational therapy student. Today, flow still eludes me at times. But I’ve learned that it’s not rare, or magic, or chance. We can proactively create regular deep enjoyment and immersion in life.

First: Set Up Your Environment

You know the feeling when you are totally into a game? Super Mario, Tetris, or a pick up basketball game? You don’t even realize it, but time just passes and you forget about the reality around you. This is because you have set up your environment - you’ve entered a separate “world”’ with its own limits. The whole game of Tetris takes place in a rectangle. You know where the pieces are coming from, and what they look like. There’s one song playing. All of these conditions tell you, the game is ON. You have one job; fit those pieces into rows. Your brain is prepped and ready to go, it’s been here before.

As a new artist, we often think we have to do things like other artists, or that maybe we don’t have the right studio, or materials, or education to create “Real Art.” All of these thoughts stop us from developing our own style and actually getting to that place.

Take 30 minutes to setting up a home art space. Find a corner that feels welcoming and inspiring, and organize and store your favorite tools close at hand. It can be just a corner of the room. Once you’ve done this, you’ll find that when you enter your space, your brain switches over to ”create mode” so much faster. You walk in, and you are an artist. No more thinking, you just relax and go for it. I made a free workbook for creating your own art studio - click here for instant access to get going.

Next: Lay Out “The Rules”

Back to the Tetris analogy, when there are specific rules, your brain is able to stop searching through all of the alternatives, and just works within the confines of the game. This in turn creates a freedom where you are able to drop everything else and live within those rules. You can rotate the piece, or move it laterally. That’s it. No worrying about the best way to do it, or what you’re making for dinner later. There’s a time limitation and you just have to make it happen. It feels amazing!

When you go into your studio space, set up rules for yourself. You have certain materials, certain procedures, and you just follow them. Don’t think beyond those rules, but do let yourself do whatever feels right within the limits you’ve set. And set a timer, especially if you have to pick the kids up later or have an appointment in an hour. Now your brain is able to ignore time, and the outside world, and you are immersed in the challenge you’ve set for yourself.

Finally: Create Goals & Feedback

Tetris would be no good for flow if it just went on and on. It would get boring. The challenge increases, and there is a goal of beating your score in the time allowed. Same goes for your artistic practice. Give yourself a goal that challenges you, but is within reach. If you’re throwing on the wheel, can you throw 5 cylinders in an hour? 10? If you’re painting, maybe it’s to paint for 2 hours, and to enter your painting in a juried show at the end of the month. Don’t attach your internal feelings of satisfaction and success to the outcome - it’s a success if you’re making steady progress toward your goal, and if you showed up. I try to separate “making” time from “editing” time. Be free and make during making time, and then afterward you can put on your assessing brain and analyze what you’ve done. This helps you learn for next time, but allows you to be free and limitless with your creativity during the actual making session.

There are several ways I’ve noticed these principles helping me in my artistic progression, including setting a regular art practice time (I always throw on the wheel on Mondays, paint on Tuesdays, and finish my thrown ceramics Wednesdays and Fridays). For me, it also helps to narrow what I’ll be making. I used to feel scattered at times in my art space, with all of the possibilities. Now, I’ve limited myself to porcelain clay, throwing cylinders (mostly mugs), and learning a new surface decoration technique that I’m really excited about.

To Recap:

Find the internal enjoyment and immersion in your creative life by picking an activity you love and doing these three things:

Set up Your Environment
Lay Out Your “Rules”
Create Goals & Feedback.

Which action are you most likely to do? Pick one and get into flow!

Quick Win:
Pick an activity you like, even just a video game, spectator sport, or card game. Set a timer for 30 minutes and let yourself be immersed in the setting and rules of the activity. Did you get into the flow state? What are some times when you have, what were the circumstances?
Solid Solution:
Create a space at home where you can get into your preferred flow activities. An art studio, or maybe a cozy game or reading area. It could be a baking nook in your kitchen too! Put times on your calendar when you can regularly reach this flow state through organizing what enters your brain through environment, rules, goals and feedback.
Treat Yourself:
Go the extra mile and budget some money for your flow activity of choice. Take a class, rent a space, buy some materials, or drop a current obligation that you don’t really like in order to take this time for yourself and your brain wellness. It’s not frivolous, you are investing in your health and wellness.

My next action is FINally setting up a home art space so that I can fire up the creative juices and flow state more regularly, like before the kids get up for school. I am so pumped for this - join me in this 2025 goal if you’re interested - and share pictures so we can inspire each other!

With Enthusiasm for Art & Life,

Heidi

Key Resources & References:

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

A fantastic read. The original version of the book was published in 1990. The author explores the concept of “flow,” a state of deep focus and immersion where people feel and perform their best. The book delves into the science of happiness, fulfillment and creativity, offering practical insights into ow we can cultivate flow in our daily lives by aligning our skills with challenges and finding joy in the process of what we do. It’s a transformative guide to living a more meaningful and engaging life.

Flow for New Artists: 3 Steps to Bring Flow Experiences to Your Day