My Winter Art Journaling Practice: Finding Stillness and Renewal in January's Quiet Moments
It's early on a blustery January morning. The rest of the creaky house is still asleep as I tip-toe down toward my office/studio, hoping not to hit any of the squeaky floorboards that might wake someone who might break the beautiful silence of my dark and cozy morning.
I prep the electric kettle to make my rich, life-giving pour-over coffee. As I scoop the coffee grounds, I hear the strong winds against my windows and am grateful for the warmth and safety of home. I no longer dislike winter, as I've written about in a previous post (When the heat subsides: an Autumnal Reflection), but in weather like this, I still shy away from being outdoors much.
Generally, being outside in Nature is my happy place, and on harsh, blustery days like this, I'm even more grateful for my art journaling practice, which is my other happy place. So this morning, I do my ritual of at least popping my head out the back door to feel the air and experience a bit of the outdoors, but I keep it short and head down into the studio, light my mildly floral-scented beeswax candles, and sit down with my art journal. Flipping to the next blank page, I simultaneously notice all of my previous entries: doodles, scribbles, beautiful moments, less-than-beautiful moments... they all bring me momentarily back to that moment. While not all of the things I doodle about are happy, that's what life is, and this process is a welcome reminder that there are always ups and downs, and nothing stays exactly the same for long. I am grateful to sit down here in the stillness of my space once more and add another page to my art journal.
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As with our personal ups and downs, Nature has her own ebbs and flows. Nature knows she needs to slow down, come to relative stillness, and rejuvenate in preparation for the abundant growth that is to come in Spring. This is Winter–a time made for slowing down, rejuvenation, self-care, and stillness. Especially after the busy and chaotic time leading up to the Winter holidays, art journaling is one way that I embrace this slower and more still season.
When I art journal in Winter, I often look out my window at the bare branches or remember my winter walks and the beauty and slow-moving life that is still out there. Have you ever noticed how green the moss is in winter? I'll either draw what I see with my eyes or in my mind, or I'll simply reflect on how I'm feeling about the weather or my current situation overall. I have had a tendency to get the Winter blues in the past, and embracing this slowness, this hunkering down and noticing, has helped me tremendously in keeping from going too deep into that cold-weather slump.
When I'm ready, and as I close my art journal and blow out the candles, I feel a sense of peace and grounding that winter mornings like this bring. The cold winds outside remind me of the need for warmth and comfort within, and my art journaling practice is one of the ways I nurture that warmth.
Winter teaches us to slow down, to find beauty in the bare branches, and to embrace the stillness as a necessary pause before spring’s new growth. Art journaling, with its mix of self-expression and mindfulness, becomes a powerful companion during this season—a way to honor the quiet, rejuvenate the spirit, and reflect on the ups and downs of life.
I hope this inspires you to embrace winter’s slower rhythms and consider how art journaling might help you find warmth and meaning during these colder months. What will you create in the stillness of this season?
If you enjoyed learning about my Winter Art Journaling Practice, you'll love Layers of Growth, coming up in March! I know it can be hard to imagine the return of Spring in midwinter, but of course, it will come! For me, Spring is the best time to spread our wings and do the real growth we're looking for after the rest we've done in Winter. Join us for 30 days of inspiring and growth-minded Art Journaling prompts. I can't wait to see you there!
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