DAY 22: PAINTING GRATITUDE
Welcome to Day 22, my friend.
You made it!
For the past 21 days, you’ve made space for your creativity. You’ve experimented, played, tried new things, painted when you felt inspired, and perhaps painted on days when you didn’t. Today, we’re going to complete this experience the same way we’ve moved through it: By painting.
Our final prompt is gratitude.
Before you pick up your brush, take a moment to think about these past 21 days. What are you grateful for? Maybe you’re grateful for the time you gave yourself. Maybe you’re grateful for something you discovered about your creativity. Maybe you’re grateful for your hands that allowed you to create, the space where you’ve been painting, or the people who encouraged you along the way. Or perhaps this challenge simply brings to mind something completely unrelated that fills you with gratitude.
Whatever comes up is yours to paint today.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS:
Just like our other word prompts, there’s no right way to paint gratitude.
Paint the feeling of gratitude: If gratitude had a color, what would it be? What shapes, marks, textures, or movement would it have? You might create something completely abstract and simply allow the feeling to guide your brush.
Paint something you’re grateful for: A person. An animal. Your garden. Your home. A flower. Your morning cup of tea. A place you love. Something tiny that makes your everyday life better.
Paint a symbol of gratitude: A heart, an open hand, sunlight, a flower, a tree, a word, or anything else that represents gratitude to you.
Return to something from these 21 days: Maybe one of the subjects we painted has stayed with you. Paint it again—not to make it “better,” but to experience it through the artist you are today.
The goal isn’t to create a perfect final painting.
The goal is to spend these last 20 minutes appreciating what you’ve created, what you’ve learned, and yourself for showing up.
THE PAINTING PRACTICE
Remember to turn off your phone notifications before you start.
- Take a moment before you begin and ask yourself: What am I grateful for today?
- Notice what comes to mind without trying to find the “right” answer. Choose a feeling, image, person, place, object, color, or symbol that you’d like to paint.
- Decide whether you’d like to sketch an outline first or simply begin painting and see where your brush takes you.
- Choose your colors. They can be whatever colors feel like gratitude to you today.
- Grab some water and your brushes, and don’t forget a towel to clean off your wet brush.
- Set a gentle timer and paint for 20 minutes. Let this final painting be about meditative joy, gratitude, and play rather than perfection.
- When you’re finished, sign your artwork.
Take a moment before you put your brush down. Look at what you made. And quietly acknowledge: I showed up for my creativity for 22 days.
SHARE YOUR CREATION:
Take a photo of today’s painting and share it with your community. I’d love to celebrate this final day with you.
As you share, I’d love to hear:
- What did you choose to paint for gratitude, and why?
- What are you most grateful for from these past 22 days?
- What have you discovered about yourself or your creativity along the way?
And if you can, share a photo of all your paintings together, or as many of them as you can gather.
You did this. Let us celebrate you. ❤️
YOUR PAINTING PRACTICE DOESN’T END HERE
When we began, my intention was to help you establish a painting practice that would nurture you, inspire you, and connect you to your own creativity. And now you know that a painting practice doesn’t have to mean hours at the easel. Sometimes it’s 20 minutes. Sometimes it’s experimenting with color. Sometimes it’s returning to an unfinished painting. Sometimes it’s painting because you feel inspired. And sometimes it’s showing up even when you don’t.
The practice is in returning.
Tomorrow, there won’t be another challenge waiting for you. But your paints will still be there. Your creativity will still be there. And now you know how to return to it.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?
You’ve spent 22 days reconnecting with your creativity. Where you go from here depends on what you want more of.
If you want ongoing creative community…
Keep creating with us inside the Studio Circle. You’ll have an ongoing rhythm of inspiration, community, Creative Gatherings, and encouragement to keep returning to your creativity. And if you’re already a Studio Circle member, you’re already home. ❤️
Continue creating inside Studio Circle →
If you want to deepen your painting skills…
Join me for Paint Soulful Eyes, where I’ll guide you more deeply into my painting process as you learn to create the depth, dimension, and life that make an animal’s eyes feel soulful.