Here’s a list of free (and free-ish) mindful art resources to help you get in the mood for Mindfultober (and, also, you know, just for whenever!)

Three Blog Posts

I figure since you’re already here reading a blog you might enjoy that format for your resources. So I went hunting around on the internet looking for tutorials outside the ones that Mel and I write as part of Mindfultober. And, friends, I was disappointed. There were slim pickings, let me tell you. So many of the ones I found were stuffed with ads, and pop-ups, and other distracting things that are pretty much antithetical to the idea of ‘mindfulness’ that I couldn’t in good conscience include them. So here is a (shorter than I would have liked) list of blog posts for mindful art:

1. A mindful drawing tutorial from Mel Rye that just requires a pen and paper
2. A mindful watercolour tutorial from me
3. A “zen doodle” tutorial with paper, pencil & pen from Bella Crafts

PS: If you know of some good blog posts with Mindful art resources, please pop them in the comments below!

Three YouTube Videos

So I had the opposite problem here. There are SO MANY YouTube videos on this topic that I don’t have the time to sift through them all to find the gems. So, here are a few that I’ve found and enjoyed – please share your gems in the comments below:

• “Relaxing Watercolors” playlist on Audrey Ra’s YouTube channel (1st video 18 mins):

• A recording of Fab’s Skillshare live tutorial on neurographic art (watercolours & pens) (1hr 6 mins):

• A mindful drawing tutorial by Neha Modi (pen & paper) (14 mins)

Three PDFs

1. A Mindful Mobiles workbook by Mel Rye:
2. A Mindful colouring book from Macewan University
3. A Mindful art-making and art reflection from Doncaster heritage

…And Seven Skillshare Classes

This is the free(ish) bit. If you already pay for a subscription, then these don’t cost anything extra. If you don’t have a subscription the links should give you free access for a limited time.

1. Drawing for Self-Care: Mindful Doodling & Creative Color by Marie-Noëlle Wurm
2. Connect with Nature: Watercolor Painting & Mixed Media for Mindfulness by Silvia Ospina 
3. Mindful Making: Holiday Card Design to Inspire Creativity and Joy this Christmas by Faye Brown
4. A Mindful Approach to Practicing Watercolor: Values, Palettes & Brush Control by me!
5. Mindful Drawing Date: Practice Stress Relief & Self-Care with Zendoodles by Jutta Schneider
6. Mindful Mandalas: Botanical Doodling For Self-Care by Mel Rye
7. Abstract Watercolor Escape – Meditative Painting with Neurographic Art and Watercolor Washes by Fatih Mıstaçoğlu

Final Thoughts

I really hope you enjoy some or all of these free mindful art resources. Art for the sake of making art – process-based-art – is such a wonderful thing to incorporate into your life, irrespective of whether you are a hobbyist or a professional artist (no need for snobbery here!). It’s not about the end result of your art but about how the making of it feels for you, and the best bit is that no one gets to decide if your work has been ‘mindful enough’. I’d love to read your reflections if you do try any of these activities. Happy art-ing.