There's an art altar in the corner of my studio, and it has changed more times than I can count. Some of what's on it now has been there for a year. Some of it arrived last week and will be gone by the next. I think of it as a beautiful opportunity to be creative in a different way, something dynamic and evolving that you can add to, change out, or refresh whenever the mood strikes.
Sometimes what your creative spirit needs is a small corner that belongs to it. An art altar doesn’t have to be elaborate, it’s simply a place where you gather objects, images, and colours that remind you of your creative self and what you’re calling in.
A Gentle Way to Begin
Choose a space: maybe a shelf, a small table, or even just a windowsill. Pick somewhere you’ll see often.
Select a base: lay down a scarf, a piece of fabric, or a sheet of handmade paper to define the space.
Gather meaningful objects: stones, feathers, seashells, a bloom from your garden, or a small piece of your art. Let them be things that speak directly to your heart.
Add images or words: a photograph, a favourite quote, or a card you’ve created. Something that reminds you of the beauty you’re weaving through your art.
Light the space: if it feels right, add a candle, a strand of fairy lights, or even a small glass jar that catches the sun.
Your altar can shift with the seasons or reflect the projects you’re working on. Think of it as a living collage, always evolving, always mirroring where you are in your creative journey.
✨ Try this: Before you begin creating, pause at your art altar. Take a breath, touch one of the objects, and set an intention. Notice how it changes the energy of your art-making.
Mine started with just a few sentimental things. It's grown and shifted since, and it will keep doing that. If you decide to make one too, I'd love to hear what special objects you choose. It feels comforting to know that even in our separate spaces, we can be building these little corners of beauty together.
Creative Check-In
One of the things I love about creating an art altar is how it reminds us that the objects we surround ourselves with carry meaning. They hold memories, stories, even unspoken feelings. Sometimes just noticing what we're drawn to place in that little sacred corner tells us something about where we are in our creative journey.
So here's a question to sit with. If you were to place one symbol of how you're feeling today on your altar, what would it be?
Take a few quiet minutes with it. Notice what comes to mind without judgment. It doesn't need to be complicated. A stone, a flower past its prime, a candle, or a paintbrush still carrying yesterday's colours. Does it speak of joy, transition, or the need for rest?
If you feel called, journal a few words about why you chose it, or bring it into your art-making. Trace its shape, collage a photo of it, or let its colours guide your next layer.
Checking in with ourselves through objects is a gentle way to honour what we're holding inside, without needing to explain it all in words.
If you'd like more of these small practices, I've gathered a handful of them into a free Creative Wellness Guide. Gentle ways to make room for creativity in an ordinary week, the kind of thing you can pick up and put down. It's yours here.
Download the Creative Wellness Guide
With heart,
P.S. If you make an altar, send me a photo. I'd love to see what you gathered.
I live and create on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg peoples, lands that remain under their original stewardship. I honour their enduring connection to this place and their care for it over generations.
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