Why Art Prompts Can Be Helpful

Estimated time to read - around 3 minutes

This year I started a new mosaic membership, where the main premise is that each month I provide a prompt to help people get creative with their mosaic making. 

The idea of providing prompts is not a new concept. A quick google search will bring up lots of sites with art prompts  - ideas to motivate and inspire.  

So why exactly are they helpful? As someone who has both used prompts in my own practice as well as created prompts for students, here are a few of my thoughts. 

They set some constraints/reduce feelings of overwhelm 

In the world of mosaic we are faced with a bewildering array of possibilities. Whether we are choosing materials, colours, techniques, subjects - there are just so many options to consider. 

In fact, sometimes there are so many choices to make, you can feel a bit overwhelmed. This can lead to a feeling of not knowing where to start which very often means you don’t get started at all.

By setting some constraints, that feeling of overwhelm is reduced and you can focus on being creative within the confines of the prompt. In fact, having some constraints can encourage you to be more creative as you figure out what you can do within the restrictions placed on you. 

They encourage you to try something different

It can be easy to get comfortable with where you are at. Maybe you have built up some skills with a particular technique or material. Or perhaps you have become good at making mosaics on a particular subject matter.  

And I get that it’s nice to feel comfortable, confident even, with the art that you create.  However, doing the same thing over and over can lead to feelings of boredom. The challenge of learning and developing skills that was there at the start is gone and you might find yourself stuck in a bit of a rut. 

Prompts encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. They encourage you to take a fresh perspective on things, maybe trying a different approach to design, or experiment with a new technique or different materials. 

They give you permission to play/get creative

Experimenting and exploring what you can do with different materials and techniques is an important part of any artist's creative development. Often the process can be more important than the outcome, because it’s during the process that new ideas can develop. The ‘what if I do this’ or ‘I wonder what will happen if I do that’ kind of thoughts. 

Making a deliberate decision to work within a prompt gives you the freedom to play without worrying about the outcome. 

They can be used by anyone, no matter their of level of experience

One of the great things about prompts is that anyone can use them, from beginners to those who have been making art for years. Because a prompt is just that - something to get you started. You are free to interpret it as you want, and create what you want. You simply work at a level that is right for you.

They can reignite a creative spark

There are times that every artist loses their mojo - the motivation to create just isn’t there and it can be hard to get started on anything. A prompt can provide a bit of structure, a small task to get started on, encouraging you to take the first steps towards making something. And sometimes, the process of working on something simple can reignite those dormant feelings of creativity.

I also asked my students why they found the prompts useful. Here’s what some of them said.

‘A prompt provides the inspiration I need to get started on a project and encourages me to experiment. Your project can be as simple or complex as you like.’

‘Having a prompt gives you focus so you know where you are going, yet gives you the freedom to add your own ideas and materials.’

‘Love the prompt each month. Each one gives me a new way to go with my mosaic practice which I had not tried before.’

So there you have it. There are a number of reasons why prompts can be useful as part of your creative practice. Whether you are new to mosaics or have been making them a while, there is always something new to try!

My membership programme will open to the public on Saturday 25th March.  If you are interested in learning more you can register your interest here. You can also read a few reflections of the first month of the membership here.