Artist date ideas

One of the important elements of Julia Cameron's creativity courses is the weekly artist date. Excuse the writing style, ignore the 'inner child,' but note the information contained in that link:

There are two main keys to Artist Dates that allow them to feed your creativity. The first is that these activities must be done solo. If you bring someone along, anyone!, they will shadow the event....even if they remain completely silent! You will act differently, do different things, and not listen to your inner voice if you are with another person.

The second key is listening to your inner voice. If your inner child wants to splash around in a tub of bubbles -- GO FOR IT! Nothing is too silly for an Artist Date. It's our silly, childlike qualities that allow us to explore and create without inhibition. Our inner critics keep us trapped in the "shoulds". "The cow should be brown or white or a combination of the two, but definitely NOT purple!" It is our inner child who does things just because she/he likes what it looks like, or thinks it is fun. So what if the cow is purple. Isn't it a beautiful, vibrant shade of purple!?

My artist date for the week was walking around Brighton for two hours yesterday, taking pictures and taking in the sights and shops. Brighton is a place that buzzes with creativity, and I had a hard time not spending much money (I did break down and get a pair of Paul Frank monkey flip-flops from this shop, to wear when I hang clothes outside to dry - a bargain of cuteness at £10).

One aspect of the artist date not mentioned at the above link is that it has to be pre-planned. This is about giving yourself your due, and not fobbing yourself off with "Oh, I guess that thing I did yesterday can count as an artist date." You're supposed to treat yourself as you would another person, with respect and consideration. Not a bad rule in general.

London is full of museums and galleries, but those choices seem rather too obvious for me. Here are some of my ideas for upcoming artist dates:

• the clay painting place around the corner from me (my fiancé got me a voucher for this place for Christmas)
• a trip to Kew Gardens to take pictures
• a trip to the cinema

And, er, that's it for now. Ideas welcome.