My Favorite Ways to Turn a Bad Day Into an Art Day
My Favorite Ways to Turn a Bad Day Into an Art Day
We’ve all had those days.
You spill your coffee, the baby throws applesauce at the dog, your to-do list laughs at you, and suddenly your creative energy is… gone. As in, poof. Out the window.
I’m Izzy—stay-at-home mom, kawaii artist, full-time snack wrangler, and someone who knows what it’s like to feel defeated before noon. But I’ve also learned that on the days when everything feels off, one of the best things I can do is make art anyway.
Not “perfect” art. Not “productive” art. Just silly, expressive, comforting art that lets my brain breathe.
Here are my favorite ways to turn a bad day into an art day—even when I feel like throwing in the towel (and maybe a cupcake).
1. Draw How You Feel (Even If It’s a Hot Mess)
Some of my best doodles started as dramatic emotions. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I sketch a stressed-out cookie. If I’m grumpy, I draw a pouty donut. Giving my feelings a silly, squishy form helps me laugh at them instead of sit in them.
Try it:
“What does my stress look like as a dessert?”
“What kind of coffee would match my mood right now?"
“Can I draw this meltdown like it’s a movie scene?”
Spoiler: it’s cathartic and kind of hilarious.
2. Create Something Ugly on Purpose
No rules. No pressure. No goal. Just intentionally bad art.
Wiggly lines? Weird colors? Lopsided characters? YES PLEASE.
This flips the perfection switch off and invites pure play. Sometimes I’ll even write “This is garbage!” in cute bubble letters. It’s weirdly healing.
3. Use Art as a Reset Button
Bad days usually come with a heavy mental load. So instead of fighting through it, I give myself a reset:
10 minutes with music and doodles
A blank coloring sheet and some crayons
Sketching while watching a feel-good show
It doesn’t fix everything, but it softens the edges of the day. It gives me back a little control, a little calm.
4. Make Art That Comforts You
On rough days, I draw what feels like a hug:
Hot cocoa in a cat mug
A sleepy cookie under a blanket
A peaceful “you got this” scene with stars and sparkles
This kind of art doesn’t require energy—it restores it.
5. Let Your Kids (or Pets) Join the Chaos
My son has definitely added his own “touch” to some of my sketches. And honestly? I love it. On tough days, coloring together, drawing silly faces, or just sharing my art space turns the day around.
Even if the lines get scribbled on and the cat steps on my tablet.
Final Thought: Bad Days Don’t Cancel Out Your Creativity
You’re allowed to have days when you don’t want to create. You’re also allowed to create through the mess, the emotions, and the stress.
There’s no wrong way to be an artist.
Especially when your art is helping you feel a little more you again.
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