Painting with black ink for healing & release

In this guided session, you’ll learn a simple, healing process to move through discomfort, release heavy emotions, and create art that has the potential to transform whatever stuck energy you might be coming up against.

As a creative we’re constantly stepping into the unknown to create something new. Learning how to be comfortable in the discomfort is one of the most powerful ways we can grow, but that’s not always easy.

This practice is for you if you’re finding yourself stuck or resistant to that unknown space. Consider this creative process an invitation to step into whatever uncertainty is in front of you and see what you discover that’s ready to be brought into the light.

I recommend trying a small discomfort first before diving into a bigger trauma or deeper issue. You can always reach out if you get stuck and would like more support.

You can watch the process here:

Join me in my favorite black ink practice. You’ll be guided through a meditative painting to meet and transform the discomfort within.

The exercise:

If you find yourself stuck facing the unknown or a discomfort in your life - this is a powerful exercise you can do to move through. We'll be working with black ink on a crumbled piece of paper (or whatever surface is calling you).

A white blank canvas can feel intimidating but when I cover my working surface with black it shifts the energy to a more mysterious one that pulls me in and feels more accessible. Consider this exercise your permission slip to sit with your shadows instead of bypassing them. This is your chance to paint an “ugly” painting and finally digest whatever you've been holding onto.

What is the unknown?

Let’s define what I mean by unknown. I’m talking about our subconscious, anything that feels uncertain. There are things that we don't have all of the answers to, things that might feel too big to process, or even a little scary and yet it's necessary that we find ways to sit with the discomfort of not knowing to better understand how we're feeling. It's only when we allow ourselves to see and spend time with what's in front of us that we can begin to not only find our way through, but receive the gifts that are there waiting. The gifts that carry the guidance to move us forward from a place of love and deeper support.

The more I share my work the more I feel the need to keep it light and colorful - to focus on the positive, but the truth is that the creative process is an ebb and flow between the dark and light. I don’t always understand what lands on the page and sometimes at first it can feel scary. Here’s what matters though - that we sit with the energy. That we give it our love and attention and allow it to move through us.

This practice was inspired by the functional medicine woman I'm working with. She challenged me to make an ugly painting to show the misalignment and fear that I was feeling around my own health. I was amazed at what showed up and how much reassurance the messages from the piece brought. There was so much love and support within the darkness and it turns out the things I was most scared of were there for my own protection.

Examples of working on black:

Supplies:

I love working on top of a black background. To get the most intriguing results I recommend using a crumbled piece of paper and black ink (you can also use black gesso or black acrylic paint) You can use white chalk/pastel, a white charcoal pencil, white pen, and/or white paint to emphasize the details and forms you find.

🎨 *Get the Supplies I used...

If you want to try this with the exact supplies I used here’s the links to purchase them today...

• My favorite white uniball pen: https://amzn.to/4mhx9En

• Black ink: https://amzn.to/4grf0D3

• Black gesso: https://amzn.to/4678ZrA

• Black acrylic paint: https://amzn.to/4gqxeV0

• Composition Notebook: https://amzn.to/3Kqr0IJ

• White Charcoal Pencil: https://amzn.to/3IuDuP0

*The art supply links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you choose to make a purchase. I only share tools and materials I genuinely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting this channel and helping me create more free creative content!

The process:

1. Think of something you’d like more clarity on, maybe something that feels uncomfortable or uncertain. Crumble your paper and bring this situation to mind. This can be anything that feels worth exploring and spending more time with so you can digest it and move through it. Remember this is self-guided. You don't have to start with the biggest unknown in your life - you can start with something smaller to get a feel for this exercise. It might surprise you how it connects to a bigger uncertainty

   
   

2. Add the ink to the page. Imagine creating this layer of ink to hold the energy. Like you’re letting it all rest on the page. This part can be a meditation. Notice how it feels to get this energy out of your body and onto the page.

   
   

   

3. Find forms, details, and a structure. When the ink is dry you can sit with it - looking for any shapes, forms, or figures in the paint. Take your time with this part. This moment of discovery is my favorite part. Follow whatever you discover here. This might mean adding details around a form you see, adding collage elements, or even starting to bring more structure into the piece. You might even add words to your page to document what's coming up.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Finish it! In order to get the most powerful results - make sure you bring this piece to a place of completion. Not finishing the piece can feel like leaky energy that's looking for closure. It's not a rush though. Allow your work to take you on a journey and trust your inner knowing that when it's finished you'll not only feel it but also gain a new insight or perspective that will help you move forward.

The unknown is fertile ground for new beginnings. It's part of who we are. There’s an infinite amount of guidance and wisdom available to us within this space and the more present we are with it the more we can discover and the more whole we can become.

📖 Journal Prompts:

• What gem is waiting to be discovered within the unknown?

• What are you ready to bring into the light?

• How did paying attention to this discomfort help to shift the energy?

⭕ Share your work with our community:

If you’re feeling called to share any work you create from this process please send me an email and I’ll add it in a community showcase gallery that I'm currently creating with a link to your web site. You can also tag it on Instagram with the hashtag: #nectarinspiredart

🌸 We're Stronger Together:

• If this practice inspires you, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel and email updates for more soul-nourishing creative guidance.

• Please share this video if there's someone you know who might need a little light in the dark.