A bedroom is empowered with *I Surrender God Knows Best*, 48” x 60” x 1.5” Mixed Media on Canvas, Drishti Painting Series © Deb Chaney Prints available on Saatchi Gallery.

If there’s one practice that has supported me most consistently as an artist, it’s meditation.

Meditation is like windshield wipers for the mind. It clears away the fog of stress, distraction, and inner chatter, creating space for the clarity of your creative source to shine through.

At its simplest, meditation is awareness of the present moment—noticing your breath, sensations, and thoughts without judgment. You don’t stop your mind from thinking, you simply return your attention to the present moment each time it wanders.

Why meditate as an artist?

Here are 3 great benefits of meditation:

Focus & Flow – Meditation strengthens your attention, making it easier to drop into creative flow without distraction.
Calm & Resilience – Building an art career can be stressful. Meditation calms the nervous system so you can meet challenges with steadiness.
Creativity & Inspiration – By clearing away clutter, meditation opens space for fresh ideas and deeper inspiration to arrive.

“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.”
— Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

Research confirms this. Studies show regular meditation improves focus, reduces stress, and increases creativity — all qualities that help artists thrive in their practice and business.

In The Illuminated Artist in Business, meditation is a foundation practice. We explore it together, not as a rigid rule but as a gentle habit that supports your resilience and your art.

*I Surrender God Knows Best*, 48” x 60” x 1.5” Mixed Media on Canvas, Drishti Painting Series © Deb Chaney Prints available on Saatchi Gallery.

Takeaway

Meditation is your creative windshield wiper—clearing the way for focus, calm, and inspiration. Even a few minutes daily can change how you show up in your art and your life.

👉 Learn more in my upcoming course, The Illuminated Artist in Business.

The foundation of creative practice

As artists, we often ask ourselves: Am I rested? Am I hydrated? Have I eaten? Have I taken a breath of fresh air? Do I feel connected to Source?

These simple check-ins form the foundation of my creative practice. And it’s fascinating how well-being and creativity work both ways.

Sometimes I nourish my body first—drinking water, resting, going for a walk outdoors—and this naturally leads to more clarity in the studio.

Other times, it’s the art-making itself that pulls me back into balance. Even on the hardest days, when emotions are high, painting helps me process, restore rhythm, and reconnect with myself.

Over the years I’ve discovered that resilience as an artist in business depends on daily self-care. Meditation, visualization, gentle exercise, journaling, conscious thinking, and sweet surrender are the practices that keep me grounded.

But self-care doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as simple as a glass of water, a slow, deep breath, or sending a kind message to a friend.

“In order to create, we draw from our inner well. This inner well, an artistic reservoir, is ideally like a well-stocked fish pond…As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing.”

— Julia Cameron

Blog Archive

The Magic of Meditation— Clearing the Creative Windshield

Why meditate as an artist?

Takeaway

Well-Being First — Fuel for Your Creative Fire

The foundation of creative practice

Research agrees

The takeaway

Deb Chaney