A new series of worksheets and prompts for people who want to try their hand at a creative activity.

Unearthing Creativity was a collaborative project delivered by artists Marion Cheung, Naz Syed, Creative Lives, and Age Cymru, and was supported by the Arts Council of Wales, as part of the Connect & Flourish programme.

One strand of the project was to develop Gateways into creative activity. 

Below is a series of worksheets, videos and prompts for anyone who would like to have a go at a new artistic activity, or maybe rekindle a dormant creative interest. 

These resources are also appropriate for existing creative groups who may want ideas and inspiration for their meetings. 

If you try any of the Gateways, please feel free to share your creations with us, as well as your feedback. Contact Gareth Coles on [email protected]. 

1. Poetry writing prompts 

Two poetry prompts from the poet Jonathan Edwards. 

2. Paper landscapes

A short, calming activity that involves creating a landscape from pieces of scrap paper, then adding a light source.

3. Line One 

A simple drawing activity which can be completed on your own or with others.

4. Creative Walking 

An activity to generate new creative ideas inspired by your environment.

5. Sock caterpillar 

Give your odd socks new lease of life and create your own hungry caterpillar. 

6. Paper bird

Create your own paper bird, which can be made as bunting, a mobile or a gift.

7. Printing at home with found materials

A simple method for creating home-made prints. 

8. Word-play, poetry and paint

Play with words and turn them into a unique artwork. 

9. Creative Constraints 

A series of suggestions for short drawing exercises that use constraints to help focus your creativity. 

10. Watercolour basics 

Get started with watercolour painting with an emphasis on play and experimentation.

11. Inky splats

Get your imagination going! Invent a scene from looking at indistinct marks and random patterns that you make by applying paint or ink to paper.

12. Busy 'doing nothing'

A strategy to gain clarity and stop the overwhelm. Particularly useful when switching from admin tasks to creative time.

13. A space to call your own

Set up the conditions to get creative.

14. Sensory worlds 

Unlock your creativity to unearth a new language of marks!

15. Capturing treasures

Unusual objects collected from your immediate environment can become starting points for creativity and imagination.

16. Ink printing 

A simple method of creating prints with black ink.

17. Drawing with Nature: Outdoors

Drawing exercises inspired by the natural world. 

18. Drawing with Nature: Words

Drawing from the natural world, using words as inspiration.

19. Drawing with Nature: Music 

Using music to inspire nature-based drawings.

Creativity Map

If you've been inspired to make creative activity a regular part of your life, you could try looking for a local group on our Creativity Map. 

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We are extremely grateful to the Arts Council of Wales for their support for this project.