As I sit down and write this months Blog I can’t believe we are already half way through 2026. It feels like I have only just got used to the year starting and writing 2026 when I use the date. But here we are, in June, and here in the UK we are getting ready for our summer season. Summer “officially” starts on 21st June but we have had some lovely weather already and nature is in full swing for the season. 

If you’ve been watching me for a while, or even just read my Blogs, you’ll know already that Nature is a huge inspiration for my work.  I often sit and reflect about how the four seasons really influence me and that got me to thinking about Time. I’ve already said how quickly this year seems to be going, and I think Time can be such a gift to us all. Not just throughout the year, but think about the art and creativity projects or paintings you have already created. Whether you are new to the art world, a professional, or do it as a hobby, the techniques and skills you have are learned over Time. Good times, bad times, indifferent times. It’s Time that can really help us grow and evolve as an artist.  I remember being a teenager and wishing I was an older age, thinking life would be better with time. It’s true – it is for sure and to be honest I wouldn’t want to re-live my teenage years. But with time comes experience. Lived experiences that can teach us many lessons. That is why time is so valuable. If we take the time to hone in our skills, or time to learn knowledge, it’s that time that we invest in ourselves that become really valuable. I started my fluid art journey over 6 years ago now and I have learned so much. But it’s the time I invested in myself (whether it be learning, experimenting, celebrating the successes or reflecting on the failures) that has got me to where I am today. Am I the best artist? No. But that is ok – I firmly believe time is the greatest gift to allow me to continue to evolve, have experiences, develop my skills. 

So I’d encourage you to think about time and how you can respect time for yourself. Invest that time in you. Whether its 5 minutes a day, or an hour a week. Time is a valuable component to developing as an artist and human being. Don’t wish your time away but hoping that you can pull off a technique with only a few attempts. Enjoy the time that you are immersed in; be in the present, absorb every moment time gives you to learn, be curious, solve a problem and most importantly enjoy the journey you are on. In life we can’t control the time that we have on this planet, but we can control how much time we allow ourselves on certain things – for example, our Art. Time is a gift so when you reflect and think about the time you have already taken on your artistic journey, appreciate the “everything” because time has allowed us to continue to grow, evolve and be present.

Check out Mark’s course on Smart Art Courses: Mindfully Creative: Art Techniques for the Mind, Body and Soul

Mark J Ratcliffe Art: Artist & Creator; Certified Meditation Coach and Wellbeing Practitioner.  You can also find Mark on YouTube here.