This video originally appeared in Misty Olsen's Inspired Artist's series. In this series, Misty interviews artists to instill confidence and clarity in your creative practice.
Inspired Artist Interview with Caylee Grey
Dig in
Caylee Grey
Caylee Grey is a South African perfectionist currently pursuing imperfection as she makes messy art (and drools over the abundance of casual castles) in Germany.
More often than not, you’ll find her nurturing creativity as the resident Fairy Artmother for her growing community of artists in Get Messy, swapping bad puns with her very patient husband, wrestling her son’s snacks away from her tiny but determined dog, and emptying her thoughts onto the page.
Catalysts by Caylee Grey
Jumping with Caylee Grey and Nathalie Kalbach
In this video, Caylee and the CJS21 host, Nathalie Kalbach, chat about stories and art.
One completed Steven
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]Here's a page through of what Steven looks like for me at the end of the season. What does yours look like? Share it in the Gallery. ...
Other ideas for writing
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]I've put a bunch of extra ideas for making your journal writing a bit more interesting... Split cursive and print and your different...
Copied Words: Steal words like an artist
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]I know a lot of us are going to be using Austin Kleon for our muse this season. We're going to be taking further instruction from him and...
Cut your words into pieces
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]I love scissors and I love words and I love bringing them together. Here is another collection of inspir-action for your Season of Steven,...
Alpha stickers
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]One thing that I brought with me from my scrapbooking days are the gorgeous alpha stickers that I had accumulated. After using one too...
Stamping
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]The inspir-action for this lesson is a bit shorter. As much as I love using my alphabet stamp set, I don't use it as much. But stamping is...
The beauty of typewriters – real and fake
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]There's no denying that I love my vintage typewriter. I put it for €30 on eBay, it jams all the time, and I keep pushing the "z" instead...
Stencils + Script
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]Here is another technique for your Season of Steven journal (or really, any journal that you'd like to put text in). You know those old...
Brush lettering inspir-action
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]A selection of brush lettering from my journal archives... Action Steps be inspired to actionImperfect brush letteringSoon!
Imperfect brush lettering
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]Getting an entire book into a journal I am not going to teach you exactly how to script letters and how to combine them. Please use my own...
Quick tip: Processing a book for art
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]Getting an entire book into a journal Before we get into the techniques, let's talk a bit about how to process your book.Steps for...
020 70 Ways to produce more than you consume
Get Messy Podcast[wpseo_breadcrumb] The focus of my life currently is this: PRODUCE MORE. CONSUME LESS. It’s a bold statement. With so much great stuff on the internet, and with it being so easy to be sucked into Pinterest, Instagram, blogs, and galleries, I’m needing...
Inspir-action for this season
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]In this lesson I'm sharing a Steven Pressfield journal that I created for The Minimalist Art Journal 2. MAJ2 is a premium class here at...
Preparing your journal for art
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]Prep Your Journal In the video I'll go through the initial prep for an altered book journal. Remember that your journal is a work in...
Choosing your Steven and your journal
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]A Season of Literal Steven If you'd like to join me in digging into Steven's words for the season, here are my three favourite books of...
Who the heck is Steven?
Steven#gmseasonofsteven[wpseo_breadcrumb]That's Steven. Still have no idea? I'm so excited to tell you... Action Steps get excited!head on over to the next lesson to choose your...
014 If you’re feeling frozen and overwhelmed
Get Messy Podcast I recently received an email from Kate, who had a problem. I could relate and wanted to help. Maybe you need to hear this too. If you're feeling overwhelmed with how many options you have, if you're feeling stuck creatively, or if you're a...
How to bind a vintage book into a junk journal (no perfection needed)
Bind your own journal using an old book… as old as you’d like. With a lot less perfection than you think you need.
012 The life changing magic of morning pages
Get Messy Podcast Morning pages are going to change your life. Morning pages are going to give you better art, better relationships, better mental health and a clear head. In this episode, I'm going to chat about how I make them work for me and give you an exact to do...
Level Up Workbook
Download the Workbook for Level One Save this file to your computer, print it out, and scribble all over it.
Level Up Resources
Applications Links are to the Chrome store or iStore where applicable. This list is constantly being updated Reference : Notion, Evernote, OneNote Task Management : Todoist (alternatively: Wunderlist, Teux Deux, Any.Do) Project Management : ClickUp, Asana, Trello...
Level Up Playlists
I made these for you. Lofi to Concentrate Level Up To Pump You Up White Noise To Help You REALLY Concentrate
Create a Life Mind Map
Reflection [wpseo_breadcrumb]Life Mind Maps are a fantastic way to reduce anxiety. They give a bird’s eye view of your life and helps you be objective. When you know exactly...
Season of Habit Reflection
HabitOh, Messians, did this Season ever enable us to push our art further or what? There was so much to learn and so much to bring into our daily life that writing this is an...
Find time to art journal by keeping a digital idea notebook
Habit Caylee Grey Get Messy is led by Caylee Grey, your fairy artmother, who with a swish and flick of her magic paintbrush empowers humans to live a creative life. She knows a...
Season of Habit Intentions
Habit It's the first week of the season and this week will really set you up for success. Habit is going to change your art life. Just take a look at the comments on Instagram,...
Season of Documenting Reflection
Documenting This Season was so FULL don’t you think? There is something about having two long months to really explore a subject and to get our creative juices flowing. Here is a look at...
003 Inspiration is not real
Inspiration does not exist. It's a lie. Inspiration is not real. True inspiration is the kind that leads to immediate action. Inspiration that leads to nothing tangible is... nothing. There's something tangible standing between an idea and something being...
Season of Documenting Intentions
Documenting For the season intentions, I'd love you to trust me. We're going to do things a bit differently. Dig Deeper Let's start this season in the deep end. Let's jump...
Season of Starting Intentions
Starting Beautiful artist! Welcome to the Season of Starting. No matter what kind of starting you are doing, I'm excited for you. The first week of a season is dedicated to...
001 How I went from lazy and passive to deliberate and goal driven
Let's officially kick off the podcast with my story and the reason I'm here. I used to be what I will graciously call passive. I had (and have) a really good life. I was born into a self-made wealthy family. Every bit of my life (and the lives of my ancestors) was...
Recipe 12
#getmessyrecipes acrylic paint in a bright or fluorescent colour black and white image or Xeroxed image (if you don't have one, you can download one of flowers...
Recipe 11
#getmessyrecipes black and white image or pattern (e.g. music sheet, old book, handdrawn pattern, if you don't have this, print the ephemera below) tissue...
Recipe 10
#getmessyrecipes a poem on paper - written by you, from a magazine, or you can use one scanned in from an old e e cummings book (just click below) image from a...
Recipe 09
#getmessyrecipes /your gorgeous self pencil modeling paste acrylic paint stencil (if you'd prefer, you can download and print the background) brush pen (if...
Recipe 08
#getmessyrecipes magazine image to use as the focal point pattern from a magazine to use as a background text from a magazine ledger paper (if you don't have,...
Recipe 07
#getmessyrecipes dried tea bag typewriter or computer printer collage fodder - 2 pieces that mean something to you, 1 piece that you simply love, and 1 piece...
Recipe 06
#getmessyrecipes your favourite paper old ledger paper or book paper (click here to print if you don't have your own - make sure to print on both sides) a...
Recipe 05
#getmessyrecipes two colours of paint in the same colour family pencil a dark or light colour paint paint in an opposing colour old credit card, gift card, or...
Recipe 04
#getmessyrecipes four colours of paint - acrylic, gouache, watercolour, whatever acrylic ink or fluid acrylic paint marker stencil One Add small smears of...
Recipe 03
#getmessyrecipes scraps of artwork, preferably matching scissors and glue brush pen or actual paint brush dipped into paint thread - either on a sewing machine...
Recipe 02
#getmessyrecipes old book or book pages (if you don't have any, click here to download and print with a laser printer) gesso or white acrylic your favourite...
Recipe 01
#getmessyrecipes collage papers tape - washi or masking tape glue acrylic paint watercolour, ink, or watered down acrylic a typewriter, computer, or magazine a...
Our goal
Failure Art is the perfect imperfection. - Alvaro Castagnet If you joined this season hoping for ways to get over failure, or to learn how to prevent failure and...
Step 1 – Celebrate how far you’ve come
Failure It's not about perfection. It's about the joy of striving. - Thomas Keller We're jumping head first into the Season of Failure with two extremes - a...
Step 2 – Direct your aim
Failure To do better is better than to be perfect. - Toba Beta This lesson is all about the new. By directing our aim, by focusing on just one thing at a time, we dance naked in...
Step 3 – Do the work
Failure We must understand that the drive for perfectionism is a corrosive waste of time. Because nothing is ever beyond criticism. ... At some point, you really...
Step 4 – Eff comparison
Failure Comparing ourselves to others is one of the most debilitating ways we stop ourselves from creating. We create our own idea of perfectionism from others....
Step 5 – Let go and sparkle
Failure [wpseo_breadcrumb]Action Steps go through the five steps again, and again Feeling like you're not good enough
Non traditional books to add to your creative lifestyle curriculum
We all love to read about creativity, fill our homes with beautiful giant books with art photos, patterns, and photography in them. These books are as beautiful as they are educational. But living a creative life as an artist begs for more depth and inner...
000 Bootcamp
If you’re in need of a realignment, Bootcamp is what restores you to a creative state and gets you ready for your journal. It has three parts to it and can be done every month or whenever you need a reset.
2.3 Self Care
So we’ve looked at who you were and who you’re becoming, and now it’s time to think about practical ways of taking care of you moving forward. Now that your life is busier and fuller than ever, it’s important that you’re cared for and supported as much as humanly...
Closing Thoughts
Here's a look at our completed journals...
Class Kit + Workbook
Workbook + Digital KitDownload these files and save them to your computer. Print them out and use them in your journal for this class or for other projects. Copyright © Caylee Greyvenstein and Esther Smith. All files are for personal use only. You may not distribute...
Welcome to Loving Mama
Hey Mama We are so proud of you! You’re in a full time job that’s all about giving, and you’ve chosen to do something to nourish yourself. Taking this class is an investment in yourself, and we know it’s one that will pay dividends to your whole family. A Mama who...
1.1 Life Before
It might be hard to remember right now, but before you were a mother, you were you. There’s nothing like having a baby to completely turn your world upside down, and make you feel like your identity got shattered in the turning. All of a sudden you’re a shuffling,...
1.2 Suddenly Real
While the sperm-meets-egg biology of conception is universal, the process of creating our babies is different for everyone. Some of us fall pregnant easily, and some of us struggle. Some of us are biologically linked to our kids, while others adopt, or are the other...
1.3 And Then There Was You
Arrival Few of us have days in our lives that are more memorable than when our babies came into our worlds. For the majority of us it’s a story that involves giving birth, though for adoptive and non-birth parents it’s still an unforgettable, life-altering event.Write...
2.1 Who Am I?
So far, we’ve talked a lot about the process of becoming a mother, and what that was like for you. But that’s actually the shortest part of the story. What comes next, is the rest of your life. No matter what happens to you from now on, you are a mother. It's...
2.2 Loving Mama
We’ve talked about how motherhood can change the parts of you that existed before, and how you can reconnect with those in your current life. Now it’s time to identify the things that were born in you when your child became yours. The new, awesome, scary, surprising...
1.1 Catalyst: Mood Board
1.1 Mood BoardCreative Catalyst for Intentional Creating • How to use the Mood Board Creative Catalyst • Art Application: Always be Kinder • Art Application: Am I Good Enough?HOW TO USE THE CREATIVE CATALYST This is one of my favourites for ensuring that a page has a...
1.2 Art: Watercolour Smoosh
1.2 ArtWatercolour Smooshes • How to create watercolour smooshes • Art Application: Germany / Love • Art Application: t / eReady for the easiest art lesson you’ll ever receive? HOW TO CREATE WATERCOLOUR SMOOSHES Told you it was easy! One supply. One colour. Loads of...
2. SIMPLER PROCESS
2. Simpler ProcessMind Travel KitTaking In / Letting OutBotanyLacy PatternsStacked Shapes
2.1 Catalyst: Mind Travel Kit
2.1 CatalystMind Travel Kit • How to use the Mind Travel Kit Creative Catalyst • Art Application: Do You • Art Application: Wait / Great Things Take Time • Art Application: PruneHOW TO USE THE MIND TRAVEL KIT CREATIVE CATALYST Watch the video below to see how I...
2.2 Art: Taking In / Letting Out
2.2 ArtTaking In / Letting Out • How to dip dye paper • Art application: Resistance HOW TO DIP DYE PAPER Watercolour dyeing is something that I have been in love with for years. In the video below, I show you how easy it can be. ART APPLICATION: RESISTANCE Put...
2.3 Art: Botany
2.3 ArtBotany • The Minimalist’s Paint Pour: Acrylic Smoosh • The Minimalist’s Paint Pour: Flow • Art Application: Botany • Art Application: She Had a Feeling THE MINIMALIST’S PAINT POUR Paint pouring is a beautiful technique, but it gets very overwhelming and busy....
3. CALMER LOOK
3. Calmer Look Brain DumpReduce the NoiseA Journal as a WholeMonochrome BackgroundLayered Minimalism
3.1 Catalyst: Brain Dump
3.1 CatalystBrain Dump • How to use the Brain Dump Creative Catalyst • Art Application: Kaylee • Art Application: When We Have Less • Art Application: Freedom HOW TO USE THE BRAIN DUMP Morning pages are something incredible that I took from a meh book. A short while...
3.2 Art: Reduce the Noise
3.2 ArtReduce the Noise • Process your ephemera • Morning Pages in the Morning PROCESS YOUR EPHEMERA Ephemera is one of those things that can get seriously out of control. Watch this video showing tips for maintaining a collection of ephemera that you truly love,...
0. START
Start You're an art rockstar.Welcome to The Minimalist Art Journal 2.0. Go you for prioritising your art. I'm excited for our hearts to mush together. In this class, we're gonna be focusing on three things: less stuff simpler process calmer art Each section will have...
3.3 Art: A Journal as a Whole
3.3 ArtA Journal as a Whole • A Journal as a WholeA JOURNAL AS A WHOLE I had a whole bunch of real life ephemera that I wanted to use and let go of. I bound a small, A6 journal, and put it all in there. I put my music on loud and got everything down onto the page....
I. Catalyst: The MAJ Manifesto
I. CatalystThe Minimalist Art Journal Manifesto • How to Use the Catalysts • Eight Principles of Minimalist Art Journaling • You As An Artist • Art Application: Although you WorkHOW TO USE THE CATALYSTS Firstly, have you downloaded the catalysts yet? Download them....
II. Art: Anti-Supply List
II. ArtAnti-Supply List • Swatches • Swatch Table • Colour TableThe Required Supplies list is: whatever you already own Nothing is required. In fact, while you go through this lesson I actively encourage you to give away any supplies that you don’t actively love....
III. Journal: Handbound
III. JournalHandbound Journal for Less Stuff • Handbound journal inspiration • How to Hand Bind a JournalThis journal uses up your supplies. It provides you with a base made out of paper that you already love. It removes the fear of the blank page. If you put in the...
IV. Journal: Plain
IV. JournalPlain journal for a simpler process • Plain journals are awesome too You have permission to use a plain journal. I use pretty much exclusively Moleskine – this isn’t the perfect journal. It does not enjoy paint even a little bit. Do not go out and buy a...
V. Journal: Found
V. JournalFound journal for a calmer look • Ideas for your Found Journal • Found Catalogue Art Journal in One SittingSee things not as they are, but as opportunities. A found journal is something that you can really play with. I tend to find a lot of calmer looking...
1. LESS STUFF
1. Less stuffMood BoardWatercolour SmooshInner LandscapesRecycled PaperMultimedia Collage
5.4 Accountability + Community
Level Up > Level FIVE5.4 ACCOUNTABILITY + COMMUNITYLearning Outcomes: Discover the magic of community and its uses as a form of accountability Evaluate which form of accountability is right for you Discover how to find an...
5.3 Habit + Tracking
Level Up > Level FIVE5.3 HABIT + TRACKINGLearning Outcomes: Articulate the benefits of habit and goal tracking Develop practical ways of creating a habit Develop practical ways to track your goals “Motivation is what gets you...
5.2 Sparkly Object Syndrome
Level Up > Level FIVE5.2 SPARKLY OBJECT SYNDROMELearning Outcomes: Identify personal “sparkly objects” Learn ways to fight against distractions “When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your...
5.1 Processing
Level Up > Level FIVE5.1 PROCESSINGLearning Outcomes: Create a Processing Plan to accompany your Game Plan The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress. – Philip Roth Processing is the part where we check that everything is...
5. LEVEL FIVE
Level Up > Level FIVEWelcome to Level FIVEDownload the Workbook for Level FIVE Save this file to your computer, print it out, and scribble all over it. “I promise, if you show up for your work day after day after day, you just...
4.4 Automation
Level Up > Level Four4.4 AUTOMATIONLearning Outcomes: Utilise automation tools Automation is this awesome thing where you get a computer to do repetitive tasks that you don’t like doing. It frees up time for creating, but as...
4.3 Time Management Techniques
Level Up > Level Four4.3 TIME MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUESLearning Outcomes: Know practical steps to time management Understand the Pomodoro Technique Experiment with Block Scheduling The phrase “I don’t have time for” should never be...
4.2 Eat the Frog
Level Up > Level Four4.2 Eat the frogLearning Outcomes: Define what eating a frog in terms of productivity actually is Establish unprocrastination techniques Define ways to single task Discover the brilliance of MITs “If it’s your...
4.1 The Art of the Start
Level Up > Level Four4.1 The Art of the StartLearning Outcomes: Know the three requirements for getting things done Identify five ways to make it easier to get it done Cite practical ways to start – even when you don’t feel like...
4. LEVEL FOUR
Level Up > Level FourWelcome to Level FourDownload the Workbook for Level FOUR Save this file to your computer, print it out, and scribble all over it.Now that we have gone through the foundations of getting things done, we’re...
3.4 Create a Game Plan
Level Up > Level Three3.4 Create a Game PlanLearning Outcomes: Understand the GTD Workflow Personalise the GTD Workflow This lesson ties up a lot of other lessons in one workflow. It’s got bits of Level Two, Three, and Four all in...
3.3 The Creative Process
Level Up > Level Three3.3 The Creative ProcessLearning Outcomes: Recognise how being organised can uplevel creativity Know that organisation in the creative process works towards both quality and quantity “The first draft of...
3.1 Write a Better To Do List
Level Up > Level Three3.1 Write a Better To Do ListLearning Outcomes: Keep a better to do list Assemble todoist Discover how to create to do list items that encourage getting things done Before we go anywhere, make sure that...
3. LEVEL THREE
Level Up > Level ThreeWelcome to Level ThreeDownload the Workbook for Level three Save this file to your computer, print it out, and scribble all over it. “Be regular and orderly in your life so that you may be violent and...
2.4 Discover Your Goals
Level Up > Level Two2.4 DISCOVER YOUR GOALSLearning Outcomes: Know how to make your goals work for you Discover what is important Choose the right goals “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends...
2.3 Efficient Brainstorming
Level Up > Level Two2.3 Efficient BrainstormingLearning Outcomes: Outline the process of efficient creative brainstorming Now that you have two ways of brainstorming – brain dumps and morning pages, let’s go through the habit of...
2.2 Mornings
Level Up > Level Two2.2 MorningsLearning Outcomes: Explore the magical power of mornings. Explore the magic of morning pages. “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you...
2. LEVEL TWO
Level Up > Level TwoWelcome to Level TwoDownload the Workbook for Level Two Save this file to your computer, print it out, and scribble all over it.You have a lot on your mind. You have an entire life’s worth – past, present, and...
1.4 Mind Map Your Life
Level Up > Level One1.4 Mind Map Your LifeLearning Outcomes Understand why life mind maps are important and know their benefits Create a mind map of your life Implement the life mind map in applicable places I’m excited about this...
1.3 Know What Works for You
Level Up > Level ONE1.3 Know what works for youLearning Outcomes Know your Tendency Know your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Know what works for you Know what doesn’t work for you This course will equip you with a set of tools...