Ditch your to-do list. Ignore the laundry. Shake off perfectionism. And create for the sake of creating.

We’re an art journaling community created for every type and shape of artist. We’re here for you if you’ve ever wanted to unleash your creative spirit and consistently create art.

No rules. No judgement. No apologies.

This is your space, place and creative home. Come on in and explore.

We believe that magic happens right in the center of the Venn Diagram of art journaling, connection, and kindness.

We have a devoted community site where our Messy Artists explore and expand their creativity through thousands of tutorials, art prompts and actionable inspiration created by over 200 creative mentors here to serve you.

It sounds amazing because it is amazing.

Skip the story and step into the adventure

Hosts

Caylee Grey

Fairy Artmother

Caylee is the South African half of the story, a hyperbolic journaler, imperfect artist, and dog lover. She founded Get Messy in 2014 and has sworn an oath to embrace the messy middle, and to remind her inner perfectionist that more than zero is enough. Her magic is clearing the path so your artist self can come out and play.

Favourite paint colour: neon pink

Resident Art Witch

Vanessa Oliver-Lloyd

Vanessa is the Canadian half of the story and the one who’ll ask the question you didn’t know you needed to answer. She co-hosts Get Messy’s guided journeys and circles, and holds the space in Depth, where art meets the inner work. Her magic is making the brave stuff feel safe, and making the safe stuff feel like play.

Favourite paint colour: Payne’s grey

A South African and a Canadian meet in Paris in 2016

Ten years later, they're your arty sidekicks at Get Messy.

2026 Teachers

  • Claudette Hasenjager

    Fertile Ground: The 12 Foundations of Art Journaling and How to Deepen Them

  • Mona Stamm

    From Ground to Bloom: An Art Journal Journey of Germination

  • Sarah Gardner

    Seed to Flower: Trusting the Process of Transformation

  • Linden Eller

    Blooming Through Risk: Where Abandon meets Abundance

  • Johanna Clough

    The Overgrown Journal: Blooming Beyond the Borders

  • Mou Saha

    A Harvest of Plenty: The Blessing, the Contemplation, the Gratitude, and the Promise

  • Norma Chung

    From Release to Renewal: Let Go, Grow, and Reconnect with Yourself

We believe in

  • Get Messy is an invitation. All the best bits happen in the messy middle - where we enjoy the process, create as we did as a kid. Pressure-free, perfection-free, art for the sake of delight.

  • Art is valid all on its own. Make it for the joy of it, for the power it gives you, for the freedom of a page that asks nothing of you. It needs no market, no likes and no reason (though “because I wanted to” is a great one). We’re unapologetically enthusiastic, and slightly nerdy, about the whole glorious thing.

  • That Get Messy is a safe space and a brave space. Get comfy, then nudge the edges out a little further, until trying new things feels easy. Float along with what's on offer, or stop anywhere and dive deeper. You captain this ship, and you'll always be held.

  • Being a creative soul can be lonely, so we gather. Here you’ll find humans who cheer, swap tips and become friends well beyond the screen. We grow in circles: everyone learns, everyone teaches, everyone is seen. Ubuntu, my friend. I am because we are.

  • Art belongs to EVERYONE. We’re actively making room for the voices the art world has left out for too long, especially Black, Indigenous and global majority artists, and celebrating techniques and traditions from every corner of the world. Women’s work is serious art, and always has been. Get Messy is a home for artists of all genders and backgrounds. Pull up a chair.

  • Your supplies are for USING. Crack open the good paper, squeeze the fancy paint, close the shopping tabs.

    Bring your own sh*t too: the tired days, the big feelings, the half-finished pages. All welcome.

    And, when you’re ready, share your work, host a hangout, teach a class (we pay artists for their work, always). We’ll be cheering the loudest.

Get Started