Skip to content
Modern Gypsy Logo
  • Shop
  • Courses
  • Book a Tarot reading
    • Tarot forecasts and more
  • Portfolio
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • Art
    • Soul
    • Life
  • Newsletter
  • Free resources
  • About
    • Contact
  • Menu

Tag Archives: idea generation

#MondayMusings: How do ideas cross-pollinate?

I heard something new recently – Ghetto blogging. According to Richa Singh, who spoke of the concept, ghetto blogging is too much of the same content, style, and ideas across blogging, when every other blogger is doing the same content style, like a ghetto.

Which got me to thinking: this is a problem that is common across blogs {and the internet}, yes, but also with ideas.

Like the formulaic cinema of the ‘80s and ‘90s – that was the terrible era of Govinda and David Dhawan, when every movie was titled similarly (Hero No 1, Aunty No 1) and followed the same formula. Govinda was the No. 1 bumbling idiot and almost every dialogue was filled with double-entendres. More recently, Bang Bang was “inspired” by Knight and Day and Partner was a direct rip-off of Hitch. The originals in both cases were infinitely better movies, at least in my opinion! And the rip-off was immediately clear if you had seen the original English movies.Continue reading→

Hello!

I'm Shinjini, an artist, Tarot card reader, journal keeper & seeker of soul. I share my passions and discoveries along the path to inspire you to create a more artful, soul-centered life. Ready to experience the magic? Let’s do it together!

New workbook:

Soul Lines: Discover the Story Written in Your Birth Cards

Click on the image for more information + to purchase!

Now enrolling: The Unbound Journal

Build a beautiful art journal with materials from around your home!

binding an art journal ecourse

Click on the image for more information + to purchase!

Let me send you letters....

Soul-centered missives from me to you...musings on life, creativity and/or spirituality; along with access to the secret Wanders Library, stocked with lovely ebooks, art prints, desktop wallpapers and more!

    Built with Kit

    Read more in 2026

    Join me for the 2026 book bingo reading challenge.

    I write about...

    Subjects close to my heart

    The Gallery

    Fresh from Instagram

    Overthinking your art affects more than you think. Overthinking your art affects more than you think.

It impacts how often you show up,
how much you enjoy the process,
and whether you stick with it long enough to grow.

So if your goal is to feel more creative, consistent, and confident, this is where you start.

Here is a simple 4-step way to stop overthinking and actually enjoy making art:

Step 1: Lower the stakes
Stop trying to make “good art.”
Use cheap paper and craft paint.
This works because your brain relaxes when there’s nothing to prove.

Step 2: Start before you feel ready
No planning or overthinking allowed!
Just pick 2–3 colors and begin.
Action reduces hesitation faster than thinking ever will.

Step 3: Follow what feels interesting (not correct)
That random line? Follow it.
That color you’re unsure about? Try it.
This builds trust in your own decisions instead of external rules.

Step 4: Stop early (yes, really)
Don’t overwork the page. Leave it while you still like it.
This keeps the process light and makes you want to come back for more.

The goal is not perfection. It’s creating a space where you actually want to return.

Start simple. Stay curious. Let it be messy.

Save this so you can come back to it the next time you feel stuck.

And follow @moderngypsy.in for more art journaling inspo!
    This is where my hands, brain, and heart combine. This is where my hands, brain, and heart combine. In my sketchbook. Painting. Playing. Experimenting. And always learning.

Here’s a little peek at my art journaling process; part of my #100dayproject2026 — 100 days of play.
    It’s all about practice, patience, and letting you It’s all about practice, patience, and letting your art journal pages evolve slowly, over time.

We often rush to complete things. To keep up with some arbitrary productivity metrics.

But what if your art was never meant to be about productivity. Or goals. Or streaks.

What if your art was meant to be gentle. Flowing. A space to show up, pause, breathe, and just be…

Radical, isn’t it?
    An art teacher once noticed a pattern. Adults wal An art teacher once noticed a pattern.

Adults walked into class already convinced of one thing:

“I’m not artistic.”

It’s not that they lacked imagination or curiosity. But because somewhere along the way, they learned to think of Art with a capital A.

Gallery art.
Perfect drawings.
Talent you’re either born with or not.

So the teacher created a simple method to help adults reconnect with creativity.

Step 1: Start with play, not skill.
Instead of learning perspective or anatomy, students began with color, marks, and collage.

Step 2: Remove the idea of “good.”
No judging the page.
No trying to impress anyone.

Step 3: Work in small bursts.
Short creative sessions instead of long, intimidating projects made it relatively easier to silence the inner critic.

Step 4: Follow curiosity.
“What happens if I add this?”
“What happens if I cover that?”

Step 5: Let the page guide you.
Instead of controlling the artwork, respond to what appears on the page.

Something interesting happened when adults started using this method.

The moment people stopped trying to make Art, they started making art. And their creativity came back surprisingly quickly.

Because the truth is: Art isn’t a talent that some people have and others don’t. We’ve all created art as children; we simply stopped practicing it as we grew older.

When you approach art with curiosity and playfulness, it becomes surprisingly easy to begin.

This is the approach I teach inside my beginner-friendly art journaling course, Atomic Lotus.

If you’ve been wanting to start but don’t know where to begin, comment “LOTUS” and I’ll send you the details.

Follow @moderngypsy.in if you want gentle ways to reconnect with creativity through art journaling and intuitive painting.
    Someone recently told me: “You seem less stressed Someone recently told me: “You seem less stressed these days.”

Honestly?

It’s down to a few small shifts in how I spend my evenings.

Nothing dramatic; just a few simple habits that slowly changed how my brain winds down after a long day.

Here are the 4 things that helped the most:

1. Replacing scrolling with making

Instead of reaching for my phone at night, I open my art journal.

A bit of paint.
A few messy lines.
Sometimes a collage scrap.

Making something by hand gives my mind a way to process the day instead of consuming more input.

2. Letting art be imperfect

When art stops being about “good results,” it becomes surprisingly relaxing.

Ditch the pressure, embrace curiosity.

3. Creating small analogue rituals

Lighting a lamp.
Choosing a few colors.
Putting on some music.

These small signals tell my brain: we’re slowing down now.

4. Letting creativity absorb the noise

Some days the page looks chaotic.

But that’s often exactly what I need.

Art journaling became a place where all the mental clutter could land.

None of this is complicated.

But spending some time with paper, paints, and colour pencils regularly does something that doomscrolling never does:

It helps the mind settle.

That’s one of the reasons I love art journaling so much — it gives your thoughts somewhere to go instead of letting them swirl around in your head.

If you’ve been wanting a gentle way to start art journaling, but don’t know where to start, comment LOTUS and I’ll send you the details of my beginner-friendly art journaling course.

Save this for the next evening when your brain feels fried and you’re still doomscrolling.
    It looks correct on paper. Watching tutorials hel It looks correct on paper.

Watching tutorials helps you learn techniques. It feels productive… like growth.

But your creativity does not run on information alone. It runs on doing.

When you replace creating with consuming, you interfere with:

• Creative confidence (you never build decision-making muscle)
• Visual memory (you observe, but you don’t embody)
• Intuitive trust (you learn to follow steps instead of your impulses)

For example:

When you watch three tutorials back to back, you stimulate ideas, but you don’t integrate them.

This affects:

• Your ability to start without guidance
• Your tolerance for imperfection
• Your sense of having a “style”

Your creative voice develops through repetition, not observation.

Instead of watching back-to-back art tutorials, try:

Watch 1 tutorial
Spend some time actually making

This supports supports:

• Skill retention
• Confidence
• Personal style development

If you want structured support that helps you move from simply watching to actually creating, comment LOTUS and I’ll share details about my beginner-friendly Atomic Lotus course.
    You don’t have to delete Instagram. You don’t have You don’t have to delete Instagram.
You don’t have to throw your phone away.
You don’t have to become a forest-dwelling hermit (unless you want to).

But if your brain is fried and you’re still  scrolling Instagram long past your bedtime, try this 15-minute analogue swap.

Here‘s how it works:

Open your art journal or sketchbook + choose a few of your favourite colors.
Paint a background.
Make some messy lines with a pencil.
Glue some collage scraps — old book pages, Amazon receipts, even torn strips of masking tape.
Add some more paint - preferably in a neutral color - to integrate the scraps onto the page. 
Glue down a focal image.
Write some messy thoughts or add a favourite quote. 
Once you’re done, sit for a moment + notice how your body feels.

And between us friends? It doesn’t have to be exactly 15 minutes. It could take you more than 15 minutes, or less than 15 minutes. You may split these steps over two painting sessions on two different days. That’s not the point. The point is what changes.

When you scroll at 10pm, your body is tired, but your brain stays switched on.

You watch a reel. Another one starts. And suddenly it’s 11:07 pm.

When you open your journal instead, your hands are engaged in doing something slow and simple, and your mind can wander. 

You aren’t bombarded with other peoples  opinions, the latest outrageous news, or the highlights of someone else’s life. 

And something about that — the quiet, the tactile nature or paint on paper, of simple scribbly lines and repetition — tells your brain it can soften.

You don’t need to quit social media to feel less tired, you just need something that feels completely different from the endless scroll.

Try it tonight, and then tell me, did you fall asleep a little easier?

Save this so you can come back to this practice the next time your brain feels fried at 10pm. And for more art journaling and creative practice inspiration, follow me @moderngypsy.in
    I lied. Art journaling is actually a cheat code — I lied.

Art journaling is actually a cheat code — and I’ve been doing it for years.

Here’s why you should never start…
unless you want these permanent side effects:

1. The Emotional Outlet
You stop bottling things up. Feelings that used to swirl in your head finally have a safe place to land.

2. The Confidence Boost
You make “ugly” pages… and survive. Over time, you stop being scared of not being “creative or artistic enough”.

3. The Quiet Evenings
Instead of scrolling until your brain feels fried, you end your day making something with your hands.

4. The Creative Identity Shift
You stop saying “I’m not artistic.” You start thinking, “Actually… I kind of am.”

5. The Clarity
When you write and paint together, patterns in your thoughts become visible. That’s powerful.

6. The Style That Sneaks Up On You Without trying to “find your style,” it slowly forms through repetition and play.

Once you experience having a soft place to land on paper, there is no going back.

If you’ve been curious about starting an art journal, this might be your sign.

And if you don’t know where to start, my beginner-friendly Atomic Lotus course was made for you. Comment LOTUS and I’ll send you the details 🌸

Don’t forget to follow @moderngypsy.in for art journaling practices that are soulful, simple, and beginner-friendly.
    Little shifts. Big creative returns. These are th Little shifts. Big creative returns.

These are the things I do as an artist when I feel blank, bored, or creatively flat — and they’ve never failed me.

1. I stop asking “What should I paint?” And start asking, “What am I feeling?”
Why it works: Inspiration hides in emotion, not aesthetics.

2. I zoom in on ordinary life. The shadow on my wall. The color of my tea. The way light hits the floor.
Why it works: Attention creates inspiration.

3. I make something tiny. Postcard sized art, scrap paper collages, a quick sketch or doodle. Something that takes 10 minutes, tops.
Why it works: Small containers remove the pressure, which makes it easier to just play. 

4. I change scale. If I’ve been working small, I go bigger. If I’ve been tight, I go loose.
Why it works: The body needs new movement to spark new ideas.

5. I revisit a theme that once lit me up. Old journals, color combinations or art materials I was previously obsessed with.  Why it works: Inspiration leaves clues behind; follow them!

6. I create before consuming. No scrolling for ideas first.
Why it works: Your voice gets louder when other voices are quiet.

7. I let myself be bored. No podcast. No background noise.
Why it works: Inspiration grows in empty space.

Inspiration isn’t something I wait for anymore. It’s something I invite in.

If you’re feeling creatively stuck, don’t chase more ideas. Create a little more space.

Follow me @moderngypsy.in for art journaling and intuitive painting inspiration that will help you reconnect with your own creative voice.
    You don’t have to delete Instagram. You don’t have You don’t have to delete Instagram.
You don’t have to throw your phone away.
You don’t have to become a forest-dwelling hermit (unless you want to).

But if your brain is fried and you’re still  scrolling Instagram long past your bedtime, try this 15-minute analogue swap.

Here‘s how it works:

Open your art journal or sketchbook + choose a few of your favourite colors.
Paint a background.
Make some messy lines with a pencil.
Glue some collage scraps — old book pages, Amazon receipts, even torn strips of masking tape.
Add some more paint - preferably in a neutral color - to integrate the scraps onto the page. 
Glue down a focal image.
Write some messy thoughts or add a favourite quote. 
Once you’re done, sit for a moment + notice how your body feels.

And between us friends? It doesn’t have to be exactly 15 minutes. It could take you more than 15 minutes, or less than 15 minutes. You may split these steps over two painting sessions on two different days. That’s not the point. The point is what changes.

When you scroll at 10pm, your body is tired, but your brain stays switched on.

You watch a reel. Another one starts. And suddenly it’s 11:07 pm.

When you open your journal instead, your hands are engaged in doing something slow and simple, and your mind can wander. 

You aren’t bombarded with other peoples  opinions, the latest outrageous news, or the highlights of someone else’s life. 

And something about that — the quiet, the tactile nature or paint on paper, of simple scribbly lines and repetition — tells your brain it can soften.

You don’t need to quit social media to feel less tired, you just need something that feels completely different from the endless scroll.

Try it tonight, and then tell me, did you fall asleep a little easier?

Save this so you can come back to this practice the next time your brain feels fried at 10pm. And for more art journaling and creative practice inspiration, follow me @moderngypsy.in
    Follow on Instagram

    Sign up for letters…

    Soul-centered missives from me to you…musings on life, creativity and/or spirituality; along with access to the secret Wanders Library, stocked with lovely ebooks, art prints, desktop wallpapers and more!

      Built with Kit
      Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
      Modern Gypsy © 2026 | All rights reservedPrivacy Policy
      A SiteOrigin Theme