Visualize a prompt as a starting point that helps you get into the mode of creating. They can be an integral part of your daily creative practice — visualize them as tools for generating ideas. When you’re feeling blocked or ideas aren’t flowing, grab a prompt and get started.

Let’s start with quick thoughts about where & why & how prompts fit into the creative process. At Daisy Yellow you’ll find 106 creative prompts, categorized into different series. Find a set that resonates with you! Warm-ups, ice-breakers, and starting points — for collage, mixed media art, drawing, art journaling, and writing.

106 prompts for art, mixed media, journaling, drawing, and writing

Links take you to the full series for each type of prompt.

★ Wonder31 Prompts (31)

A series of words/phrases. You can find my interpretations of 20+ of these prompts — maybe that will spark an idea for you? Start with Wonder31 #1: Minimal.

★ Mix & Match Prompts (15)

A set designed for mixed media lovers & art journalists. Select a prompt from 1st column and a technique/tool from 2nd column and go! These are meant to be savored and interpreted over several art sessions. Interpret on paper, index card, journal, etc. perhaps working on several at once.

★ Carousel30 Prompts Set One & Set Two (60)

A series of words/phrases. Interpret on paper, index card & journal. Collage, sketch, repeating patterns, hand-lettering, mixed media, flash fiction, doodle, art journal, portraits, poetry, etc.

When I was little, I collected quotes in a lined journal (now I keep track in Evernote Obsidian). I love sentence fragments + interesting descriptions + words used in witty or novel ways. I’m always on the lookout for words, words, words. The process of crafting | building a series of prompts for other people to enjoy — narrowing down possibilities and evaluating what makes a good prompt — is one of my favorite things to do. There are all sorts of prompts & cues — to me a good prompt provides a constraint that opens up a variety of interpretations. Constraints give us something to work with!

“Constraints shape and focus problems and provide clear challenges to overcome.”
Peter Sims

how to use creative & writing prompts?

When faced with a prompt, get the wheels spinning by generating connections. For example, take the word or phrase and think about connotations, definitions, related words, synonyms & antonyms.
Allow the prompt word/phrase to fuel or be a catalyst for fun explorations.
Let potential solutions percolate. It can feel like solving a puzzle! I enjoy the acrobatics of "figuring out" what to do. Maybe because I’m analytical — I love brainstorming the "what-if's" and conceptualizing possibilities.
Make something tangible* — flash fiction (type your response or write on an index card), art journal page, collage, small format art, collage, diagram, painting, illustration, sketch, etc.

Here’s a post about prompts that I shared over at Ko-Fi.

Prompts can help jump through the "blank page" phase and just get to the fun part of making something! They’ll help you burst through creative blocks and start creating.

I should mention that if you find prompts frustrating (or uninspiring or boring or limiting), know that they do not need to be part of your creative process. Maybe they are associated with school assignments — rubrics and essays or responses graded and judged by teachers. Assignments requiring an outline, a particular sentence structure, format, spacing, citations, etc. That’s understandable. But perhaps you will surprise yourself. it could be helpful to scatter prompts into your week (start with a few here and there) especially when feeling blocked.

*If you don't feel energized to make something physical/tangible, it is still possible to write down a list of ways to interpret a particular prompt. The act of generating ideas is of value!!! Another option is to write your response on an index card or type your interpretation.

Why use prompts for art, writing, and creativity?

The process of interpreting a prompt can help your idea generation skills. Prompts are a valuable part of a creative toolkit.

Find creative solutions
Find connections/links between seemingly unrelated concepts
Generate fresh ideas
Spark artistic and creative explorations
Launch experiments (i.e. What if?)
Get through a creative rut or block
To warm-up before a work session
Get through fear of the “blank page”
Gives you a starting point
Create something low risk

You can use Daisy Yellow creative prompt cards to generate fresh ideas. They help you get beyond the blank page and delve into making something. Each colorful & happy card has a set of open-ended prompts that can be used in a myriad of different ways. You can interpret the phrases in your favorite art form — an art journal page, short story, sketch, doodle, collage, etc. A delightful gift-to-self or a creative friend! To make your selection you can choose words that resonate today, or you can make it random by playing BINGO or roll 🎲 dice.

Resources & further reading

Developing Writing Prompts (University of Connecticut) includes a discussion on how to develop prompts and types of prompts (i.e. discussion prompts, narrative prompts, expository prompts, and persuasive prompts).