Just playing

Once in a while, I paint something on a scrap piece of paper and come back and fall in love with it.  This echinacea will probably be framed and stay in my studio.   Love this one!

This peony was another one.   My sister fell in love with it and it's living with her now.

Play

I've been thinking a lot this year about the importance of Play. The key thing about play is that it can only happen in the absence of self-consciousness.  If you're going to play you need the freedom to do the thing without anxiety about being 'too' anything - too loud, too messy, too bold, too wasteful, too wrong, too blue, too big, too small, to many mistakes, too spread out, too 'me' or too not what someone else likes.   And without anxiety about being 'not enough' - not perfect enough, finished enough, efficient enough.

This year I've been practicing doing things un-self-consciously.  I try to do things without following patterns, with no thought about a finished project, without worrying about doing it wrong.  I'm not very good at it yet but I have been able to get to know a long neglected part of me again - the messy, inefficient, irresponsible part of me that is brave enough to try some new things and break new ground.   That's where growth happens.

So I've been thinking about classes...

Jean Haines has written a terrific book called 'Paint Yourself Calm'.   I've been doing a lot of the activities and I can't say enough good things about it.

Her focus is on using watercolor painting as a type of meditation, if you will, to lift your spirits, center you in the moment, help you exercise mindfulness, etc.


As I was thinking of all I have learned from the book, I really started to want to share it in a way that is collaborative, so that the members of a group can support each other in shifting the focus of an art activity from 'I must make something gorgeous or I'm a failure.' to 'Oh!  Look at what the paint did there!'

So I'm planning a class called 'Watercolor for Relaxation'.   Here's a description.  Please let me know if you'd be interested in a class like this:

Class:  Watercolor for Relaxation

So often we sit down to creative work with the heavy expectation of creating a masterpiece...or at least something that will bring compliments from viewers.  The purpose of this class is to let go of the expectation of creating something perfect and finished and replace it with the calm of simply observing what the paint and water do together.   No expectations, just fun.  

We will play with color, learn how different pigments react with water, experiment with salt and plastic wrap effects, play with abstract compositions and a few other surprises.  

This class is appropriate for all levels of skill, including people who have never touched watercolor before.  [It will probably be hardest for people who are used to trying to paint 'something' instead of just playing].  

Cost:  $60.   Materials included [though you may bring your own things if that is more comfortable.]

Dates:  TBA

Time:  1:30-4:30pm [May go longer if you're having fun]

Location:  Robin's Studio.  6877 E Bland Rd. Solsberry, Indiana

Creative Exercise: Play

I am a worker bee.  I work.  It’s what I do.  One of my big challenges over the last few years has been to learn to have fun.  I have never been a good at having fun.   I’m rather earnest by nature and I take everything Very Seriously.   This means that I’m extremely conscientious and more than a little intense -- which is all well and good when I’m being responsible [which is pretty much all the time], but not so good when I need to stop working and relax or get some new ideas.    

Fun is not someone that I know well.   I’ve heard that she hangs around Inspiration and Relax a lot and I’ve been advised by more than one person that if I’d invite Fun over more often, then Inspiration and Relax would show up, too.    I tried it a few times – and they were right.  It’s just that I keep losing Fun’s number, or perhaps I’m just afraid that Responsibility will get mad if I hang out with Fun too much.  Clearly I need to work on that.  

Wait a minute…. I think I just found a way to Work at Fun.      (Banging head on desk…)

The trick to getting Fun to show up is to let yourself get to know Play.    Play shows up when you stop doing whatever-it-is-that-you’re-doing so seriously.  The relationship between Doing Things Not Seriously and Play is a lot like the Clark Kent/Superman thing. Try it. It really doesn’t matter what you do as long you do it Not Seriously.    Walk from the bathroom to your bedroom, not seriously.   See how not seriously you can go get the mail.   Try turning off the lights, not seriously.   Walk the dog, not seriously.   Clear the table, not seriously.  Every time you do something Not Seriously, it’s Play in disguise.   No kidding.   Keep practicing.  Soon you’ll find a way to turn a lot of your Work into Play.  Wherever you find Play, you’ll soon find Fun.  Fun likes Play and if you can just get Fun to show up, then Inspiration and Relax will show up, too.    

This week’s challenge is about learning how to play again at your art.  Choose a task that you want to do (or are desperate to be done with already) but you’re not that into right now:  New Year’s Resolutions; finishing Chapter 4; writing the orchestration for that sound track; fixing that scene in Act 2; cleaning up your space so you can get to your paint and canvas….you get the idea.  Now start that task – but start it Not Seriously. Not Seriously will turn into Play, who will invite Fun and pretty soon, you’ve got a party.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring Silly along.  She may be blonde, but she’s not as dumb as you think.  

Fun and Play may not be looking for commitment. Sometimes they prefer a one night stand.  It’s fine if they show up just long enough to get your creative party started.   And don’t worry that the party will spoil your masterpiece.  This is an easy party to clean up after.   And while you’re straightening things up afterward, you just may stumble on some hidden treasure. 

P.S.  I’d love to know what hidden treasures you found after Fun showed up.  Let me know how you are doing with your creative challenges.  Leave a comment.