Recently, I got this note from a friend after one of my Friday ‘art shows’:
“I want to make art, too!”
I responded: “Tell me more. What medium?”
Her answer: “I dunno…just want to paint or something.”
Okay, so this isn’t someone wanting to switch careers. It’s not a person ready to switch mediums – from flute to painting.
It’s not even someone really wanting to make ‘art’. This is someone who wants to play.
Why play counts
She wants to relax her brain, get messy and enjoy color. Who wants to be surprised by her hand moving across paper.
She wants to be free – to have a place where it doesn’t matter how good she is.
When people come to my illustrated journal classes, this is what they want: play, freedom, unjudged creativity.
So I wrote this brief step-by-step process to enjoy risk-free creativity. Try this at home!
Free yourself up to play and create more
First, get a journal. No, don’t buy one. You already have one. Try this process without buying anything. Consumption does not equal creativity.
Start with doodling in your notebook or on a random scrap of paper.
Play with fun borders – I like a series of dots and lines.
Add color – if you have watercolor, do a wash over the whole page. Add lots of color.
Play with writing your name in fancy letters. Yes, like in high school.
Look around you. What’s that? A vase with flowers? Look at the flowers. Gaze upon them with the attentive eyes of a lover.
Then slowly put the pen or pencil to the page and sketch out the flowers. See how they connect to one another – draw that. See how the leaves are shaped – capture that.
Your big bad left brain will shout “This sucks!”
You just shrug and keep going. It doesn’t matter if you suck. This is the place – your play notebook – where no one, especially you, cares how bad you suck.
Go back to it. Keep putting line and color and form on the pages.
Maybe hum a little while you do it.
Keep playing
How’d that feel? Want more, right?
Stay tuned…very soon I’ll launch my plan to bring more creative play and freedom to your summer than you’ve ever had.
Get the scoop first! Sign up for Impulses and always be in the inner loop. Kinda like the inner tube but way more fun.
Tell me what this brings up for you. Wanna try it? Scare you away? What makes you get the notebook out and play? Dish in a comment below.
And share this mini play invitation with your friends! Because play is better together.
Not quite ready to draw or paint yet (working on the writing side of my art!) but what this brought up for me so wonderfully is your statement ‘sucking doesn’t matter’–that makes me smile in a big way and also acknowledge it’s true.
Thanks for that – cheers and I enjoy your drawings very much.
Carolyn,
One thing you may consider: doodling when you’re thinking. When we write, there are often pauses in the flow. We need to work over an idea, search for the right word.
Often, we get sucked online in search of something and before you know it, all focus is gone.
Instead, you could try doodling in the margins as a way to stay with the thoughts you’re working on. I used to do this when writing my novel. I also filed my nails during those thinking pauses. Whatever non-thinking activity you can do to stay with the writing.
Glad you enjoy my drawings! I enjoy making them.
I already know how to draw. I already know how to journal (thanks to you, Cynthia.) It is just putting the two together on a consistent basis. My body is telling me that I NEED both! It is just making time to do it. I will try with my FWF and see where that gets me:) You may be stuck with me for a while till journaling/art are a very good habit for me:)
Teressa,
I’m seeing this with a lot of my clients. Almost all of them are picking up drawing as a fun thing, a way to complement the writing.
It’s something I’ve been enjoying for a long time. When the writing feels like work, the drawing and doodling feels like play.
Watch for news next week of something I’m creating just for you – and for others who want to play more this summer!
I had to read this post twice, at 2 different times, with space in between to think about what it is about drawing that I like. I don’t want to pull myself away from my photography and writing. But I like pens, pencils, notebooks, the image of an art student standing in front of a painting at a museum with notebook in hand. Those people know what they’re doing. How can I stand there like them and draw crap?!?
I don’t want to switch careers. You’re right. I just want to play. I’ve done a little bit of art journaling. I like the idea of mixed media, learning how to put movement into my blog posts, ie will be learning how to do slide shows with music next. Eventually learning how to do video. Why? Because. I’m not even sure there’s a word for what outcome I’m going for. (This is American culture; we need outcomes!)
Unlike Teressa, I don’t know how to draw. The idea that I have permission to play, to pick up a pencil and knowingly go in as a Complete Newbie, not even with a smidgen of ability at this point, well, what a thought!
Going from writing to photography to the few times I tried to draw something, it works different pieces of my brain and is definitely on a sliding scale of abilities and levels of confidence, which is uncomfortable.
Well, enough neuroses for this afternoon. Looking forward to a summer of fun!
Bobbi,
I love your process here. Thanks for sharing this.
What you’re getting at is we don’t always do everything for the sake of some (monetized) outcome.
You’re pointing out that creativity and creative people need a certain amount of play, exploration and freedom. In that safe space, we can make new connections and discoveries that contribute to our main art form.
It’s this play space and freedom that allows us to access different parts of the brain, as you mentioned.
So it’s less about drawing well and more about seeing, feeling and experiencing the world in a variety of ways. It all contributes to your creative process and power.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation – it helps me see what’s meaningful to you!
Excellent!!!! I hope you offer more on the whole arena of play, creativity and art. I do some but I long to do more and allow time, space etc to even allow myself to do it. I am thankful for your article!!!!!!!
Thanks, Rhonda! I’m creating something super fun for the summer! I’ll be launching it very, very soon! You’re going to love it.
Permission to play. Me really ? Hmmm. I think I will give it a try. Do I dare? What if it isn’t any good? What if…? I think I will give it a try. I love your blog. I just was meant to stumble upon it. I think you are one of those people we come across in our life and we would just like to be friends with you. We have something in common without even knowing each other and I know I would like you. Hope this makes sense and I am going to start my journal tonight. Thank you for inspiring all of us want to be drawing and painting enthusiast. Mary
Mary,
You have TOTAL 100% permission to play! Do it!
It’s not about being good. It’s about…being free, exploring, playing…it’s about whatever you decide it’s about.
So glad you came across me here! I love when we find someone we feel ‘gets’ us. I love that the online space gives us a place to connect and play with art together.
Stay tuned – next week I’m going to announce something that should be fun for everyone all summer long!
Get your journal ready; you’re going to love it!
That was really helpful Cynthia, reminding me of when I “used” to doodle all over the paper and somewhere stopped! Why? When? Play is soooo important and it’s been escaping me so will endeavor to put it back in, or maybe I’ve been slowly doing that as I start making myself bake, and play with the recipes, since I’ve never liked following them. I always feel good after. No stress, no pressure, just fun to achieve except the fun of it, like the “boy” chefs!
Cheerio’s
Fun, Sandra! I think it’s important to know what is play for each of us. It’s not the same for everyone. Cooking is definitely creative and fun for me, too. I love being in my kitchen.
Doodling is a fun way to stay with the page while thinking. A few little goofy marks on the page can allow for the next line or thought to emerge. Try it!
This is cool very, very cool Cynthia. I’ve tried a few different art side projects—some with my kids—but there is always something that gets in the way and distracts me. But this is an awesome idea because it’s all about creation and just getting into it rather than spending so much time and money on buying the resources in the first place (which often acts as a deterrent from moving forward). Work hard, play hard, right?