Some of us have a hard time allowing ourselves to just mess around with our art materials because we feel like play is frivolous or wasteful. But messing around with the materials is often where we discover new ways of working, or how we really feel about a particular technique. Deep or creative play is open-ended, curious and nonjudgmental, but it doesn’t have to be silly and frivolous (unless that’s what you want it to be).
What is the role of play in your studio practice? Do you allow yourself to play (experiment, mess around) with your materials? Or do you feel constrained by concerns about cost or waste?
Or are there times when you find yourself engaging in play instead of working on a painting you intended to work on? Is that okay? Or do you use it to avoid or procrastinate on a challenging step?
What do you feel is the right amount and type of play in your art practice?
Take some time today to engage in deep play.
Some possibilities: