Dare to play and unleash your creativity
Often our greatest hurdle is the “simple” act of getting started. “How do I create something out of nothing?” “How can I overcome my resistance to put those first marks on the white paper?” These are the voices in our heads that can convince us that we will ruin that white clean paper or waste our beautiful paint. And who hears the voice telling us we should be prioritizing work or family or being productive; anything but focusing on ourselves? Isn’t it strange that we feel guilt, self-doubt or even fear – yet we know that it is just paint on a piece of paper and we will feel much better when we take the plunge and just start to unleash our creativity.
We are so used to delivering results. We should have a plan and a goal. We should be productive with our time and always be doing something useful. To just make for the sake of making is hard - but is incredibly rewarding! The energy we create, the flow we experience, it fills us with joy and inspiration and creativity hits us.
So let us find a way to start, to dare to begin, to be inspired and play – and I’ll help you on the way if you get stuck.
Dare to Play
I spoke with so many people who shared the same story, the need for structure and results prevented them from doing something they loved. This is where the inspiration for my flagship Dare to Play course came from.
In the first lesson of Dare to Play I will start without a plan and without a goal to create a result. I will just put collage and paint on a piece of paper – pure play.
I begin by making marks with both collage and paint at the same time, with no structure and no intention to create anything specific. I will just make a big mess.
The uglier the better because, in my experience, it is easier to let go when you create something that you do not like.
This is a way to get over the block or procrastination of putting that first mark onto the white paper. This process is about doing, about moving, about getting over the fear of starting. When you have those marks on the paper it is sooo much easier to take the next step.
For me, this type of creating is a way for my creative soul to be totally free and a way to find the creative source within myself. This freedom is an important part of my creative process and it allows me to relax, to let go and to find my flow. To work in this way opens up the magic of what is unique within me and helps me to find my own voice.
There are no labels to creativity
It is important not to judge or evaluate along the way, to not label it ‘Beautiful’ or ‘Ugly’ or a ‘mistake’. To categorize the result as ugly is only a mindset and a mindset that leaves us feeling discontented.
If you find yourself judging what you create as ugly or beautiful, one trick can be to actually aim to make it ugly… this might make it easier to let go and actually feel some kind of success at the end of the session when the marks actually are ugly ☺
When I have two messy backgrounds ready, I cut them into a number of smaller pieces… and I end up with 10 really different pieces. I try to not judge them at this stage… but here they became really cool and I love them. I feel inspired to take the next step. Transforming the “ugly” into cool!! That feels great ☺
Feeling inspired?
You can find out more about Dare to Play here.
Get started: Playing with mixed media art
Picking up that brush and making that first mark can be the biggest obstacle to letting go and indulging your creativity. There are always a hundred reasons why not to start, but there is only one reason TO start – and that is because YOU are worth it!